Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Ek Villain Returns (2022) movie poster

Timeline

Ek Villain Returns (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 127 mins · Hindi
Echo score 33
JustWatch #34,347 4
Directed by
Mohit Suri
Starring
John Abraham, Tara Sutaria, Shraddha Kapoor, Disha Patani, Kaizaad Kotwal, Arjun Kapoor

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.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Ek Villain Returns
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Ek Villain Returns (2022)

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

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Ek Villain Returns Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Ek Villain Returns (2022) 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. The murder of Aarvi Malhotra

    A masked intruder barges into an apartment complex and attacks Aarvi Malhotra, the rising singer, killing her. The brutal act triggers a high profile murder investigation. Detectives begin querying witnesses, reviewing footage, and tracing possible motives.

    When
    Present
    Where
    Apartment complex
  2. Initial investigation led by Aditya Rathore

    Cops led by ex-CBI officer Aditya Rathore begin piecing together the motive. They suspect the attack may be linked to Aarvi's personal life and past relationships. The early focus hints at a killer with a personal grudge.

    When
    Present
    Where
    City police
  3. Ganesan doubts the simple explanation

    ACP V.K. Ganesan, a criminal psychology expert, questions the straightforward motive. He recalls Aditya's last case with a psychopath and urges caution before naming a culprit. His skepticism foreshadows a more complex killer.

    When
    Present
    Where
    Police station
  4. Bhairav Purohit interrogated

    Investigators question Bhairav Purohit, the man Aarvi had called on the day of the murder. He denies guilt and offers no solid evidence. The interrogation adds to the mystery as investigators search for patterns.

    When
    Present
    Where
    Police station
  5. Ganesan spots a pattern of young victims

    Ganesan discovers a disturbing pattern: a string of young women killed by a killer who targets lovers. He notes 18 similar deaths in the past six months, suggesting a serial killer. The case demands a deeper look beyond a single suspect.

    When
    Present
    Where
    City
  6. Gautam and Aarvi's past (flashback)

    The story flashes back to Gautam's spoiled youth and his ouster from the family business after a wedding incident. Aarvi's ambition grows as she tries to win her father Balkrishnan Shastri's acceptance through singing. Their intertwined past sows seeds of resentment.

    When
    Past
  7. Gautam and Aarvi's fragile relationship

    Gautam leaks Aarvi's childhood photos and helps her chase a rival, implying revenge for humiliation. Aarvi's attempts to win her father's acceptance collide with his rejection, leaving her heartbroken. Tension grows as their relationship becomes precarious.

    When
    Past
  8. Three months later, a near fatal confrontation

    Three months after the wedding incident, Gautam is attacked by Siya's husband while Aarvi tends to him. He pleads for a second chance, but Aarvi leaves him with a heavy heart. The emotional distance marks a turning point in their dynamic.

    When
    Past
  9. Gautam arrested and escapes

    In the present, Gautam is arrested and then manages to escape custody. Ganesan grows suspicious that Gautam might not be the killer after all. The chase resumes as the true culprit remains at large.

    When
    Present
    Where
    Police custody
  10. Gautam confronts Bhairav at the zoo

    Gautam tracks Bhairav to the zoo and confronts him. The killer remains masked, and Bhairav slips away before the authorities can stop him. The encounter confirms the case will not be solved by conventional clues alone.

    When
    Present
    Where
    Zoo
  11. Bhairav reveals Aarvi is alive; Ganesan is killed

    Bhairav confronts the detectives and reveals that Aarvi is alive, keeping her in an underground cage at the zoo. A brutal struggle ends with Ganesan being killed. The investigation tightens as the stakes rise.

    When
    Present
    Where
    Zoo
  12. Yash frames Keshav; freezer corpse identified

    Police interrogate Yash, who attempts to defend Bhairav by framing Keshav. A dead body is found in a freezer and is initially thought to be Aarvi, but is later identified as Rasika. The zoo becomes the center of a growing web of lies.

    When
    Present
    Where
    Police station / Zoo
  13. Aarvi regains consciousness and Gautam arrives

    Aarvi regains consciousness and stabs Bhairav with a glass shard. Gautam arrives to rescue her, and the two share a tense moment as the fight escalates. It is revealed that Bhairav has been hallucinating Rasika all along.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Zoo
  14. Bhairav falls to the tiger and Rasika's truth comes out

    After the climactic struggle, Bhairav is killed by a tiger in the zoo. Aarvi reunites with Gautam and returns to her concert. It is revealed that Rasika was the victim found in the freezer and Bhairav had killed her in a jealous rage.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Zoo / concert venue
  15. Mid credits scene with Rakesh and Bhairav

    In a mid-credits scene, Rakesh, who survived the prequel, meets Bhairav in a mental asylum and recites a promise. Bhairav wakes up, hinting at future consequences for the events that have just unfolded.

    When
    Mid-credits
    Where
    Mental asylum

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:22

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Ek Villain Returns Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Ek Villain Returns (2022): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Who is the serial killer in Ek Villain Returns?

Bhairav Purohit, a cab driver who also works at a zoo, is revealed as the serial killer. He targets young women who reject their boyfriends, believing he is punishing them for heartbreak. ACP V.K. Ganesan identifies a pattern of 18 similar murders in six months, leading investigators to Bhairav.

  • serial killer
  • bhairav purohit
  • murders
  • investigation
Q2

Why did Bhairav target and kill Aarvi?

Bhairav mistook Aarvi's situation as another case of a woman leaving her partner. When Aarvi left Gautam's taxi, Bhairav interpreted it as rejection, triggering his obsessive pattern of killing women who he believes break men's hearts.

Foreshadowing: Bhairav's earlier killings followed the same pattern of targeting women he perceived as rejecters of romantic love.

  • bhairav purohit
  • aarvi malhotra
  • killer motive
  • target
Q3

Was Rasika real in Ek Villain Returns?

Rasika was not real. She was a hallucination caused by Bhairav's schizophrenia. Bhairav imagined a romantic relationship with Rasika, who in reality was just a mall salesgirl he barely knew. The real Rasika was killed by Bhairav when he believed she would leave him, and her body was found in the freezer.

  • rasika
  • hallucination
  • schizophrenia
  • bhairav mental illness
Q4

Why was Aarvi kept alive in the underground cage?

Bhairav kept Aarvi alive because she represented the culmination of his twisted mission. Unlike his previous victims, Aarvi became a central figure in his delusion, a symbol of women who abandon men, which he felt compelled to 'teach' through captivity rather than immediate murder.

  • aarvi alive
  • cage
  • underground
  • kept hostage
Q5

What was Bhairav's relationship with Rasika?

Bhairav's entire relationship with Rasika existed only in his mind due to his schizophrenia. The real Rasika was a mall salesgirl he barely interacted with. Bhairav imagined her as his girlfriend who would leave him, which became the trigger for his murderous jealousy and the reason he killed her.

Foreshadowing: Bhairav's possessiveness and violent reactions to perceived abandonment were visible early in his interactions.

  • rasika mapuskar
  • relationship
  • bhairav delusion
  • jealousy
Q6

What happens to Gautam and Aarvi at the end?

Gautam rescues Aarvi from Bhairav's underground cage. During the confrontation, Gautam discovers Bhairav's schizophrenia and hallucinations. Aarvi survives and returns to her singing career, with Gautam supporting her. Their relationship finds fragile redemption despite the traumatic events.

Foreshadowing: Earlier flashbacks showed Gautam genuinely falling for Aarvi despite his initial revenge plot.

  • gautam mehra
  • aarvi ending
  • reconciliation
  • concert
Q7

Why did Bhairav kill ACP Ganesan?

Bhairav killed Ganesan during the confrontation at the zoo because Ganesan was closing in on him as the serial killer. When Gautam and the police arrived at the zoo, Bhairav fought to protect his freedom and hide his crimes, resulting in Ganesan's death.

  • ganesan death
  • acp ganesan
  • killed
  • bhairav fight
Q8

Who was the body found in the freezer?

The body found in the freezer was Rasika, not Aarvi as initially believed. Bhairav had killed the real Rasika in a jealous rage after believing she planned to leave him like the women in his previous killings. He preserved her body in the freezer, further demonstrating his distorted mental state.

  • freezer body
  • rasika dead
  • cor identified
  • twist
Q9

How is Rakesh connected to Bhairav in the ending?

In the mid-credits scene, Rakesh Mahadkar (the villain from the first film who survived and is now paraplegic) meets Bhairav at a mental asylum. Rakesh repeats a promise from the past, hinting at Bhairav's previous encounter with him and suggesting future consequences.

  • rakesh mahadkar
  • mid credits
  • asylum
  • connection sequel
Q10

Why did Gautam leak Aarvi's childhood photos?

Gautam leaked Aarvi's childhood photos to humiliate her as part of his revenge plot. After being publicly embarrassed at Siya's wedding, Gautam plotted to hurt Aarvi by exposing embarrassing childhood images, retaliating against what he perceived as her betrayal.

Foreshadowing: This act of revenge created the rift that later fueled their complicated relationship dynamics.

  • gautam revenge
  • childhood photos
  • humiliation
  • aarvi
Q11

How was Bhairav's schizophrenia revealed?

Gautam exposed Bhairav's schizophrenia during their final confrontation at the zoo. When Bhairav attacked Gautam, Gautam realized Bhairav was mentally ill and hallucinating. This revelation explained Bhairav's obsessive behavior, the imaginary relationship with Rasika, and his twisted justification for killing women.

Foreshadowing: Bhairav's calm demeanor and obsessive attachment to an uninterested woman hinted at deeper psychological issues.

  • schizophrenia
  • hallucination
  • mental illness
  • bhairav breakdown
Q12

Why did Bhairav become a serial killer?

Bhairav developed a twisted sense of justice after witnessing his friend Keshav's heartbreak. He began killing young women who rejected their boyfriends, believing he was punishing them for causing emotional pain. His schizophrenia amplified these delusions, making him see his murders as heroic acts of justice.

Foreshadowing: The film shows Bhairav bonding with the widower Keshav, whose relationship struggles plant the seeds of Bhairav's obsession.

  • serial killer motive
  • justice
  • victims pattern
  • psychopath

Movie threads

More Movies Like Ek Villain Returns, by Mood & Story

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

Brutal Serial Killer Thrillers with Psychological Depth like Ek Villain Returns

Gripping stories where the hunt for a serial killer reveals twisted psychology. If you liked the tense, violent cat-and-mouse game and exploration of a disturbed mind in Ek Villain Returns, you'll find more gripping movies here. This section features similar dark thrillers about obsessive serial killers, intense investigations, and psychological horror that will keep you on edge.

  • tense
  • brutal
  • disturbing
  • psychological
  • violent
  • unsettling
  • Tone: dark, tense, disturbing
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a desperate investigation into a series of brutal murders, often intercut with the perspective of the killer. The plot is driven by shocking reveals and violent confrontations. A key element is the deep dive into the antagonist's psychology, revealing how trauma, obsession, or mental illness creates the monster, complicating the simple morality of good versus evil.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared high-intensity, dark tone and focus on a specific subgenre of crime thriller. They deliver a similar experience of visceral suspense, psychological unease, and a plot that moves at a breakneck pace, making them perfect for viewers seeking a specific kind of brutal, mind-bending thriller.

Morally Ambiguous Thrillers with Bittersweet Endings like Ek Villain Returns

Stories where heroes are flawed and victory comes with a heavy price. For viewers who appreciated the moral complexity and emotionally costly conclusion of Ek Villain Returns, this section features similar movies. Discover other thrillers and crime stories with anti-heroes, blurred lines between right and wrong, and endings that are poignant rather than purely happy.

  • unsettling
  • complex
  • thought-provoking
  • grim
  • emotional
  • tense
  • Tone: dark, complex, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves protagonists who are deeply flawed or forced into morally questionable actions. The central conflict often pits them against antagonists who may have sympathetic or understandable motives. The story builds towards a climax where 'victory' is achieved, but it is undercut by loss, sacrifice, or the realization that the hero has been tarnished by the journey, leading to a somber, bittersweet conclusion.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their complex moral outlook and specific emotional payoff. They share a dark tone and heavy emotional weight, prioritizing character ambiguity and the psychological impact of violence over clear-cut justice. The bittersweet ending is a key unifying element that defines the viewing experience.

If you liked this

Movies Like Ek Villain Returns

Similar movies to Ek Villain Returns: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Ek Villain Returns (2022) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Ek Villain Returns 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app