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Year: 2015
Runtime: 149 min
Language: Hindi
Director: Anurag Kashyap
In 1940s Bombay, Johnny's quest for wealth and admiration becomes an all-consuming passion when he sets his sights on winning over Rosie. As he delves deeper into the city's underworld, his desires are met with ruthless ambition and treacherous alliances, threatening to destroy everything he holds dear.
Warning: spoilers below!
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In the vibrant streets of 1969 Bombay, Balraj is not just a street fighter and boxer; he is a man driven by the love for the enchanting jazz singer, Rosie. As he watches Rosie entertain wealthy men, his longing for her ignites a fierce ambition to transform himself into a “big-shot.” He believes that wealth might finally win Rosie’s heart.
Balraj, along with his loyal friend Chimman, captures the attention of Kaizad Khambatta, a powerful businessman who sees potential in Balraj and offers him the opportunity to manage his club, Bombay Velvet. Unknown to Balraj, Khambatta uses this club as a front for his illicit operations. As a token of his newfound identity, Khambatta gives Balraj the nickname “Johnny,” which soon becomes synonymous with his life in the underworld.
In this new life, Johnny takes on various tasks for Khambatta, including a dubious mission to capture blackmail material on a corrupt minister. However, this risky game catches the attention of media reporter Jimmy Mistri, who aims to exploit Johnny’s affection for Rosie. Mistri sends Rosie into Johnny’s world to retrieve that photograph, not anticipating that romance will blossom between them.
With feelings blossoming, Mistri threatens to unearth Rosie’s secrets to Johnny, forcing her to become an informant on Johnny and Khambatta’s illicit dealings. When a photograph of a clandestine meeting among the city’s elite is leaked, Khambatta deduces that Rosie is the informant and orders her execution. This betrayal ignites a fierce enmity between Johnny and Khambatta, whose double-edged involvement in Johnny’s life takes a dark turn.
In a desperate move to protect Rosie, Johnny orchestrates a plan that involves faking her death and pretending she is her long-dead twin sister, Rita. However, Khambatta’s astuteness soon thwarts this deception, leading to a deadly confrontation at Bombay Velvet. In a brutal turn of events, Khambatta shoots Rosie, hoping to provoke Johnny into a rage. The climax crescendos as Johnny, in a fit of fury, manages to stab Khambatta but is fatally shot while attempting to save Rosie by transporting her to the hospital.
In a shocking revelation during the film’s end credits, it is disclosed that Rosie survives her near-fatal encounter, leaving audiences questioning the true cost of ambition and betrayal in the dark and opulent world of Bombay Velvet.
Last Updated: November 15, 2024 at 18:17
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