Where Was The Film Raees Movie Shot?

Raees was primarily shot in Gujarat, India, with locations like Ahmedabad, Bhuj, and Rajkot serving as backdrops for the gritty, small-town vibe the film aimed to capture. The production team went to great lengths to recreate the 1980s and 1990s era, scouting narrow alleys and old markets that still retained that vintage feel. Some scenes were also filmed in Mumbai, especially the more urban sequences to contrast the rural settings. What fascinated me was how they transformed these real locations into a cinematic world. The bustling streets of Ahmedabad became the perfect stage for Shah Rukh Khan's character, blending authenticity with dramatic flair. The Bhuj sequences, with their arid landscapes, added a raw, almost mythic quality to the story. It’s one of those films where the setting feels like a character itself, shaping the narrative’s texture.

There’s a lot to like about 'Raees' beyond the soundtrack, and where it was filmed really helps sell that 1980s–90s Gujarat vibe. The bulk of shooting was done in India, split mainly between Mumbai and multiple locations across Gujarat. Mumbai handled most of the studio work and indoor sets — think Film City–style setups where they rebuilt marketplaces, bars, and offices to match the period look. On-location work took the crew to several Gujarati cities. Ahmedabad features heavily for its old bazaars and street textures, while places like Jamnagar and Vadodara provided exteriors and some of the rustic, small-town backdrops. You’ll also notice stretches that resemble Kutch’s wide-open areas in a few scenes, used for more expansive exteriors. The filmmakers blended real streets with constructed sets, so what you see onscreen is often a mix of genuine Gujarat locations and carefully dressed Mumbai interiors. If you like tracing filming spots, go look for the market sequences that scream Ahmedabad’s narrow lanes and the outdoor festival moments that were likely shot in smaller Gujarat towns — it’s fun to spot where reality and set-design meet.

The movie 'Raees' is a Bollywood crime drama that really grabbed my attention when it first came out. The lead role is played by Shah Rukh Khan, who absolutely killed it as Raees Alam, this charismatic but ruthless bootlegger. His performance was so layered—you could see the charm, the cunning, and the vulnerability all at once. Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays Majmudar, the cop trying to bring him down, and their chemistry is electric. Mahira Khan stars as Aasiya, Raees' love interest, and she brings this quiet strength to her role. The supporting cast, including Atul Kulkarni and Narendra Jha, adds so much depth to the story. What I love about 'Raees' is how it balances these intense action sequences with moments of real emotional weight. Shah Rukh Khan’s monologues, especially the one about the 'baniye ka dimag aur miyabhai ki daring,' are iconic. The film’s setting in 1980s Gujarat also gives it this gritty, almost nostalgic feel. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth a watch just for the performances alone.

Raees is this gritty crime drama that feels like a throwback to those classic gangster flicks with a Bollywood twist. The story follows Raees Alam, a bootlegger in Gujarat who rises from nothing to become this untouchable kingpin. What makes it fascinating is how he's not just some one-dimensional villain—he's got this Robin Hood vibe, helping the poor while running his illegal empire. The whole prohibition angle in Gujarat adds this layer of political tension, especially when a relentless cop, Majmudar, starts closing in on him. Shah Rukh Khan totally owns the role, balancing charm and menace in a way that makes you root for him even when he's doing terrible things. The film's got this electric energy, especially in the first half where Raees builds his empire with street-smart schemes. The second half gets darker as his world starts crumbling, and the cat-and-mouse game with Majmudar turns brutal. What stuck with me was how the movie doesn't glamorize crime—it shows the cost of that life, especially in Raees' relationship with his mother. That scene where she disowns him? Chills. The ending's inevitable but heartbreaking, like watching a Shakespearean tragedy unfold in the dusty streets of Gujarat.

Rahul Dholakia directed 'Raees', and what a ride that film was! I remember watching it in theaters, completely blown away by how Shah Rukh Khan transformed into this gritty, morally ambiguous character. Dholakia's direction had this raw energy—like you could almost smell the tension in those Gujarat streets. The way he balanced action with human drama reminded me of those 70s Bollywood crime flicks, but with slicker pacing. What really stuck with me was how the film didn’t glorify its protagonist. It left you questioning right and wrong, which is rare for mainstream Bollywood. Dholakia’s earlier work like 'Parzania' showed he isn’t afraid of tough subjects, and 'Raees' proved he could handle scale without losing his edge.

Raees' hit the screens back in 2017, and man, what a ride that was! Shah Rukh Khan absolutely owned the role of a gritty bootlegger—it felt like he channeled a whole new energy. The film had this raw, almost vintage Bollywood vibe mixed with modern storytelling, and the soundtrack? Fire. I remember rewatching the 'Laila Main Laila' sequence way too many times. It's one of those movies that sticks with you, not just for the plot twists but for how unapologetically bold it felt. Funny thing is, I stumbled into it on a lazy Sunday, expecting just another SRK flick, but it ended up being this wild blend of power struggles and moral gray areas. The production design nailed the 80s Gujarat setting too—those dusty streets and neon-lit hideouts added so much texture. Even now, I catch myself humming 'Zaalima' when I’m in a nostalgic mood.

I've always been fascinated by how Bollywood blends reality with fiction, and 'Raees' is a perfect example of that dance. While the film isn't a direct biopic, it's heavily inspired by real-life bootlegger Abdul Latif, who operated in Gujarat during the prohibition era. Shah Rukh Khan's character mirrors Latif's rise from small-time operations to becoming an underworld kingpin with political ties. The screenwriters took creative liberties—like the romantic subplot and dramatic showdowns—but the core of ruthless ambition and systemic corruption feels ripped from headlines. What stuck with me was how the film captures the gray morality of its protagonist; you catch yourself rooting for him despite his crimes, which says a lot about how power narratives are crafted. Interestingly, the team avoided naming real figures or events to sidestep legal issues, but locals in Gujarat reportedly recognized thinly veiled references. The director mentioned researching police archives and interviewing journalists to get the texture right. It's less 'based on a true story' and more 'what if we took this infamous persona and made him charismatic enough to carry a three-hour blockbuster?' The result is a gritty masala film that lingers because of its roots in reality—like 'Scarface' but with desi swagger and way better dance sequences.

Raees' is one of those films that sticks with you—not just because of Shah Rukh Khan's electrifying performance, but also for its gritty, almost mythic portrayal of a bootlegger's rise and fall. The way SRK embodies Raees Alam, with that trademark swagger and vulnerability, makes the character feel larger than life yet painfully human. The film’s setting in 1980s Gujarat adds a layer of raw authenticity, though some critics argued the plot meanders in the second half. Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the relentless cop is a perfect foil, their cat-and-mouse game crackling with tension. What I loved most was how the soundtrack, especially 'Laila Main Laila', became this cultural moment—it’s impossible not to hum along. But yeah, the moral ambiguity might not sit well with everyone; Raees is no hero, and the film doesn’t sugarcoat that. On the flip side, I’ve heard friends complain about the pacing—those masala films always walk a tightrope between drama and drag. Director Rahul Dholakia took risks, blending politics and crime in a way that feels more relevant today than ever. It’s not 'Don' or 'Deewaar', but it carves its own space. The dialoguebaazi ('Baniye ka dimag, miyan bhai ki daring') is pure gold, though. For me, it’s a solid 4/5, flaws and all. The ending still gives me chills—no spoilers, but it’s the kind of tragedy that lingers.

Raees was one of those films that had everyone buzzing long before it even hit the theaters. Starring Shah Rukh Khan in a role that was a departure from his usual romantic leads, the movie promised gritty action and a compelling antihero narrative. It opened strong, thanks to the massive fan following SRK commands, and the hype around its clash with 'Kaabil' only added to the curiosity. The first weekend numbers were solid, with reports suggesting it crossed the 100 crore mark domestically within the first week. Overseas, it did particularly well in markets like the UAE and the US, where SRK’s global appeal pulled in audiences. However, the film’s performance wasn’t without its controversies. Some critics felt the storyline glamorized crime, which might’ve turned off a segment of the audience. Despite that, the box office collections held steady, and it eventually ended up as one of the higher-grossing Bollywood films of 2017. What’s interesting is how it performed in smaller towns versus metros—urban centers loved the slick production, while the mass appeal in tier-2 cities was a bit more mixed. All in all, 'Raees' proved that Shah Rukh Khan could still pull off a darker role and draw crowds, even if it didn’t quite reach the stratospheric numbers of some of his earlier blockbusters.

There's something about Republic Day releases that always feels cinematic, and 'Raees' rode that wave— it hit Indian theatres on January 25, 2017. I went to see it with a small group of friends on the long weekend, and the theatres were packed; the film's release was timed to benefit from the holiday crowd. I still talk about the buzz in the lobby before the show: Shah Rukh Khan's publicity was everywhere, and people compared it nonstop with the other big film that opened the same day. The date—January 25, 2017—is the simple fact, but the memory is full of soundtracks bleeding into the street as people spilled out of the screens. If you’re looking to rewatch or check release timelines, that Republic Day weekend is the anchor for when 'Raees' reached audiences across India.