Aankhen (2002 film)

Aankhen
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Vipul Amrutlal Shah
Produced by	Gaurang Doshi
Screenplay by	Aatish Kapadia Vipul Amrutlal Shah
Story by	Aatish Kapadia Vipul Amrutlal Shah
Starring	Amitabh Bachchan Akshay Kumar Sushmita Sen Arjun Rampal Paresh Rawal Aditya Pancholi
Music by	Jatin Lalit Aadesh Shrivastava Nitin Raikwar
Cinematography	Ashok Mehta
Edited by	Shirish Kunder
Distributed by	V R Films
Release date	5 April 2002
Running time	165 min.
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Box office	₹471.9 million (US$7.0 million)

Aankhen (Hindi: आँखें, translation: Eyes) is a 2002 Indian heist thriller drama film directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal, Sushmita Sen and Paresh Rawal in the lead roles. Aditya Pancholi is featured in an important supporting role. The film is an adaptation of Shah's own Gujarati play Andhalo Pato (Blindman's Buff).

The film tells the story of Vijay Singh Rajput (Bachchan) a hard-working but man, who has spent all his life working for one bank and even achieving them International recognition. When Vijay loses his mind and goes on a violent rampage beating up another employee, he is subsequently fired. He decides to take vengeance by organising a full on heist, and having the same bank robbed by three blind men, as no one will suspect them.

Aankhen had its worldwide premiere in Malaysia at the 3rd IIFA Awards ceremony on 5 April 2002. Upon release Aankhen received acclaim from critics and cinema-goers alike, for its unusual storyline, well executed direction and acting, with Bachchan and Akshay Kumar drawing maximum accolades for their performances. The film performed good at the box office thus earning a 'HIT'status at the box office from koimoi- India's leading box office site. and was nominated in several award categories in 2002/03, although it didn't win any.

Obsessive and temperamental bank manager Vijay Singh Rajput (Amitabh Bachchan) loses his job after badly beating up a bank clerk who tried to embezzle money. Angered at losing his job he plots revenge on the bank by intending to stage a heist. He employs three blind men – Vishwas (Akshay Kumar), a blind person who has the power of the sixth sense, Ilyaas (Paresh Rawal) and Arjun (Arjun Rampal) — when, after passing by school for the blind, he understands that blind people can be trained to do things like sighted people. He blackmails and enlists the help of Neha (Sushmita Sen) who is a teacher at the school to train the trio to do the seemingly impossible heist. He chose blind people because they, as thieves, would never be suspected as no one would believe blind people can rob a bank.