Filmmaker Anees Bazmee took to social media to mark a glorious milestone: "17 years of Singh Is Kinng. This film gave me memories for a lifetime and the love you all continue to shower on it is truly overwhelming. From the incredible cast and crew to every single person who believed in this madness, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Gratitude."
And what a wild, pagal ride it’s been! Released in 2008, Singh Is Kinng wasn’t just another masala comedy — it was a full-blown pop culture phenomenon. With Akshay Kumar donning a pagdi and his funniest face yet, and Katrina Kaif shimmering in every frame, the film raked in over 1.25 billion worldwide and left an imprint that 2000s kids still quote today.
While many might not know, the plot took its quirky bones from Jackie Chan’s Miracles (1989) — an homage Bazmee never officially acknowledged, but fans on Reddit (yes, we see you, r/bollywood detectives!) pieced it all together in a now-viral thread. Yet, originality be damned — the laughs, the energy, and that bomb Teri Ore track gave the film a life of its own.
Bazmee’s heartfelt note comes at a time when Singh Is Kinng still rules TV reruns and memes, something even his other gangster-goes-good hit Welcome hasn’t quite managed to replicate. And while fans keep demanding a sequel (Singh Is Kinng 2, anyone?), Anees is currently all tied up in the chaos of No Entry Mein Entry — the long-awaited sequel to his other cult hit, No Entry.
But with this post, one thing’s clear: Anees Bazmee hasn’t forgotten his Kingg, and neither have we. Here’s to loud laughs, louder wardrobes, and the eternal reign of Happy Singh!