Quick answer: Rangoon is a 2017 Hindi romantic war drama directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and set during the Second World War, starring Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut. Its trailer came out on 6 January 2017 and the film released on 24 February 2017, as announced. Critics largely praised it, especially Kangana Ranaut’s performance, but it was a box office failure.
About this page
This article was first written in late 2016, before Rangoon was released, to share its cast, first look, poster and trailer date. The film has since come out, so we keep the page as a record of what was announced and add what happened. Details were checked again in October 2026.
Rangoon: key facts
- Type of film: Hindi romantic war drama, a period film set in 1943
- Director: Vishal Bhardwaj, who also composed the music; lyrics by Gulzar
- Producers: Sajid Nadiadwala, Vishal Bhardwaj and Viacom18 Motion Pictures
- Distributor: Viacom18 Motion Pictures
- Trailer: 6 January 2017
- Released: 24 February 2017
The original article also named Rekha Bhardwaj and Siddharth Roy Kapur as producers. They are not among the producers credited on the released film, so we have removed them.
Cast of Rangoon
- Saif Ali Khan as Rustom “Rusi” Billimoria, a former action star turned film producer
- Shahid Kapoor as Jamadar Nawab Malik, a soldier in the British Indian Army
- Kangana Ranaut as Miss Julia, an action star whose character is based on “Fearless Nadia” (Mary Ann Evans), the stunt actress of early Hindi cinema
As the original article said, Rangoon was the first film to bring Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut together. The story follows Julia, who is sent to entertain troops near the India-Burma border, the soldier assigned to protect her, and the producer who loves her.
Release date and trailer
The dates reported here held. The trailer was released on 6 January 2017, and the film opened on 24 February 2017, the Mahashivratri weekend. The first song, “Bloody Hell”, came out on 11 January 2017, and the full soundtrack on 18 January.
Before release: where the three stars stood
When this page was first written, the original version said Saif Ali Khan’s Phantom and Kangana Ranaut’s Katti Batti were 2016 releases. Both actually came out in 2015: Phantom on 28 August 2015 and Katti Batti on 18 September 2015. Shahid Kapoor’s most recent release was Udta Punjab (2016). Vishal Bhardwaj was best known for his Shakespeare adaptations Omkara (2006) and Haider (2014); he had first planned Rangoon, earlier titled Julia, after Omkara. Filming began on 18 November 2015 in Arunachal Pradesh.
How Rangoon performed
The original article asked whether Rangoon would succeed at the box office. It received mostly positive reviews, with critics singling out Kangana Ranaut’s performance, but it struggled commercially. Bollywood Hungama records an opening day of about ₹5.05 crore nett, an India total of about ₹20.68 crore nett (₹28.72 crore gross) and a worldwide gross of about ₹39.78 crore. Other published estimates put the worldwide total slightly higher, at about ₹41 crore, against a reported budget of about ₹80 crore.
Rangoon also appears in our list of Bollywood movies released January to March 2017. For other film pages from the same period, see Atithi in London, Thugs of Hindostan and Golmaal 4.
Frequently asked questions
When did Rangoon release?
Rangoon released on 24 February 2017. Its trailer had come out on 6 January 2017.
Who directed Rangoon?
Vishal Bhardwaj directed it and composed its music, with lyrics by Gulzar.
Is Rangoon based on a true story?
It is a fictional story set during the Second World War, but Kangana Ranaut’s character, Julia, is based on “Fearless Nadia”, the real stunt actress of early Hindi cinema.
Was Rangoon a hit or a flop?
It was a commercial failure despite good reviews. Bollywood Hungama puts its worldwide gross at about ₹39.78 crore.
Credits, dates and box office checked in October 2026 against the film’s published credits, Bollywood Hungama’s box office page and January 2017 trade reports on the trailer. Box office figures are attributed because sources differ.
