Singh Is Kinng turns 18: Anees Bazmee leads celebrations for Akshay Kumar hit
Synopsis
Eighteen years after its release, Singh Is Kinng still commands director Anees Bazmee’s deepest affection. His Instagram tribute — complete with a making-of video — is a reminder of how the Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif comedy, complete with a Snoop Dogg cameo, punched well above its genre weight and built a fanbase that has held for nearly two decades.
Key Takeaways
Anees Bazmee celebrated the 18th anniversary of Singh Is Kinng on 8 August 2025 with an Instagram post and making-of video.
The 2008 film starred Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif , alongside an ensemble including Om Puri , Sonu Sood , and Kirron Kher .
The film featured a song and music video with American rapper Snoop Dogg .
Bazmee’s directorial credits include Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 , Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 , Welcome , and Ready .
His next film, Naam – The Missing Identity , stars Ajay Devgn and a large ensemble cast.
Filmmaker Anees Bazmee marked the 18th anniversary of his blockbuster action comedy Singh Is Kinng on 8 August 2025, calling the film an enduring part of his life and expressing gratitude for the audience love it continues to receive nearly two decades on. Bazmee shared a behind-the-scenes video on Instagram to mark the occasion.
What Bazmee Said
In his Instagram caption, Bazmee wrote: “Celebrating 18 years of Singh is Kinng. Some films become memories, and some become a part of your life. Singh is Kinng will always be incredibly special to me for the memories it gave me and, most importantly, for the love you all continue to shower on it even after 18 years.”
He added: “From an incredible cast and crew to every single person who believed in this madness, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Forever grateful for the journey, the laughter, the memories, and all the love.”
About the Film
Released in 2008, Singh Is Kinng starred Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles, with an ensemble that included Om Puri, Ranvir Shorey, Neha Dhupia, Javed Jaffrey, Sonu Sood, Kirron Kher, and Sudhanshu Pandey. The film follows Happy Singh, who travels to Australia to bring a crime boss named Lakhanpal Singh back to his ailing father, only to find himself entangled in love and chaos along the way. A notable highlight was a song and music video featuring American rapper Snoop Dogg, which gave the film a distinctive international flavour.
Bazmee’s Directorial Journey
Bazmee made his directorial debut with Hulchul in 1995. His commercial breakthrough arrived in 1998 with Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, one of the highest-grossing Bollywood releases of that year. He went on to build a reputation as one of Hindi cinema’s most reliable comedy directors, with a string of top-grossing hits including No Entry, Welcome, Singh Is Kinng, Ready, Welcome Back, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. He also earned praise for the moderately successful romantic thriller Deewangee.
What’s Next for Bazmee
Bazmee’s upcoming project is Naam – The Missing Identity, an action thriller featuring Ajay Devgn, Sameera Reddy, Bhumika Chawla, Rahul Dev, Shriya Sharma, Yashpal Sharma, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, Mukesh Tiwari, and Sharat Saxena. With another large ensemble in place, the director appears to be returning to the high-energy, multi-starrer format that has defined his most successful work.
Point of View
One that the industry has repeatedly returned to. Whether Naam – The Missing Identity can replicate that chemistry with a new lead in Ajay Devgn will be the real test of Bazmee’s range beyond comedy.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Singh Is Kinng about?
Singh Is Kinng is a 2008 Bollywood action comedy directed by Anees Bazmee. It follows Happy Singh, who travels to Australia to reunite a crime boss named Lakhanpal Singh with his ill father, but ends up caught in love and trouble instead.
Who starred in Singh Is Kinng?
The film starred Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles, with an ensemble cast including Om Puri, Ranvir Shorey, Neha Dhupia, Javed Jaffrey, Sonu Sood, Kirron Kher, and Sudhanshu Pandey. American rapper Snoop Dogg also appeared in a song and music video.
Why is Anees Bazmee celebrating Singh Is Kinng in 2025?
The film completed 18 years since its release in 2008, and Bazmee marked the anniversary with an Instagram post sharing a behind-the-scenes video and a heartfelt message of gratitude to the cast, crew, and fans.
What other films has Anees Bazmee directed?
Bazmee’s major directorial credits include No Entry, Welcome, Ready, Welcome Back, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, along with the romantic thriller Deewangee. His debut was Hulchul in 1995.
What is Anees Bazmee’s next film?
Bazmee’s upcoming project is Naam – The Missing Identity, an action thriller starring Ajay Devgn alongside a large ensemble cast including Sameera Reddy, Bhumika Chawla, Vijay Raaz, and Rajpal Yadav.
