Baghban

Baghban

Year: 2003

Runtime: 183 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Ravi Chopra

Drama

After spending a lifetime caring for their children, the elderly Raj Malhotra and Pooja find themselves without a home. Their grown‑up children, seeing them as a burden, offer little support, leaving the couple to confront abandonment and the painful question of whether they can truly rely on family.

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Timeline & Setting – Baghban (2003)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Baghban (2003). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 2000s

The story unfolds across decades of a long marriage, moving from retirement to the painful separation and back to a hopeful reunion. It includes a modern urban backdrop as the family and friends navigate changing social norms. The publishing of a bestselling novel later anchors a contemporary, post-retirement arc.

Location

Vijaynagar, India; Raj's family home

Vijaynagar is the setting where Raj and Pooja’s family life unfolds. The film focuses on a traditional Indian home and neighborhood, highlighting the close yet often demanding dynamics of a multi-generational family. It juxtaposes a comfortable domestic space with the strain of neglect when the children separate the parents.

🏠 Indian home 👨‍👩‍👦 Family life 🗺️ Indian towns

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:08

Main Characters – Baghban (2003)

Meet the key characters of Baghban (2003), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Raj Malhotra (Amitabh Bachchan)

A compassionate patriarch who embodies generosity and resilience. Retired yet capable, he endures neglect from his children with quiet dignity and channels his experiences into a published memoir. His enduring love for Pooja anchors the family through hardship.

👨‍👩‍👦 Patriarch 💖 Family-first 📝 Writer

Pooja Malhotra (Hema Malini)

A devoted wife and mother who bears mistreatment with grace. She protects her family’s fragile harmony and ultimately catalyzes reconciliation by standing with Raj. Her strength under pressure defines the emotional core of the story.

👵 Wife 🏠 Family matriarch 💪 Resilient

Alok Raj Malhotra (Salman Khan)

Adopted son who treats Raj and Pooja with genuine care when their own children fail them. He embodies loyalty and acts as a bridge between generations, demonstrating the power of chosen family. He loves Arpita and supports his parents through their trials.

👨‍👦 Adopted son 💞 Caregiver 🏡 Loyal

Arpita Raj (Mahima Chaudhry)

Arlo's love interest who represents a modern Indian woman navigating tradition and independence. Her relationship with Arpita reveals compassion and personal agency within the broader family drama.

💞 Romantic partner 👩‍💼 Modern woman 💡 Hope

Hemant Patel (Paresh Rawal)

Café owner who befriends Raj, becomes a confidant, and helps publish the memoir. He acts as a connector between the aging parents and the younger generation, enabling a transformative opportunity.

☕ Cafe owner 🤝 Connector 🖋️ Literary patron

Nilli (Sanjeeda Sheikh)

A teenage friend who befriends Raj during his stay with Sanjay and aids in the memoir’s journey to publication. Her presence marks a hopeful thread of intergenerational support.

🧒 Teen 📚 Helper ✨ Hope

Sanjay Malhotra (Samir Soni)

One of Raj and Pooja’s sons, whose neglect contributes to the family strain. His actions highlight the consequences of prioritizing status over aging parents.

👨 Son 🧭 Family rift

Payal Malhotra (Rimi Sen)

Granddaughter who initially embodies the family tension, but repents and shows love after Pooja’s protective intervention.

👧 Granddaughter 💖 Repentance 🤗 Compassion

Rahul Malhotra (Yash Pathak)

Raj and Pooja’s grandson who gravitates toward affection with his grandparents, becoming a poignant reminder of the family’s enduring bonds.

👦 Grandson 💓 Bond-maker

Kiran Malhotra (Suman Ranganathan)

Daughter-in-law who participates in the mistreatment of Pooja, representing a harsher side of in-law relationships within the family.

👩 Daughter-in-law 💔 In-law friction

Rohit Malhotra (Saahil Chadha)

One of Raj and Pooja’s sons who is part of the central split, illustrating the broader theme of generational conflict.

👦 Son 🕊️ Conflicted

Karan Malhotra (Nasirr Khan)

Another son whose actions contribute to the household fracture, highlighting the film’s critique of self-centered family dynamics.

👦 Son 🧩 Fragmentation

Ajay Malhotra

One of Raj and Pooja’s four sons; participates in the family rift and is part of the later forgiveness arc.

👨 Son 🏡 Family rift

Shanti Patel (Lillete Dubey)

A relative who embodies warmth and support within the extended family network during the crisis.

👵 Relative 🕊️ Support

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:08

Major Themes – Baghban (2003)

Explore the central themes of Baghban (2003), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👨‍👩‍👦 Family Duty

Aging parents rely on their children for care, but the film shows how even loving families can fail under pressure. The six-month splits across the sons’ homes reveal a clash between affection and obligation. Raj and Pooja’s endurance reframes sacrifice as a central family value, not weakness.

🧓 Aging & Respect

The film centers on the dignity of elders and the pain of neglect by one’s own kin. It contrasts disrespectful behavior with acts of kindness from Alok and others. It emphasizes that elders deserve to be treated with care, especially within the family unit.

🤝 Forgiveness & Reconciliation

The parents’ decision to disown their sons for their mistreatment marks a harsh boundary. The book’s success creates a pathway to truth and, for some, a chance at forgiveness. Ultimately, Raj and Pooja reunite with those who showed love, while the rift with others remains.

📚 Literary Legacy

The publication of Baghban becomes a lifeline, funding the couple’s future and turning personal history into a shared legacy. Hemant, Nilli, and Kapil help bring the novel to life, turning pain into storytelling. The story suggests that memories and stories can outlast hurt and redefine family bonds.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:08

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a linear, steady progression, building from a place of established family unity to a gradual, painful unraveling. The central conflict arises from the children's perceived ingratitude and neglect, forcing the elderly parents to confront their vulnerability and fight for their self-worth, often finding unexpected support and a bittersweet resolution.

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Narrative Summary

The plot follows elderly characters as a central pillar, often a couple, whose stable world is shattered by the actions of others or changing circumstances. Their struggle is not for grand victory but for respect, independence, and emotional closure. The arc is one of survival and moral victory, achieving a measure of peace that is tempered by the losses endured along the way.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific mood blend of heartbreak and hope, a steady pacing that allows for deep emotional engagement with the characters' plights, and a consistent bittersweet tone that acknowledges pain while celebrating the human capacity for endurance.

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Baghban Summary

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Baghban Spoiler-Free Summary

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Baghban Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Baghban

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