Ek Villain Returns

Ek Villain Returns

Year: 2022

Runtime: 127 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Mohit Suri

Echo Score: 33

Budget: $5B

ActionCrimeThrillerIntense violence and sexual transgressionTwisted dark psychological thriller

When a singer disappears during a series of murders, a taxi driver and the son of a businessman become entangled in a dark and complex story. Lines between right and wrong become increasingly blurred as they confront the disturbing events and the people involved, revealing a world where heroes are far from guaranteed.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Ek Villain Returns yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Ek Villain Returns (2022)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Ek Villain Returns (2022). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day

Set in contemporary urban India, the narrative shifts between the investigation and flashbacks that reveal past relationships and motives. The modern setting drives police work and media involvement as clues unfold. The juxtaposition of everyday spaces with a killer's psyche creates a tense, current thriller atmosphere.

Location

Apartment complex, Zoo, Mall

An urban apartment complex serves as the initial crime scene where Aarvi is attacked, triggering the police investigation. The story expands to Bhairav's zoo workplace, which doubles as a sinister hideout, and to a mall where Rasika works, illustrating ordinary spaces harboring danger. These settings juxtapose intimate relationships with a city-wide mystery.

🏢 Urban setting 🐾 Zoo 🛍️ Mall

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:46

Main Characters – Ek Villain Returns (2022)

Meet the key characters of Ek Villain Returns (2022), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bhairav Purohit (John Abraham)

A cab driver who also works as a part-time zookeeper, Bhairav hides a brutal killer’s psyche behind a calm exterior. His longing for Rasika slides into dangerous obsession, fueling a spree against girls who reject him. The twist reveals him as the real killer, tormented by a fractured mind and possessive love.

🧠 Psychopathy 🔪 Serial killer 🕳️ Trauma

Aarvi Malhotra (Tara Sutaria)

A rising singer whose romance with Gautam triggers jealousy and danger. She survives the initial murder and becomes central to unravelling the killer’s motive, while her artistry and resilience anchor the emotional core of the story.

🎤 Singer 💔 Heartbreak 🕊️ Resilience

Rasika Mapuskar (Disha Patani)

A mall salesgirl whose manipulation of Bhairav sparks the killings. She becomes the focal point of Bhairav’s fixation, and her eventual murder underscores the dangers of manipulation and betrayal.

💔 Manipulation 🧠 Mind games 🔪 Danger

Gautam Mehra (Arjun Kapoor)

A rich, impulsive man whose past actions fuel the present tragedy. He falls for Aarvi, clashes with Bhairav, and pursues the truth, providing a counterpoint to Bhairav’s madness.

💘 Romance 🕵️ Investigation ⚔️ Conflict

Balkrishnan Shastri (Samir Suhag)

A famous singer and Aarvi’s biological father who rejects her, triggering her longing for acceptance. His public persona and familial neglect anchor the story’s emotional stakes around fame, legacy, and forgiveness.

🎤 Music 👨‍👧 Family 💔 Rejection

Keshav (Digvijay Rohildas)

A widower and Bhairav’s friend who works at the zoo; he has a son, Yash. His loyalty is tested as the investigation unfolds and he becomes entangled in the killer’s web.

👨‍👧 Fatherhood 🦁 Zoo 🕊️ Loyalty

Atul (Niranjan Namjoshi)

Rasika’s married manager whose scheming and infidelity contribute to the crime web, fueling Rasika’s desperation and the narrative’s tension.

💼 Power 💔 Infidelity 🔍 Betrayal

Siya (Karishma Sharma)

Siya is Aarvi’s rival in social circles who becomes a flashpoint during a wedding scene, illustrating jealousy and social dynamics that frame the killer’s environment.

💍 Jealousy 🎭 Drama 👩‍💼 Social stakes

Rakesh Mahadkar (Ritesh Deshmukh)

A survivor of a previous major case who appears in a mid-credits scene, linking the film to its prequel’s psychological haunt and underscoring the persistent threat of violent crime.

🧠 Psychology 🕵️ Past 💥 Threat

ACP V.K. Ganesan (J. D. Chakravarthi)

A criminal psychology expert who leads the investigation, analyzing patterns and challenging the assumption that the crime is straightforward.

🕵️ Police 🧠 Investigation 🧩 Pattern

Aditya Rathore (Shaad Randhawa)

An ex-CBI officer turned DCP who heads the pursuit, balancing procedural rigor with the psychological twists of the case.

⚖️ Law 🧭 Leadership 🔎 Investigation

Qiran (Elena Roxana Maria Fernandes)

Aarvi’s biological mother figure connected to the past through an extramarital affair with a famous singer, shaping Aarvi’s life and ambitions.

👩‍👧 Family 💔 Past 🕰️ Legacy

Divesh Mehra (Bharat Dabholkar)

A powerful businessman linked to Gautam’s family dynamics, whose presence adds tension to the questions of inheritance and authority.

💼 Family 🧬 Legacy 💥 Tension

Thapar (Ivan Rodrigues)

A police figure who supports the investigation and helps drive the procedural aspects of the case.

🕵️‍♂️ Detective 🧭 Puzzle

Unknown Caller (Shraddha Kapoor)

A mysterious caller who reaches out to Aarvi around the time of the murder, contributing to the suspense and suspect leads.

📞 Mystery 🔎 Clue

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:46

Major Themes – Ek Villain Returns (2022)

Explore the central themes of Ek Villain Returns (2022), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Love and Obsession

Two love stories—Gautam and Aarvi, Bhairav and Rasika—become entangled with manipulation and revenge. The pursuit of love pushes characters toward impulsive acts and violence. The film explores how affection can morph into controlling obsession that destroys lives.

🧠 Psychological Duality

Bhairav's schizophrenia and Rasika's manipulation blur what is real, turning trust into danger. The investigation is misled by red herrings as motives unfold in a tangled web. The twist reveals how perception shapes justice and the fragility of the human mind.

⚖️ Consequences and Retribution

Choices ripple through families and careers, leaving scars on Aarvi, Gautam, and their circles. The killings become a reckoning for pride, betrayal, and neglect, culminating in a fatal confrontation. The ending underscores the moral toll and the price of vengeance.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 09:46

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Don't stop at just watching — explore Ek Villain Returns in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Ek Villain Returns is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Ek Villain Returns Summary

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Ek Villain Returns Summary

Ek Villain Returns Timeline

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Ek Villain Returns Timeline

Ek Villain Returns Spoiler-Free Summary

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Ek Villain Returns Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Ek Villain Returns

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