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Plot Summary

Aurangzeb (2013) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 137 min · Hindi
Directed by
Atul Sabharwal
Starring
Tanvi Azmi, Rishi Kapoor, Amrita Singh, Jackie Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, Deepti Naval

A father, Ravikant, uncovers corruption within a powerful organization led by Yashvardhan. Determined to expose the truth, he orchestrates a daring scheme by swapping Yashvardhan’s son, Ajay, with his twin brother, Vishal. This calculated move triggers a series of intense and action-packed events, setting off a high-stakes battle where deception and danger intertwine.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Aurangzeb
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Aurangzeb (2013)

Where can you watch Aurangzeb? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix, Netflix Standard and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Aurangzeb: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Aurangzeb (2013) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

The film unfolds in the bustling industrial city of Gurgaon, located near NCT Delhi. Narrated through the perspective of ACP Arya Phogat (Prithviraj Sukumaran), the story reveals a complex family dynamic. Arya, a dedicated police officer, was raised by his uncle, DCP Ravikant Phogat (Rishi Kapoor). His father, inspector Vijaykant Phogat (portrayed by Anupam Kher), lost his zest for life after a failed operation to eliminate Yashvardhan Singh (Jackie Shroff), primarily due to insufficient evidence against him.

Yashvardhan's wife, Veera (Tanvi Azmi), turned police informant against her husband, leading her to escape with one of her twin sons, Vishal (Arjun Kapoor), while the other, Ajay, remained with Yashvardhan. During this turmoil, Vijaykant harbors feelings for Veera and decides to protect her and Vishal by orchestrating a botched encounter for which he ultimately takes the blame. Consequently, he faces suspension and is torn between his obligations to his biological family and his adopted wife and son.

Years roll by, and on his deathbed, Vijaykant reveals to Arya that he has another wife and child but shrouds their identities in mystery. After Vijaykant's passing, Arya seeks out Veera and is taken aback to discover Vishal, who resembles his twin brother Ajay down to the last detail.

Embarking on a mission to bring Yashvardhan's illicit activities to light, DCP Ravikant, whose moral compass is decidedly skewed, conspires with Arya and persuades Vishal to infiltrate Yashvardhan's home by impersonating Ajay. To facilitate this risky plan, Ajay is kidnapped by Ravikant and Arya, allowing Vishal to assume his identity and relaying vital information regarding Yashvardhan's crimes to the authorities.

As Vishal navigates his new role, he finds himself entangled in personal conflicts, especially as he feigns a relationship with Ajay's girlfriend, Ritu (Sasha Aagha). Over time, feelings blossom in Vishal's heart for Ritu, complicating his already precarious situation. He discreetly continues to provide information to Ravikant and Arya, who are determined to gather enough evidence for a takedown.

The story thickens as Ravikant and Arya consider uniting Ajay with his mother Veera while attempting to manipulate him into exposing Yashvardhan's illegal dealings. Vishal's growing connection to Yashvardhan leads him to advocate for his father's safety amid the storm brewing around them.

After a series of tumultuous events, including Yashvardhan's hospitalization due to actions instigated by Ravikant, tensions rise as Neena, Yashvardhan's confidante and business partner, orchestrates Ritu's murder through her son, Inder. In the ensuing chaos, Vishal’s vengeance towards Neena for the loss of his love introduces a new layer to the narrative.

When the confrontation edges closer, Arya and Ajay devise a strategy to meet with Neena, culminating in a showdown against the forces of corruption and betrayal. The precariously laid plans take unexpected turns, and noble aspirations clash with cruel realities. Family ties and loyalties are tested as Arya discovers the true motivation behind Ravikant's vendetta against Yashvardhan.

In a climactic confrontation, the film dives into themes of revenge, familial obligation, and moral dilemmas as Vishal and Ajay navigate through the convoluted world of crime and law enforcement. In a gripping finale, truths are revealed, and bodies fall as both brothers discover the lengths they will go to protect those they love.

As the narrative reaches its resolution, the lingering effects of their actions come to light. Arya's closing words resonate as a poignant reflection on systemic corruption, leaving viewers to contemplate the precarious balance between right and wrong in an unforgiving world. In a reflective glance to the future, Arya ensures that Ajay reunites with his family, while he rides off to be with his wife, Suman (Swara Bhaskar), leaving behind a legacy fraught with complexity and heartache.

Last updated: October 25, 2024 at 09:10

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Plot questions answered

Aurangzeb Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Aurangzeb (2013): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Vishal agree to impersonate his twin brother Ajay?

Vishal agrees to infiltrate Yashvardhan's home as Ajay because DCP Ravikant and ACP Arya convince him that this is the only way to gather evidence against Yashvardhan's criminal empire. Vishal is motivated by the desire to expose the man who destroyed his family and caused his mother Veera to flee. Additionally, Ravikant and Arya have kidnapped the real Ajay, making Vishal's impersonation essential for their plan to work.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Arya discovers that Vishal bears an uncanny resemblance to Ajay, making the dangerous substitution possible.

  • Vishal
  • Ajay
  • twin swap
  • infiltration
  • Yashvardhan
Q2

Why does Veera turn against her husband Yashvardhan and become a police informant?

Veera decides to turn informant because she cannot tolerate Yashvardhan's criminal activities and violence any longer. As his wife, she has inside knowledge of his illegal operations. Her decision to escape with one of her twin sons, Vishal, while leaving Ajay with Yashvardhan, shows the difficult choice she made to protect at least one of her children from his influence.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes Yashvardhan as a powerful criminal whose activities attract police attention throughout the story.

  • Veera
  • informant
  • Yashvardhan
  • escape
  • twins
Q3

Why was Inspector Vijaykant suspended from the police force?

Vijaykant was suspended after he orchestrated a botched police encounter designed to protect Veera and her son Vishal from Yashvardhan. Knowing that Yashvardhan would hunt them down, Vijaykant staged the encounter as cover for their escape. However, the operation failed, and Vijaykant took the blame, resulting in his suspension from the police force.

Foreshadowing: Vijaykant's feelings for Veera are established early, explaining why he would risk everything to protect her.

  • Vijaykant
  • suspended
  • botched encounter
  • Veera
  • Vishal
Q4

How does Vishal die in the climax of Aurangzeb?

Vishal dies during the climactic confrontation with Neena and her forces. After seeking vengeance for Ritu's murder, Vishal engages in a violent showdown with Neena's son Inder and the other antagonists. In the ensuing battle, Vishal is killed, becoming one of the many casualties as the truth about the twin swap and Yashvardhan's crimes are revealed.

Foreshadowing: Ritu's murder earlier in the film drives Vishal's quest for revenge, setting up his fatal confrontation.

  • Vishal death
  • climax
  • Neena
  • revenge
  • Ritu
Q5

Why does DCP Ravikant want to destroy Yashvardhan?

Ravikant's personal vendetta against Yashvardhan stems from years of witnessing the corruption and violence Yashvardhan has inflicted. Though the specific details of Ravikant's personal loss are revealed in the climax, his mission to bring Yashvardhan down drives much of the plot. He uses Arya and Vishal as instruments for his revenge, manipulating the twin swap plan to serve his own long-standing grudge against the criminal.

Foreshadowing: The film hints at Ravikant's skewed moral compass early on, showing he is willing to use deception and kidnapping to achieve his goals.

  • Ravikant
  • vendetta
  • Yashvardhan
  • motivation
  • revenge
Q6

Who orders Ritu's murder in Aurangzeb?

Ritu's murder is orchestrated by Neena, who is Yashvardhan's confidante and business partner. Neena uses her son Inder to carry out the killing as part of a larger scheme to maintain power and control within Yashvardhan's criminal empire. The murder is meant to create chaos and eliminate complications caused by the twin impersonation situation.

Foreshadowing: Neena's role as Yashvardhan's close associate is established early, and her willingness to use ruthless tactics becomes apparent throughout the film.

  • Ritu
  • murder
  • Neena
  • Inder
  • killed
Q7

Why does Vishal fall in love with Ritu while impersonating Ajay?

Vishal develops genuine feelings for Ritu because, despite knowing she is his target's girlfriend, he is forced to maintain a close relationship with her while living as Ajay. Over time, the emotional intimacy of the deception leads to real feelings developing between them. This complicates Vishal's mission significantly, as his personal emotions conflict with his duty to gather evidence against Yashvardhan.

Foreshadowing: The plan requires Vishal to maintain a relationship with Ritu as part of his cover, which inevitably leads to emotional complications.

  • Vishal
  • Ritu
  • love
  • feelings
  • impersonation
Q8

How does Arya discover Vishal and his connection to the twins?

Arya discovers Vishal after his father Vijaykant reveals on his deathbed that he has another wife and child. Driven by this revelation, Arya tracks down Veera and finds Vishal. He is shocked to discover that Vishal is the twin brother of Ajay, who belongs to Yashvardhan. This discovery leads to the dangerous plan of swapping the twins to infiltrate Yashvardhan's criminal organization.

Foreshadowing: Vijaykant's mysterious last secret about another wife and child plant the seeds for this discovery.

  • Arya
  • Vishal
  • discovery
  • twins
  • Veera
Q9

What happens to Ajay at the end of Aurangzeb?

At the end of the film, Ajay is reunited with his biological mother Veera and his twin brother Vishal, though this reunion is bittersweet as Vishal has died. Arya ensures this family reunion happens before he leaves to be with his wife Suman. Ajay's story represents one of the few hopeful elements in the film's dark narrative, as he escapes Yashvardhan's influence and reconnect with his real family.

Foreshadowing: The earlier manipulation of Ajay by Ravikant and Arya was designed to eventually unite him with his mother.

  • Ajay
  • reunion
  • Veera
  • family
  • ending
Q10

What leads to Yashvardhan's hospitalization in the film?

Yashvardhan is hospitalized after suffering a health crisis triggered by the actions and manipulations of DCP Ravikant. Ravikant orchestrates events to destabilize Yashvardhan's position and health, creating openings for the police to move against his criminal empire. This hospitalization marks a turning point in the power struggle between Yashvardhan and his enemies.

Foreshadowing: Ravikant's vendetta drives him to use any means necessary to weaken Yashvardhan, including psychological and physical pressure.

  • Yashvardhan
  • hospitalized
  • Ravikant
  • health
  • turning point
Q11

Why did Vijaykant's operation to eliminate Yashvardhan fail?

Vijaykant's operation to eliminate Yashvardhan failed because there was insufficient evidence against him. As a police officer, Vijaykant needed concrete proof to bring down the powerful criminal, but Yashvardhan's operation was too well-protected by corruption and lack of witnesses. This failure devastated Vijaykant, leaving him disillusioned and affecting his family life for years.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes Yashvardhan as a criminal who operates with enough protection to evade law enforcement.

  • Vijaykant
  • operation
  • Yashvardhan
  • failed
  • evidence

Movie threads

More Movies Like Aurangzeb, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Aurangzeb tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about police and criminal corruption like Aurangzeb

Stories where the line between cops and criminals is dangerously blurred. If you liked the high-stakes corruption and moral ambiguity in Aurangzeb, you'll appreciate these movies. They feature intense thrillers and gritty crime dramas where the lines between law and crime are blurred, focusing on undercover missions, betrayal, and systemic decay.

  • tense
  • gripping
  • cynical
  • oppressive
  • anxious
  • gritty
  • Tone: dark, cynical, tense
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow characters who infiltrate or navigate deeply corrupt systems, often becoming compromised in the process. The central conflict arises from the clash between personal morals and the demands of a ruthless, unethical world, leading to betrayals and hard-hitting confrontations.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the theme of pervasive corruption, particularly within law enforcement and powerful organizations. They create a similar tense, cynical mood where no one is entirely clean, and every alliance is fragile.

Thrillers with twin deception and identity swaps like Aurangzeb

High-stakes thrillers built on the tension of swapped or double lives. For viewers who enjoyed the twin swap plot and high-stakes deception in Aurangzeb, this list features similar movies. Explore action-packed thrillers and complex dramas where doppelgangers, undercover agents, and mistaken identities lead to intense confrontations and family betrayal.

  • tense
  • gripping
  • anxious
  • deceptive
  • complex
  • psychological
  • Tone: tense, dark, gripping
  • Pacing: fast, suspenseful
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories often begin with a deliberate or accidental identity swap that sets off a chain of unpredictable events. The plot revolves around the challenge of sustaining the lie, leading to situations where the protagonist must confront their own double or the consequences of their deception, culminating in a dramatic reveal.

Why they belong together: This grouping is defined by the specific narrative device of twin/doppelganger deception as a primary driver of the plot. They share a fast pace, high tension, and complex character dynamics stemming from the central identity crisis.

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Every angle

Aurangzeb (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Aurangzeb in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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