18 Years of Rock On!! Director Abhishek Kapoor Celebrates the National Award-Winning Cult Film: What stands out is how deeply people still connect with these characters

Rock On!!, the musical drama directed by Abhishek Kapoor, has clocked a glorious 18 years since its release. Released back in 2008, the National Award-winning creation brings together Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Purab Kohli and Luke Kenny in the leads, and continues to win hearts, especially for expanding the love for rock music across mainstream cinema. It also drew attention for Farhan Akhtar’s acting finesse and singing debut, the unforgettable soundtrack by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, and the compelling performances by the entire cast.

“Looking back on 18 years of Rock On!!, what stands out isn’t just the music or the awards, but how deeply people still connect with these characters. We were taking a genuine leap of faith on a story and a sound that mainstream Indian cinema hadn’t really explored at the time. The magic of that film came from the pure, unfiltered energy of everyone involved—and seeing that energy continue to resonate with a whole new generation of viewers today is deeply humbling,” says an elated Abhishek Kapoor.

The story follows lead singer Aditya (Farhan), guitarist Joe (Arjun), drummer KD (Purab), and keyboardist Rob (Luke) as they reignite their dream by letting go of their views and embarking on a journey they’d left incomplete.

Rock On!! had emerged as a commercial success and went on to receive the honorary recognition of the National Film Awards in 2010. Director Abhishek Kapoor was honoured the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi for Rock On!! while Arjun Rampal was awarded for Best Supporting Actor.