Director Abhishek Kapoor and producers Ronnie Screwvala and Pragya Kapoor produced “Azaad” in 2025. The film stars Ajay Devgn, Diana Penty, and newcomers Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani. “Azaad” follows a young stable boy and his lively horse, Azaad, through 1920s India, exploring themes of rebellion, resilience, and self-discovery.
“Azaad” opened in theaters on January 17, 2025.
The “Azaad” teaser, released on November 5, 2024, showed the film’s period setting and Govind’s relationship with Azaad, the horse. On January 6, 2025, the complete trailer revealed more about the characters and the story’s central conflicts.
No production budget for “Azaad” has been announced. Given its period setting and ensemble cast, the picture is likely high-budget.
India is showing “Azaad” in theaters. After its theatrical run, it should be available on major streaming services. Details about its digital release are still unknown.
Govind (Aaman Devgan), a stable lad, bonds with Azaad, a wild horse, in the 1920s. Their story is one of defiance and tenacity, with Govind’s ambition to ride the gorgeous horse becoming a journey of self-discovery and courage. The story explores the sociopolitical scene of the time, highlighting the fight for freedom and against tyranny.
Ajay Devgn as Vikram Singh
Diana Penty, Kesar Bahadur
Aaman Devgan as Govind
Rasha Thadani as Janaki Bahadur
Mohit Malik as Tej Bahadur
Piyush Mishra as Rai Bahadur
Natasha Rastogi, Nani
Sandeep Shikhar as Braj
Jiya Imran Amin portrays Daani Mukund Rajab Ramesh Pal
Gaurav Yavanika as Jai Singh
Crouch plays James Cummings
Dylan Jones as Lord Cummings
Rakesh Sharma as Jamal
The cast includes Akshay Anand as Biru, Jagannath Seth as Dacoit, and Khushboo Ajwani as Maid.
Arvind Bilgaiyan as Munimji
Bearer Alok Porwal Ran Singh Ramshankar, Pandit British Residency
Neeraj Kadela as Mute Priest, Ravindra Dubey as Zamindar House Priest.
Rakesh Bidua as Kesar’s dad
Vivek Bahaduria as Bhusar’s shopkeeper Aishwarya Sharma as Janki’s buddy
Abhishek Kapoor, who directed “Kai Po Che” and “Rock On!!”, directed the film. Amit Trivedi composed the lyrics, and Amitabh Bhattacharya and Swanand Kirkire wrote the lyrics. Satyajit Pande (Setu) shoots, and Chandan Arora edits.
The movie holds a rating of 7 out of 10 with over 1 votes, showing that it’s well-liked by fans. The growing 15.045 score also reflects the positive response. Rated 7/10, Azaad has become popular, especially in United States of America. Many viewers have praised it and recommend watching it.
User reviews give “Azaad” a 5.8/10 on IMDb.
Critics gave “Azaad” mixed to poor reviews. Bollywood Hungama gave the film 2.0/5, saying it “struggles to captivate due to a lackluster first half, a weak script, and the absence of a romantic angle.” Pinkvilla gave the film 3/5, calling it “worth a watch for those interested in a simple, well-made period piece.” The Times of India gave it 3/5, saying it “has moments of grandeur, an overall lack of emotional and narrative payoff overshadows it.” NDTV gave it 1.5/5 more critically and said, “The weak and disjointed screenplay stymies the efforts of the two newcomers.” The Indian Express gave it 1/5, asking why such films were made in 2025. The initial performances are good, but India Today rated it 2.5/5 since the film “looks extremely one-toned and relies heavily on anthropomorphism.”
India is showing “Azaad” in theaters. After its theatrical run, it should be available on major streaming services. Details about its digital release are still unknown.
“Azaad” explores rebellion and self-discovery in 1920s India through a lad and his horse. The film has a notable cast and staff, but critics are divided. Period dramas and human-animal ties may appeal to “Azaad” viewers.