For the longest time, the makers of Hindi action movies have stuck to more or less a set formula for their adrenaline-pumping and thrill-inducing narratives. Although such films are important as well, they do get a little monotonous at times. But, every now and then, a filmmaker comes along and introduces something novel to Bollywood’s action filmography. These films show what action sequences can truly be and what they could mean to the overall narrative of the movie. If you are someone who is a fan of Hindi action movies but now craves a little bit of novelty in your actioners, this article is for you. Read on to know about 5 such unconventional yet satisfying action films that have come out of Bollywood.
Attack (2022)
This film tells the story of severely injured and recently-widowed Army Officer Arjun Shergill, who undergoes a cybernetic enhancement procedure to literally get back on his feet. As a result, Arjun essentially gains super-strength, incredible hand-to-hand combat skills, super sight and an AI assistant built right inside of him, among other things. The makers of this John Abraham-starrer have admittedly taken inspiration from Hollywood’s favourite super soldier concept, but the execution of the concept in Attack is truly commendable. This film can be streamed on ZEE5 Global in select cities and territories.
Genius (2018)
Re-introducing the adorable kid from Gadar, Utkarsh Sharma, as an adult, Genius tells a very unusual and surprisingly poignant tale of adventure, love and second chances. Another exciting aspect of this film is its antagonist, Samar Khan, played by none other than Nawazuddin Siqqui. In addition to the battle of wits that one gets to witness in the film, this feature presentation is full of intricately crafted action sequences as well. This movie can be streamed on ZEE5 Global.
Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota (2018)
This very One Piece-esque feature presentation has a central protagonist with a very rare condition. It goes by the name of congenital insensitivity to pain, which does not let him feel or even register any kind of pain. He turns his apparent disadvantage into his biggest power by combining it with intense martial arts training, a combination that makes him near-unbeatable on the fighting field. Clearly, the writers and choreographers of the fight sequences have turned that into their advantage too, which has allowed them to come up with a handful of really creative action sequences. Not to mention that the film also has a subtle meta-commentary going on throughout its run. Action dramedies can be streamed on Netflix.
Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018)
In the year 2018, Vikramaditya Motwane gave us a more grounded vigilante who also served as a representative of real-life Indian people who had simply had it with rampant corruption and hypocrisy. Bhavesh Joshi Superhero is a movie about a friend mourning the loss of his dear friend to the corrupt system of the city. The friend in question channels all of his anger, grief, and frustration into creating a Batman-esque alter ego who goes by the name of his late friend. In addition to what is quite a touching story, the film also exemplifies what a grounded hand-to-hand combat and chase sequences amongst normal people could look like. This Harshvardhan Kapoor-starrer can be streamed on Netflix.
Bloody Daddy (2023)
The final addition to the list of unconventional yet delightful Hindi action movies is this Shahid Kapoor-starring trigger-happy actioner. This film is about a man who is fairly skilled in combat and arms usage attempting to rescue his daughter from the hands of the antagonists of the film. In the process, we get some stunning and jaw-dropping action sequences as well. This film can be streamed on JioCinema.