The highly anticipated Kill movie (2024) has been in the headlines for various reasons, from its dual release dates to being touted as “the most violent film made out of India.” Directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and featuring Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, and Tanya Maniktala, the film is gearing up to release this month. Here’s everything you need to know about the film, from the release date, plot, and cast to the inspiration behind the story and more.
Kill movie (2024): What is the release date?
Kill movie is finally gearing up to release in theatres. Lionsgate will initially release it in North America and the UK on July 4, 2024. Soon after, viewers in India can watch the film on July 5, 2024. The reason behind the dual release date is that Lionsgate secured the North American and UK rights for a theatrical release in 2023. This marks a historic partnership between an Indian production and a Hollywood studio.
“This has never happened to this extent and this scale before,” said Karan Johar about the film’s simultaneous release. “The films we make for exhibition in India are invariably released for the diaspora. This time, it’s for a global audience and we have international distribution.”
Produced by Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta for Dharma Productions, alongside Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain for Sikhya Entertainment, Kill first premiered at last year’s Toronto Film Festival as a Midnight Madness selection. Since then, the anticipation has been high due to the film’s great reception.
Tulika (Tanya Maniktala), the daughter of a well-renowned businessman, is set to marry someone of her parents’ choice. Meanwhile, Amrit (Lakshya), a commando in the Indian army, aims to win her back. Their journey takes a dangerous turn as they travel home from Tulika’s engagement celebration.
Amrit and his comrade Viresh (Abhishek Chauhan) board the crowded train, hoping to persuade Tulika’s parents upon arrival. However, the train becomes the target of a dacoit operation by a band of 40 men, led by the villain Fani (Raghav Juyal), who wouldn’t think twice before killing someone for their own gain.
Soon after, the film takes a John Wick-esque turn, with Amrit and Viresh fighting to protect Tulika and her family. This premise quickly evolves from a seemingly simple love story into a gory, violent, never-seen-before-action film.
Kill movie (2024) cast: Lakshya, Raghav Juyal & more
The cast of Kill features a mix of seasoned actors and fresh faces. Lakshya, making his debut as Amrit, is joined by Tanya Maniktala, known for her role in A Suitable Boy, as Tulika. Raghav Juyal, famous for his dancing and acting chops in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, plays the antagonist, Fani. The film also stars Adrija Sinha as Tulika’s younger sister, Aahna, and Abhishek Chauhan as Viresh, Amrit’s fellow army comrade.
While Kill has drawn comparisons to John Wick and Train to Busan, Bhat clarifies that his inspiration came from James Cameron’s Aliens. “For me, Kill isn’t just an action film. For me, it’s an emotional film with a very high emotional arc. The inspiration behind Kill is not any other action film, but James Cameron’s sci-fi movie Aliens,” Bhat explained.
Previously, producer Karan Johar had coined the film as “blood porn.” He exclaimed, “It’s the most violent film made out of India. We’ve never produced something this violent and for a filmmaker like me, who’s had one slap in my entire trajectory — for a tight slap that one actor gives another — for me, to present and produce a film like this is a complete diametric shift of genre.”
In addition to its original release, an English-language remake of Kill is in the works. John Wick director Chad Stahelski and his company, 87Eleven Entertainment, will produce the film.