FILM · 2008 · INDIA
Race
43 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (43)
- #001
Race was the first Indian film in which all the lead characters have negative shades.
- #002
Fardeen Khan was initially offered the role of Rajiv Singh, but the dates clashed with Heyy Babyy (2007).
- #003
Priyanka Chopra Jonas was offered the role of Sonia but turned it down because it was a negative role.
- #004
Katrina's voice is dubbed.
- #005
In terms of gross box office, Race was the fourth biggest Bollywood film of 2008, after Ghajini, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Singh is King.
- #006
Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor also worked together in Taşhan, released the same year.
- #007
Ameesha Patel was considered for the role of Mini. She turned it down because she thought it was a very absurd role. Ameesha Patel would go on to play Anil Kapoor's assistant "Cherry" in the sequel Race 2.
- #008
Johnny Lever appeared in this film as a guest actor. Until this film, he had acted in every Abbas Mustan film.
- #009
The film is largely based on the 1999 American film Goodbye Lover.
- #010
The film was shot on sets and mostly in Durban and Dubai.
- #011
Akshaye Khanna won the best actor in a negative role award.
- #012
Anil Kapoor worked with Abbas Mastan for the first time. He had previously been approached in 1993 to play the lead in Baazigar, before Salman Khan turned the role down and Shahrukh Khan signed on.
- #013
The music of Race was composed by Pritam and the lyrics were written by Sameer.
- #014
It was the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film of the year.
- #015
Anil Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan worked together in a film for the first time in nine years, since Biwi No 1 in 1999. This film had a cameo in which Saif Ali Khan also appeared.
- #016
Race explores themes of sibling rivalry, betrayal and passion.
- #017
Race was titled Panthayam in Tamil and Race Telugu in Telugu.
- #018
The song "Khwab Dekhe (Sexy Lady)" was recorded after the film's music launch.
- #019
Saif's character was named Ranveer Singh, and two years later the actor Ranveer Singh made his debut.
- #020
Sushmita Sen signed on for the film but later backed out, and Bipasha Basu replaced her.
- #021
Anubhav Sinha was to direct a film titled "Race" for Sa Re Ga Ma in 2005. He later made the film "Cash" with a different producer.
- #022
It is Abbas-Mustan's fourth film with Akshaye Khanna, after Humraaz, 36 China Town and Naqaab.
- #023
Akshaye Khanna and Bipasha Basu worked together for the first time.
- #024
Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna reunited after Dil Chahta Hai.
- #025
Katrina Kaif and Bipasha Basu came together again after Humko Deewana Kar Gaye.
- #026
Mallika Sherawat was signed, but Sameera Reddy replaced her.
- #027
Akshaye Khanna played the villain in an Anil Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan film for the first time.
- #028
The film was released in cinemas in British Columbia, Canada.
- #029
Saif Ali Khan had a different look in the film.
- #030
It was Katrina's first negative role.
- #031
Akshaye and Saif worked together after many years, having last worked on Dil Chahta Hai and LOC Kargil; this is the only film in which Akshaye wore a wig.
- #032
The film's music for Race was released by Tips Music on 1 March 2008.
- #033
Karan Johar was initially set to produce "Luck" after "Kaal". Karan even tried to buy the rights to the title "Race" from Ramesh Taurani. Sanjay Dutt, John Abraham, Kareena Kapoor and Ritesh Deshmukh were signed. Later Soham Shah and Karan Johar had a misunderstanding, and Soham decided to leave Dharma Productions. In 2007 Soham met producer Dhillin Mehta and decided to make the film with him. Sanjay Dutt was brought back for the film. Imran Khan replaced John Abraham, Shruti Hassan replaced Kareena Kapoor and Ravi Kishen replaced Ritesh Deshmukh.
- #034
Race had 7 original songs, 9 remixes and one instrumental theme.
- #035
Aakash Gandhi noted: "Pritam gives us a fairly solid soundtrack that recalls many of his works from 2006."
- #036
Race opened to mixed responses from critics.
- #037
The original production team announced that it planned to make a sequel titled Race 2.
- #038
After the film's premiere, Tips Music re-released the soundtrack with the addition of "Khwab Dekhe (Sexy Lady)".
- #039
Race is the first installment of the Race film series.
- #040
The film was directed by Abbas-Mustan.
- #041
The film was produced under the banner Tips Films.
- #042
A sequel, Race 2, was released in 2013 and was even more successful; a second sequel, Race 3, was released in 2018.
- #043
Although the film is an action thriller, it contains almost no action.
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