Overview
A gripping tale of ambition and betrayal unfolds in the heart of Mumbai's underbelly.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- stylized
- nostalgic
- romantic
- bollywood movie night
- crime film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film stylish, entertaining, and emotionally substantial, though some felt its retro-chic ambitions were unevenly realized.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Agnel Wilson narrates his investigation to the Commissioner after the Ambassador car is recovered from the water.
Sultan's rise, tailored persona, Bollywood connections, and poetic street dialogue create a deliberately nostalgic underworld image.
Shoaib's promotion to full responsibility threatens Sultan's authority and reshapes the criminal hierarchy.
Sultan's romance with actress Rehana places the Bombay film world directly alongside his criminal empire.
Films like Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, and why
Company
shared organized-crime drama, charismatic gangster protagonist, romantic melodrama, and stylized period atmosphere
Satya
shared hindi gangster-film tradition, underworld power struggles, police investigation, and morally conflicted crime figures
Gangs of Wasseypur
shared retro crime storytelling, ambitious criminal rise, romantic subplots, and fatalistic gangster melodrama
Movie Details
- Director
- Milan Luthria
- Release Date
- 2010-07-30
- Runtime
- 132 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (100)
Cast
- Ajay Devgn
- Emraan Hashmi
- Kangana Ranaut
- Prachi Desai
- Randeep Hooda
- Gauahar Khan
- Naved Aslam
- Asif Basra
- Avtar Gill
- Sushil Pandey
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai about?
- A police officer’s retrospective investigation traces the rise of a charismatic Bombay gangster whose chosen successor threatens his empire, romance, and legacy.
- What is Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai as brutal.
- What did critics think of Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai?
- Critics broadly found the film stylish, entertaining, and emotionally substantial, though some felt its retro-chic ambitions were unevenly realized.
- Which films are like Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai?
- Films with a similar feel include Company, Satya, and Gangs of Wasseypur.
- How long is Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai?
- Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai runs 132 minutes.
- Where can I watch Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai?
- In United States, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store.
