Filmmaker Pooja Bhatt looked back with gratitude as her 2003 film Jism completed 23 years since its release in Hindi cinema. Reflecting on the milestone, she described the erotic thriller as a film that mirrored its era and subtly reshaped conversations around desire, vulnerability and music in Bollywood.
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A nostalgic Instagram tribute
Taking to Instagram, Pooja shared two pictures of actor John Abraham, who starred in the film alongside Bipasha Basu. Accompanying the images, the producer wrote, “Jism (2003) A film that changed the times (sic). A hero that represented the times. A song & album that endures through time. Released on January 17, 2003. 23 years ago. Gratitude.”
A bold story that pushed boundaries
Inspired by Lawrence Kasdan’s Body Heat, which itself drew from Billy Wilder’s 1944 classic Double Indemnity based on James M. Cain’s novel, Jism followed Kabir, an alcoholic lawyer trapped in a lonely existence.
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His life takes a dangerous turn when he meets Sonia, a mysterious woman married to wealthy businessman Rohit.
As Kabir falls deeply in love, he is drawn into a web of desire and obsession, eventually being manipulated into plotting Rohit’s murder.
However, as events spiral out of control, Kabir begins to uncover Sonia’s true intentions, leading to a dark tale of passion, betrayal and consequence.
Impact on careers and music
Jism marked a defining phase in John Abraham’s career and featured a soundtrack that went on to achieve cult status. Songs from the film continue to resonate with audiences even decades later, cementing the film’s lasting cultural impact.
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The franchise continues
The second installment of the franchise, Jism 2, was directed by Pooja Bhatt and released in 2012. The film marked Sunny Leone’s Bollywood acting debut, with Randeep Hooda and Arunoday Singh in pivotal roles.
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Jism 2 followed Izna, an adult film star recruited by an intelligence agency to trap her former lover, a feared assassin. The story takes an emotional turn when officer Aayan Thakur falls in love with her, complicating the mission and her personal choices.