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Bombay Talkies (2013) movie poster

Timeline

Bombay Talkies (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 127 mins · Hindi
Directed by
Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee
Starring
Randeep Hooda, Anil Kapoor, Abdul Quadir Amin, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh

One hundred years of Hindi cinema is celebrated in four short stories showcasing the power of film.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (15)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Categories
  5. 5 Every angle

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Bombay Talkies Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Bombay Talkies (2013) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Avinash proclaims his sexuality at home

    Avinash bursts into his family home and bluntly declares that he is homosexual. His bold admission leaves his father stunned and triggers heartbreak and confusion at the breakfast table. Unable to cope with the fallout, he decides to leave his parents' house to seek a fresh start.

    When
    early morning
    Where
    Avinash's family home
  2. Train station encounter with a singing girl

    While leaving home, Avinash passes a girl at a train station who sings the iconic 'Ajeeb Dastan Hain Ye.' The moment underscores the film's mood of strange luck and fate. The scene foreshadows how music and chance tie the stories together.

    When
    daytime
    Where
    Train station
  3. Dev learns Avinash is gay; Gayatri unfazed

    Avinash bluntly shares his sexual orientation with Dev, who is newly starting as an intern. To Avinash's surprise, Gayatri does not react with shock, suggesting a more permissive understanding within the circle. This moment marks the beginning of an uneasy, intimate bond among them.

    When
    shortly after
    Where
    Workplace
  4. Birthday dinner reveals the truth

    Gayatri hosts a dinner for Avinash's birthday and uses the occasion to tell Dev about Avinash's orientation. The revelation acts as a turning point, destabilizing the balance within the trio. The dinner table becomes a space where friendship, desire, and secrecy begin to blur.

    When
    evening
    Where
    Gayatri's home
  5. CD gift and a street meet with the singing girl

    The following day, Avinash returns to Dev's orbit, presenting a CD and inviting him to come out. They then go to meet a young girl who again sings the familiar tune, heightening Dev's disbelief. The moment deepens their complex bond framed by cinema and truth.

    When
    following day
    Where
    Dev's workplace and nearby street
  6. Avinash tests truth with a moral lesson

    Back in a street setting, Avinash presses the truth through a moral test involving a girl and her siblings. He even pays the girl to feed her siblings and urges her to reveal the real life behind the lies. The scene foregrounds the film's preoccupation with truth and illusion.

    When
    afternoon
    Where
    Street location with the girl
  7. Tension escalates; Gayatri returns with news

    Gayatri returns with news that she and Dev had 'amazing' sex the previous night, shocking Avinash. He confronts Dev at work about his feelings, and their conversation makes the underlying tensions painfully clear. The moment pushes the triangle toward a breaking point.

    When
    next day
    Where
    Dev's workplace
  8. Confrontation turns violent

    An attempted embrace between Avinash and Dev escalates into anger and violence at the workplace. Avinash withdraws, shaken by the confrontation while the fragile balance among the three remains fractured. The incident seals the unraveling of their arrangement.

    When
    shortly after
    Where
    Dev's workplace
  9. Marriage ends; truth shatters the trio

    Avinash tells Gayatri that Dev kissed him, triggering a decisive break in their marriage. Gayatri proclaims that the problem lies with Dev and that their union is finished. The film closes the domestic arc with the trio's relationship permanently altered.

    When
    following days
    Where
    Gayatri's home
  10. Star: failed actor finds purpose through a rebuke

    Nawazuddin's character, a failed actor, struggles to catch a break while supporting himself after his father's death. On the way to a night-watchman interview, he is drawn to a filming set and audition, where his father's spirit visits to rebuke him for not staying true to his craft. The rebuke becomes a turning point that refocuses his artistry.

    When
    evening
    Where
    Filming set / street
  11. Star: delivers a flawless shot, rejects payment

    Inspired by the paternal rebuke, he delivers a flawless shot in the scene. Despite the moment's success, he walks away from payment, having regained a renewed conviction about what it means to be an actor. The experience marks a personal breakthrough.

    When
    after the audition
    Where
    Filming set
  12. Sheila Ki Jawaani: a boy chooses dance over expectations

    A 12-year-old boy from a struggling family watches a film star perform 'Sheela Ki Jawaani' and decides to pursue dancing. His father wants him to become a football player, and the boy defies expectations by embracing his art. He dons feminine attire to practice with unrestrained joy when alone.

    When
    evening
    Where
    Home and nearby streets
  13. Garage show: family finances meet ambition

    With tight finances, the siblings pool their money to stage a small garage show; the boy dances with exuberant freedom as they perform for a roomful of family and friends. The act embodies a celebration of following one's heart against social norms. The moment becomes a family milestone despite hardship.

    When
    night
    Where
    Old garage
  14. Murabba: a train journey to meet Bachchan

    Vijay travels from a small town in Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai to fulfill his dying father’s last wish: to meet Amitabh Bachchan. Lacking money, he camps outside the star's residence, surviving days of hunger and hope. The act is a quiet testament to perseverance in the face of longing.

    When
    days waiting
    Where
    Amitabh Bachchan's residence area; Mumbai
  15. Murabba: the meeting and renewal symbol

    Luck finally smiles when he speaks with Bachchan and shares a half-murabba as a token of their moment. On the train home, a jealous traveler spills the preserved murabba, threatening to erase the memory. Vijay buys a new jar and returns to his family with renewed hope, suggesting that the dream has been realized and renewal is possible.

    When
    after the meeting
    Where
    Outside Bachchan's residence; on the train

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:51

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Timeline questions answered

Bombay Talkies Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Bombay Talkies (2013): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Avinash leave his parents' home after telling them he's gay?

Avinash leaves because his declaration creates immediate heartbreak and confusion at home. His father is stunned and unable to accept the news, making the home environment unbearable. Avinash chooses to seek a fresh start elsewhere rather than face ongoing conflict, though this decision also sets the stage for his later encounters with Dev and Gayatri.

Foreshadowing: The train station scene with the singing girl immediately after his departure establishes the theme of fate guiding him toward new connections.

  • avinash
  • gay
  • homosexuality
  • parents
  • coming out
  • family rejection
Q2

Why isn't Gayatri shocked when she learns Avinash is gay?

Gayatri's lack of shock suggests she may already suspect or understand aspects of Dev's own suppressed sexuality. Her calm reaction indicates a more permissive worldview and hints at the complex dynamics already existing in her marriage before Avinash arrived.

  • gayatri
  • avinash
  • dev
  • reaction
  • sexuality
  • understanding
Q3

Why does Dev react with violence when Avinash tries to get close to him?

Dev's violence stems from years of repressed sexuality and internal conflict about his own identity. When Avinash confronts him and confesses his feelings, Dev's internal struggle erupts as anger. He kisses Avinash in a moment of weakness, then immediately strikes him - a violent rejection of his own suppressed desires and fear of exposure.

Foreshadowing: Earlier moments of tension and awkwardness between Dev and Avinash foreshadow this explosive confrontation.

  • dev
  • avinash
  • violence
  • kiss
  • sexuality
  • repression
  • confrontation
Q4

Why does Gayatri end her marriage after learning Dev kissed Avinash?

Gayatri's decision represents the final breaking point of a troubled marriage. She had already been troubled by the emotional distance and secrets between them. When Avinash reveals the kiss, she recognizes that her husband has been hiding his true self throughout their relationship - the marriage was built on a lie about his identity, not just his infidelity.

  • gayatri
  • dev
  • marriage
  • kiss
  • divorce
  • truth
  • lie
Q5

Why does Avinash test the truth with the street girl and her siblings?

Avinash uses the girl as a moral test to encourage honesty - he pays her to feed her siblings but insists she tell the truth about her life. This reflects Avin's own struggle for authenticity in a world where everyone seems to be hiding parts of themselves, including Dev who refuses to admit his true feelings.

  • avinash
  • truth
  • girl
  • test
  • morality
  • honesty
Q6

What does the final scene with Avinash sitting on his bed represent?

The final image shows Avinash alone and emotionally devastated after the trio's collapse. Meanwhile, Dev stands with the singing girl who asks for money - she accuses him of lying when he denies having any, mirroring the film's central theme that Dev's entire life (including his marriage to Gayatri) was built on a lie about his sexuality.

  • ending
  • avinash
  • dev
  • girl
  • truth
  • lie
  • illusion
  • symbolism
Q7

Why does the father's spirit appear to the failed actor at the film set?

The father's spirit appears to rebuke his son for abandoning his craft after facing failures. The spirit criticizes him for not remaining true to acting, suggesting the father represents the actor's abandoned artistic conscience. This supernatural moment serves as the catalyst that helps the actor reconnect with his true passion.

  • actor
  • father
  • spirit
  • rebuking
  • film set
  • purpose
Q8

Why does the actor walk away without accepting payment after delivering a perfect shot?

After receiving his father's spirit's rebuke and rediscovering his passion for acting, the payment becomes irrelevant to him. The act of performing with genuine conviction and purpose is more meaningful than money. He gains something more valuable - artistic renewal and clarity about why he became an actor in the first place.

  • actor
  • payment
  • rejection
  • acting
  • purpose
  • art
  • conviction
Q9

Why does the boy decide to pursue dancing after watching the film star's performance?

The boy's life is constrained by poverty and his father's expectation that he becomes a football player. When he sees the film star Katrina Kaif perform 'Sheela Ki Jawaani,' he experiences artistic passion for the first time and sees dance as his path to freedom and self-expression - a way to break free from societal expectations placed on him.

  • boy
  • dance
  • sheela ki jawaani
  • film star
  • dreams
  • expectations
Q10

Why do the siblings pool their money to stage the garage show?

The siblings pool their limited money to help their sister afford a school trip, showing family unity despite financial hardship. The garage show becomes an opportunity for the boy to finally perform his dance publicly, transforming a practical necessity into a celebration of his artistic dream.

  • garage
  • show
  • siblings
  • money
  • dance
  • family
  • unity
Q11

Why is meeting Amitabh Bachchan so important to Vijay's dying father?

Vijay's father is a lifelong fan of Amitabh Bachchan, one of India's greatest cinematic icons. Meeting Bachchan represents the culmination of the father's lifelong admiration and a final dream that gives meaning to his difficult life. For Vijay, fulfilling this wish becomes an act of love and respect that may bring his father peace before death.

  • vijay
  • amitabh bachchan
  • father
  • dying
  • wish
  • dream
  • idol
Q12

Why does Vijay recreate the murabba after it's spilled on the train?

The murabba has become a symbolic representation of his successful meeting with Bachchan - proof of his achievement that can be shared with his father. When it's destroyed, Vijay buys a new jar and recreates the experience to ensure his father receives the tangible proof of his accomplishment, showing that the dream's meaning transcends the physical object.

  • vijay
  • murabba
  • bachchan
  • train
  • symbol
  • renewal
  • hope
Q13

What does the murabba (pickle) symbolize in Vijay's story?

The murabba represents the tangible proof of Vijay's success and the fulfillment of his father's dream. Sharing half the murabba with Bachchan creates an intimate moment that transforms an impossible dream into a real memory. The act of bringing it home symbolizes that Vijay has successfully bridged the gap between ordinary life and cinematic legend.

  • murabba
  • pickle
  • symbol
  • success
  • proof
  • memory
  • fulfillment

Movie threads

More Movies Like Bombay Talkies, by Mood & Story

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

Anthology Dramas with Interwoven Stories like Bombay Talkies

Multiple character stories connected by a central theme, blending hope and heartache. Discover movies like Bombay Talkies that use an anthology format to tell multiple stories connected by a central theme. These films often explore dreams, relationships, and societal pressures through different characters, creating a bittersweet and emotionally resonant tapestry similar to classic Bollywood narratives.

  • anthology
  • interconnected
  • contemplative
  • poignant
  • hopeful
  • nostalgic
  • Tone: bittersweet, poignant
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically feature several distinct but thematically linked stories. They unfold in parallel or are loosely connected, often concluding with a mix of resolutions—some hopeful, some sad—that reflect the complexity of life. The structure emphasizes thematic unity over a single plotline.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared multi-story structure and bittersweet tone. They focus on character-driven moments and emotional authenticity, using the anthology format to explore a central idea from multiple angles, resulting in a nuanced and contemplative experience.

Movies about Artistic Passion and Self-Discovery like Bombay Talkies

Characters navigating societal expectations to find their authentic voice and passion. Find movies like Bombay Talkies that center on characters pursuing artistic passions against societal expectations. These dramas focus on the quiet, internal journey of self-discovery, often with a bittersweet tone and a mix of emotional hardship and hopeful resilience.

  • self-discovery
  • artistic passion
  • family expectations
  • contemplative
  • hopeful
  • emotional
  • Tone: bittersweet, contemplative
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a character's internal struggle between their innate desires or talents and the external pressures of family, tradition, or society. The journey is often introspective, with climaxes centered on personal revelations or small, significant acts of defiance rather than large-scale external conflicts.

Why they belong together: These films share a core theme of identity and authenticity. They are united by a contemplative mood, a focus on personal rather than epic stakes, and a tone that acknowledges the pain of breaking norms while finding hope in self-realization.

Categories

Movie Lists Featuring Bombay Talkies

Bombay Talkies appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

View all movie categories

Every angle

Bombay Talkies (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Bombay Talkies 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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