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{{short description|Indian streaming television series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Special Ops Himmat Story Poster.jpeg
| caption = Promotional poster
| genre = [[Action fiction|Action]]<br />[[Spy fiction|Espionage]] <br /> [[Thriller (genre)|Thriller]]
| based_on =
| creator = {{ubl|[[Neeraj Pandey]]}}
| director = {{ubl|[[Neeraj Pandey]] |[[Shivam Nair]]}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Kay Kay Menon]]
* [[Vinay Pathak]]
* [[Aftab Shivdasani]]
* Aadil Khan
* [[Parmeet Sethi]]
* [[Kali Prasad Mukherjee]]
* Aishwarya Sushmita
}}
| writer = {{ubl|Neeraj Pandey|Deepak Kingrani |Benazir Ali Fida}}
| theme_music_composer =
| composer = Advait Nemlekar
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| num_episodes = 4
| location = India<br>Dubai<br>Ukraine
| cinematography = {{ubl|Sudheer Palsane| Arvind Singh}}
| editor = Praveen Kathikuloth
| network = [[Disney+ Hotstar]]
| released =
| first_aired = {{Start date|2021|11|12|df=yes}}
| last_aired =
| company = Friday Storytellers
| executive_producer =
| producer = [[Shital Bhatia]]
| runtime = 34-51 min
| num_seasons =
| list_episodes =
| related = [[Special Ops (Indian TV series)|Special Ops]]
}}

'''''Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story''''' is a Hindi [[Action fiction|action]] thriller series created and directed by [[Neeraj Pandey]] for [[Disney+ Hotstar]].<ref name="India Today 2021">{{cite web | title=Disney+Hotstar announces Special Ops 1.5, the backstory of Himmat Singh | website=India Today | date=2021-01-22 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/binge-watch/story/disney-hotstar-announces-special-ops-1-5-the-backstory-of-himmat-singh-1761835-2021-01-22 | access-date=2021-08-03}}</ref> The series is set inside the Special Ops Universe and stars [[Kay Kay Menon]] as Himmat Singh, a [[Research & Analysis Wing]] (R&AW) officer. The series premiered on 12 November 2021.<ref name="Layton 2021">{{cite web | last=Layton | first=Mark | title=India's Disney+ Hotstar expands 'Special Ops Universe' | website=TBI Vision | date=2021-01-25 | url=https://tbivision.com/2021/01/25/disney-hotstar-announces-special-ops-universe/ | access-date=2021-08-03}}</ref>

== Cast ==
* [[Kay Kay Menon]] as Himmat Singh
* [[Aftab Shivdasani]] as Vijay Kumar
* [[Vinay Pathak]] as [[Sub-inspector|SI]] Abbas Sheikh, [[Delhi Police]]
* [[Aadil Khan]] as Maninder Singh
* [[Gautami Kapoor]] as Sarojini
* [[Parmeet Sethi]] as Naresh Chaddha
* [[Kali Prasad Mukherjee]] as D. K. Banerjee
* [[Kishor Kadam]] as Mondal
* [[Vijay Vikram Singh]] as [[Commodore (rank)|Naval Commodore]] Chintamani Sharma
* [[Aishwarya Sushmita]] as Karishma
* Shantanu Ghatak as Vinayak Shukla
* Shiv Jyoti Rajput as Anita Sharma
* [[Nikhat Khan]] as Meenakshi Sharma
* Purnendu Bhattacharya as G. P. Mathur, Himmat's boss
* Vivek Madaan as Sankalp Chaudhary
* [[Maria Ryaboshapka]] as Natasha
* [[Harssh A. Singh]] as [[Joint commissioner of police|Joint Commissioner]] Mahendra Chautala
* Sushil Tyagi as [[Superintendent of police (India)|DIG]] Sushil Sharma
* Saurabh Mukhija as Bhimsain
* Ronald Mistry as Ashraful Rehman
* Basnet Romila as Boudi
* Aanup Sharma as Basheer Mirza
* [[Karan Tacker]] as Farooq Ali (cameo appearance)

== Episodes ==
{{Episode table |background=#B30514 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Aandhi
|DirectedBy = [[Shivam Nair]]
|WrittenBy = {{ubl|[[Neeraj Pandey]] |Deepak Kingrani |Benazir Ali Fida}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|12}}
|ShortSummary =
Abbas Sheikh is summoned by auditors to evaluate Himmat Singh's career as his retirement draws near. After the 2001 Parliament attack, Himmat tracks Ikhlaq Khan to Delhi. Abbas disobeys direct orders from his seniors to not be involved in this case and helps Himmat, but Ikhlaq escapes. A week later in an inquiry, both Himmat and Abbas are suspended from their jobs. Himmat coerces Joint CP Chautala to revoke Abbas' suspension, and dates a girl named Anita before disappearing. Abbas finds him on a news channel where he is in Kashmir searching for leads about Ikhlaq. Soon after, Himmat is called back by R&AW for a case on Vinayak Shukla, an attaché counsellor at the Indian High Commission of Colombo who was honey-trapped by a girl named Karishma, and highly sensitive documents have been leaked. Upon learning the truth, Shukla kills himself. Himmat is joined by Vijay Kumar, his college friend, an ex-army officer. Himmat and Vijay's boss G. P. Mathur gives them their target Maninder Singh, an ex-R&AW officer and Himmat's colleague who has gone rogue. Now their main task is to eliminate him and secure the national documents.
|LineColor = B30514
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Mere Apne
|DirectedBy = Neeraj Pandey
|WrittenBy = {{ubl|Neeraj Pandey|Deepak Kingrani |Benazir Ali Fida}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|12}}
|ShortSummary = Himmat and Abbas interrogate fake passport agent Mondal and learn that Maninder went to London. Upon returning from Moscow, Natasha Petrova blackmailed Naval Commodore Chintamani Sharma for top-secret Naval documents. Chintamani receives an email with intimate photos and a Trojan virus is installed on his computer. Chintamani lies and travels to London to share the documents with Natasha. Upon further investigation, there appears to be an international conspiracy with Sankalp Chaudhary as the main conspirator, whom Maninder and Karishma appear to work for. Vijay decides to go to Colombo to capture Karishma while Himmat travels to London to stop Chintamani. Maninder intercepts Natasha, kills her, and steals the documents. Himmat arrives at the hotel where Chintamani is staying, but before he can start his investigation, Chintamani shoots himself. Vijay arrives in Colombo and holds Karishma at gunpoint. After a quick call between Himmat and Vijay, Maninder points a gun at Himmat.
|LineColor = B30514
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = Lekin
|DirectedBy = Shivam Nair
|WrittenBy = {{ubl|Neeraj Pandey|Deepak Kingrani |Benazir Ali Fida}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|12}}
|ShortSummary =
Himmat asks Maninder why he went rogue, and he explains that on a mission to Serbia, he was captured and tortured by Serbian forces. After waiting six days, he learned that he was betrayed. He then escapes. Vijay captures Karishma and is ambushed by a group of armed men on the way to the airport. Karishma escapes with the armed men. With no leads, Himmat and Vijay return to Delhi. Himmat, Anita, Vijay, and Saroj attend dinner together. While returning from dinner, Himmat realizes that Anita is a mole and he was being tricked by her. He interrogates Anita and learns that she was coerced by Karishma three years earlier. He also finds out that Maninder is in Kyiv, Ukraine. He moves Anita to a safe house and goes to Ukraine with Vijay to eliminate Maninder. Meanwhile, Karishma appears at the stakeout point, and Vijay calls Himmat, who starts following her, while Maninder is monitoring them. Vijay is captured by Maninder and Himmat captures Karishma. Maninder calls Himmat and tells him to come to a tank factory.
|LineColor = B30514
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = Ijazat
|DirectedBy = Neeraj Pandey
|WrittenBy = {{ubl|Neeraj Pandey|Deepak Kingrani |Benazir Ali Fida}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|12}}
|ShortSummary =
As Himmat arrives at the tank factory with Karishma, he finds Vijay wounded. In a face-off, Maninder shoots and kills Karishma. He is about to kill Himmat but Vijay interferes. In the resulting struggle, Maninder kills Vijay and escapes. Himmat sets out to coerce Sankalp to find Maninder and lays a trap by getting Maninder to leave for Dubai. On the flight from Kyiv to Dubai, Himmat strangles Maninder to death. He retrieves the stolen information and, upon returning to Delhi, goes directly to the safe house. Himmat blames Anita for Vijay's death. During an intense conversation, he executes Anita after she asks him to do so. After two months, a deal is agreed between Himmat and Alan Fuller after which Sankalp dies in a car explosion. Due to a successful mission, Himmat gets his job back. A year later, Himmat goes to Saroj and apologises for Vijay's death. In the present, it is shown that Himmat is with his family when he gets a call from Farooq. Farooq was kidnapped somewhere in Nepal and gives Himmat a hint.
|LineColor = B30514
}}
}}

== Production ==
The series was formally announced by [[Disney+ Hotstar]] in January 2021 with [[Kay Kay Menon]] attached to star. In the same month [[Aftab Shivdasani]] joined the cast.<ref name="Bhasin 2021">{{cite web | last=Bhasin | first=Shriya | title=Aftab Shivdasani joins 'Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story' | website=Google | date=2021-02-16 | url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/web-series/aftab-shivdasani-joins-special-ops-1-5-the-himmat-story-685161 | access-date=2021-08-03}}</ref>

=== Filming ===
The series started production in February, 2021.<ref name="Kameshwari 2021">{{cite web | last=Kameshwari | first=A. | title=Kay Kay Menon starrer Special Ops 1.5 begins shoot, declares Neeraj Pandey | website=The Indian Express | date=2021-02-13 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/kay-kay-menon-starrer-special-ops-1-5-begins-shoot-declares-neeraj-pandey-7187365/ | access-date=2021-08-03}}</ref> The series was shot in [[Ukraine]] in July 2021,<ref name="Hungama 2021">{{cite web | last=Hungama | first=Bollywood | title=Special Ops 1.5: Aftab Shivdasani shows what WFH looks like as he shares BTS picture with Kay Kay Menon and Aadil Khan in Ukraine : Bollywood News | website=Bollywood Hungama | date=2021-07-27 | url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/special-ops-1-5-aftab-shivdasani-shows-wfh-looks-like-shares-bts-picture-kay-kay-menon-aadil-khan-ukraine/ | access-date=2021-08-03}}</ref> with the Ukraine leg of the shoot completed in [[Kyiv]] in the same month.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1421699467376349184|user=neerajpofficial|title=Bye bye Ukraine!.Last leg of #specialops 1.5.@kaykaymenon02 @AftabShivdasani @aadilkhanitis @FridayStorytel1… |date=1 August 2021}}</ref>

== Release ==
The four-episode series premiered on [[Disney+ Hotstar]] on November 12, 2021, as part of [[Disney+ Day]].<ref name="Desk 2021">{{cite web | last=Desk | first=Entertainment | title=Special Ops 1.5 trailer: Kay Kay Menon's Himmat Singh is on another globetrotting mission | website=The Indian Express | date=2021-10-19 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/special-ops-1-5-trailer-watch-kay-kay-menon-himmat-singh-7579938/ | access-date=2021-10-19}}</ref><ref name="Google">{{cite web | title=Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story starring Kay Kay Menon to premiere on Hotstar | website=Google | url=https://in.style.yahoo.com/special-ops-1-5-himmat-051128599.html | access-date=2021-08-03}}</ref><ref name="Koimoi 2021">{{cite web | title=Special Ops 1.5: Neeraj Pandey Talks On Using Unconventional Title | website=Koimoi | date=2021-02-17 | url=https://www.koimoi.com/television/special-ops-1-5-neeraj-pandey-reveals-the-reason-behind-using-unconventional-title/ | access-date=2021-08-03}}</ref><ref name="Ramachandran Ramachandran 2021">{{cite web | last=Ramachandran | first=Naman | title=Disney Plus Hotstar Reveals Robust India Slate | website=Variety | date=2021-07-27 | url=https://variety.com/2021/streaming/news/disney-plus-hotstar-2021-india-slate-ajay-devgn-1235028145/ | access-date=2021-08-03}}</ref>

=== Promotion ===
A teaser of the show was released on 14 October 2021 on the social media handles of [[Disney+ Hotstar]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Hotstar Specials Special Ops 1.5 {{!}} Official Teaser| date=13 October 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAjNKloXqTc|language=en|access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref> The trailer was leaked online before its official release on October 19, 2021.<ref name="India Today Trailer">{{cite web | title=Kay Kay Menon's Special Ops 1.5 The Himmat Story trailer drops hours after being leaked online | website=India Today | date=2021-10-19 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/binge-watch/story/kay-kay-menon-s-special-ops-1-5-the-himmat-story-trailer-drops-hours-after-being-leaked-online-1866587-2021-10-19 | access-date=2021-10-19}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Archika Khurana writing for ''[[The Times of India]]'' commented "Kay Kay Menon’s Himmat Singh leaves a lasting impression as a R&AW agent" rating 3 out of 5 stars.<ref name="Khurana 2021">{{cite web | last=Khurana | first=Archika | title=Special Ops 1.5 Season 1 Review: Kay Kay Menon's Himmat Singh leaves a lasting impression as a R&AW agent | website=News | date=2021-11-12 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/special-ops-1-5/season-1/seasonreview/87281389.cms | access-date=2021-11-12}}</ref>

Manik Sharma writing for ''[[Firstpost]]'' noted, "It is understandable that Special Ops 1.5 is a detour to make Himmat Singh more personable, instead of the maverick he was shown in the first season, but the story is too disjointed to pull this narrative heist off."<ref name="Firstpost 2021">{{cite web | title=Special Ops 1.5 review: Kay Kay Menon's towering portrayal of Himmat Singh dwarfs all signs of mediocrity around | website=Firstpost | date=2021-11-12 | url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/special-ops-1-5-review-kay-kay-menons-towering-portrayal-of-himmat-singh-dwarfs-all-signs-of-mediocrity-around-10130681.html | access-date=2021-11-12}}</ref>

Udita Jhunjhunwala writing for ''Scroll'' noted that Special Ops 1.5 feels like an appetiser and a palate cleanser while we wait for the main course, because there's clearly more to come from Neeraj Pandey, Menon, Himmat Singh and his special ops team.<ref name="Jhunjhunwala 2021">{{cite web | last=Jhunjhunwala | first=Udita | title='Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story' review: Solid performances and an intense Kay Kay Menon | website=Scroll.in | date=2021-11-12 | url=https://scroll.in/reel/1010363/special-ops-1-5-the-himmat-story-review-solid-performances-and-an-intense-kay-kay-menon | access-date=2021-11-12}}</ref>

Bhavna Agarwal from ''Bollywood Bubble'' commented "[[Neeraj Pandey]]'s approach to the story with his lenses and storyline is the strength of the prequel backed by a fluid screenplay. [[Kay Kay Menon]] returns as Himmat Singh along with [[Aftab Shivdasani]] and [[Vinay Pathak]] in pivotal roles."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-12|title=Special Ops 1.5 REVIEW: Kay Kay Menon, Aftab Shivdasani and Vinay Pathak starrer sets the right precedent for a stellar prequel|url=https://www.bollywoodbubble.com/movie-reviews/special-ops-1-5-review-kay-kay-menon-aftab-shivdasani-vinay-pathak/|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Bollywood Bubble|language=en}}</ref>

Prateek Sur of ''[[Outlook India]]'' rated it 3.5 out of 5 and wrote in a positive review, "Special Ops 1.5' is just as sharp, tight, engrossing, and exhilarating as the original. The makers have strewn subtle touches of humour throughout the show with the dialogues and one-liners being so refreshing. They serve as a wonderful counterpoint to the ongoing heavy-duty spy work".<ref name="Outlook India">{{cite web | title='Special Ops 1.5' Review: Kay Kay Menon's Performance And The Taut Storyline Keeps You Hooked | website=Outlook India | date=2021-11-13 | url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/special-ops-15-review-kay-kay-menons-performance-and-the-taut-storyline-keeps-you-hooked/400863 | access-date=2021-11-13}}
</ref>

== Sequel ==
In April 2022, [[Neeraj Pandey]] confirmed that the second season of Special Ops is under production and will be released on July 18, 2025 on [[JioHotstar]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se5nggefysA&ab_channel=JioHotstar</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-20 |title=INTERVIEW: Neeraj Pandey on Operation Romeo, Vikram Vedha, Special Ops 2 and Chanakya |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/exclusives/interview-neeraj-pandey-operation-romeo-vikram-vedha-special-ops-2-and-chanakya-1072642 |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=PINKVILLA |language=en}}</ref>

== References==
{{reflist}}

== External links==
* {{IMDb title |13899566}}

[[Category:Hindi-language Disney+ Hotstar original programming]]
[[Category:2021 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:Indian thriller television series]]
[[Category:Indian action television series]]
[[Category:Hindi-language television shows]]
[[Category:Research & Analysis Wing in fiction]]
[[Category:Secret histories]]

Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story - Revision history

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