The film enjoyed a prime-time slot on worldwide premieres around Christmas 2004/Early 2005. Because cable TV was booming in India during this period, the film reached villages and cities simultaneously. It became a "Sunday afternoon ritual."
The story follows Alibaba (Arbaaz Khan), a poor outcast village woodcutter. His world changes when he discovers Zakali's hidden treasure cave located near Kali Pahadi, a valley "inhabited by prehistoric dinosaurs". After using the magic password ' Khul Ja Sim Sim ' to enter the cave, he finds untold wealth and decides to distribute some to the poor villagers. alibaba aur 40 chor 2004
The 40 thieves were not robed in typical Arabic kaftans. They wore leather armor, dark hoods, and masks reminiscent of Mongol warriors (given the Uzbek filming location). This made them look scarier than the 1990s versions of the story. The "Thief Count" was a major selling point in the 2004 promotional material—they actually used dozens of extras to simulate 40 distinct fighters. The film enjoyed a prime-time slot on worldwide
While based on the classic Arabian Nights tale, this adaptation is set in modern-day India in a village called Sonapur. His world changes when he discovers Zakali's hidden
