Blackmail

Dev Kaushal, a man of routines and resentments, learns that his wife Reena has been unfaithful. Instead of confronting the truth head on, he dives into a dangerous game of blackmail, intending to leverage the affair into his own advantage. He targets both his wife and her secret lover, pulling strings with everyday wit and calculated risk. As the scheme unfolds, a web of deception tightens around their lives, turning ordinary evenings into volatile standoffs. The tension blends noirish suspense with comic relief, keeping the audience on edge without tipping into sentimentality, and setting up a collision between pride and consequence. The film keeps a brisk pace through clever dialogue and concrete, bite sized set pieces that land with dry humor. The tone wavers between wry one liners and tense standoffs, letting Irrfan Khan's dry presence anchor the chaos.

Directed by Abhinay Deo, Blackmail released in 2018 as a sharp Hindi thriller with a dry humor twist. It features Irrfan Khan, Kirti Kulhari, Arunoday Singh, Divya Dutta, and Omi Vaidya.

Box office details for Blackmail are not widely documented, reflecting a limited commercial footprint outside India and a release that peaked on streaming and selective theatrical showings. Its international footprint remained modest.

The soundtrack features contributions from Amitabh Bhattacharya, Guru Randhawa and Divine, giving the film a contemporary edge. The music and style connected with urban Hindi cinema audiences, helping Blackmail stand out among thrillers of its era.

Critics singled out its unusual mash up of humor and tension and praised Irrfan Khan's restrained, wry performance alongside Kirti Kulhari. The film probes manipulation and trust, asking how pride and insecurity drive people to dangerous games, with consequences that linger after laughter fades. Some reviews noted the tonal balance as uneven yet refreshing, and several observers highlighted the film as a thoughtful take on marital strain in the age of social media.