Archive · 1 Feb 2026
Ali Baba Aur 40 Chor: A Commercial Success
Ali Baba Aur 40 Chor is a fantasy film made by Indian and Soviet directors.
It tells the story of Ali Baba, a poor man who saves his village from bandits and rescues a princess.
The film stars Dharmendra, Hema Malini, and Zeenat Aman.
It was a huge success in both India and the Soviet Union, winning awards at film festivals.
The film's success led to more Indo-Soviet collaborations, but the trend ended with the film Ajooba in 1990.
The story is about good triumphing over evil, with Ali Baba's goodness winning over the villain's greed.
Ali Baba Aur 40 Chor is a fantasy film based on the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, directed by Umesh Mehra and Latif Faiziev.
The film stars Dharmendra as Ali Baba, Hema Malini as Princess Marjeena, and Zeenat Aman as Fatima, with Rolan Bykov as the villain Abu Hassan.
The film was a commercial success, winning awards at the All-Union Film Festival, Dushanbe Film Festival, and Belgrade Film Festival.
It was a huge hit in both India, where it ran for 25 weeks, and the Soviet Union, with 52.8 million viewers in 1980.
The film's success led to more Indo-Soviet collaborations, including Sohni Mahiwal (1984), but the trend ended with Ajooba (1990).
- Who
- Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Rolan Bykov
- What
- The film Ali Baba Aur 40 Chor, a fantasy film based on the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
- When
- Released in 1980
- Where
- India and the Soviet Union
- Why
- To bring together the two nations through a shared love for films and to create a commercial success
- Director
- Umesh Mehra (India) and Latif Faiziev (Soviet Union)
- Lead Actors
- Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Rolan Bykov
- Release Year
- 1980
- Box Office Success in USSR
- 52.8 million viewers in 1980
- Awards
- All-Union Film Festival (1980), Dushanbe Film Festival (1980), Grand Prix at the Belgrade Film Festival (1981)
- Sequel
- Sohni Mahiwal (1984)
- End of Indo-Soviet Films
- Ajooba (1990)