Khiladi

Khiladi

Year: 2022

Runtime: 154 mins

Language: Telugu

Director: Ramesh Varma

Echo Score: 46
ThrillerAction

Mohan Gandhi is a criminal serving time, but his guilt remains uncertain amidst a web of money, lies, and deceit. The film explores the mystery surrounding his past and the truth about the crime he's accused of committing, questioning his true identity and the forces aligned against him.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Khiladi (2022)

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

Time period

Present day

The events unfold in contemporary times, featuring current technologies and financial crimes like cryptocurrency. Political corruption and criminal schemes drive the plot in a world where wealth and power collide. Flashbacks reveal Gandhi's past to connect his history with the present con and deception.

Location

Dubai, India

The story moves between Dubai, where Gandhi operates as a con artist, and various locations in India where political power and crime intersect. The narrative ties a colossal ₹10,000 crore stash to corrupt officials and law enforcement, highlighting a globalized network of influence. The settings reflect a contemporary crime thriller with a modern financial backdrop.

🌍 International settings 🧭 Plot-driven locales 🏛️ Urban crime environment

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:11

Main Characters – Khiladi (2022)

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

Mohan Gandhi (Ravi Teja)

A Dubai-based con artist who engineers a ₹10,000 crore theft and uses forged narratives to manipulate officials. He is charming yet calculating, willing to betray allies to protect himself. His past and cunning tactics reveal a man who thrives in a corrupt system by exploiting trust and fear.

🎭 Anti-hero 🗝️ Mastermind 💼 Criminal

Bala Singham (Nikitin Dheer)

A ruthless crime boss who bribes MLAs to install his ally as CM and run a criminal-political empire. He commands a wide network and shows little mercy for opponents. His actions set the central power struggle in motion.

🕵️‍♂️ Crime lord 💼 Power broker 🗡️ Ruthless

Guru Singham (Mukesh Rishi)

A high-ranking minister who leans on money and influence to shape politics. He relies on bribery and intimidation to stay in power. His downfall exposes how deeply corruption can be embedded in governance.

🏛️ Politician 💶 Corrupt 🗣️ Influencer

Arjun Bharadwaj (Arjun Sarja)

A CBI officer relentlessly pursuing Gandhi, navigating a web of deceit to uncover the truth. He uses forensic analysis to challenge fake currency and exposes the conspiracy behind the money. He embodies the fight for law and order amid moral ambiguity.

🕵️‍♂️ Investigator 🧭 Persistent 🧠 Strategist

DGP Jayaram (Sachin Khedekar)

Pooja’s father and a senior police official whose actions influence the pursuit of Gandhi. He becomes entangled in shifting loyalties and the hunt for the money. His role hints at the blurred line between duty and manipulation within a corrupt system.

👮 Police 🧭 Mastermind 🧱 Power broker

Rama Krishna (Unni Mukundan)

A prisoner Gandhi befriends and uses for a backstory that helps secure his release. He represents how past narratives can be weaponized and how trust can be exploited. His involvement underscores the film’s themes of unreliable memory and moral compromise.

🤝 Ally 🕊️ Loyalist 🗝️ Informant

Pooja (Meenakshi Chaudhary)

A criminologist who investigates Gandhi’s case and uses Gandhi’s tale to seek his bail. She negotiates with the system and uncovers the deeper conspiracy. Her perspective shows how truth can be orchestrated even by those pursuing it.

🧠 Criminologist 💼 Investigator 🕊️ Moral compass

Chitra / Aditi (Dimple Hayathi)

A club dancer recruited to aid Gandhi’s plan, whose betrayal becomes a turning point. She embodies the lure of power and the danger of manipulation through seduction. Her actions drive the narrative toward its climactic confrontations.

💃 Seduction 🗝️ Double identity 🗡️ Betrayal

Chinnu (Baby Sanvitha)

Gandhi’s daughter, a personal stake that adds urgency and vulnerability to the plot. Her safety motivates characters to make difficult choices and reveals the human cost behind political and criminal games.

👶 Family 💖 Innocence 🛡️ Protection

David (Thakur Anoop Singh)

An operative who orchestrates the theft and manipulation, acting on instructions from an unseen mastermind. He is pragmatic and ruthless, exposing the chain of command behind the conspiracy. His revelations point to a higher-level influence over the scheme.

🕵️‍♀️ Conspirator 💼 Grifter 🧩 Manipulator

Chitra's Mother (Anasuya Bharadwaj)

Chitra’s mother, a stabilizing figure who grounds the domestic side of the political-criminal drama. Her presence adds a human dimension to the larger power struggle.

👩‍👧 Family 🏡 Support 💬 Community

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:11

Major Themes – Khiladi (2022)

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

🌀 Deception

Deception drives the narrative as Gandhi crafts multiple identities and manipulates those around him. The plot twists continually, revealing how perception can be engineered to control outcomes. The film questions what truth means when truth-tellers are themselves part of a larger ruse.

💰 Corruption

Money translates to power as MLAs are bribed and a massive cash stash becomes the focal point of the conspiracy. The story exposes how political and criminal actors can collude to bend institutions to their will. It shows the corrosive grip of wealth on justice and governance.

🕊️ Redemption

Characters wrestle with moral ambiguity as the line between right and wrong blurs. Gandhi’s trajectory hints at a possible change of heart and a desire to help others despite self-serving beginnings. The climax tests whether redemption is possible within a system built on deceit.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:11

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Thrillers of High-Stakes Deception like Khiladi

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Narrative Summary

These narratives often follow a master strategist or reluctant participant navigating a dangerous game of lies. The plot structure relies on reveals, flashbacks, and unexpected betrayals, creating a puzzle-box experience where the true goal and identity of the protagonist are central mysteries.

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Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on complex deceptions, high-stakes criminal or political plots, and a pervasive mood of distrust. They offer a similar experience of intellectual engagement and constant tension as audiences try to unravel the truth alongside the characters.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves an anti-hero or morally gray character taking on a powerful, corrupt entity. The journey is emotionally heavy, filled with betrayal and sacrifice. The climax achieves a form of justice, but the resolution is melancholic, emphasizing the personal loss over the systemic win.

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These films share a specific emotional arc and ending feel: a victory tempered by significant personal loss. They are united by themes of fighting corruption, the weight of moral compromises, and conclusions that are satisfying yet somber, focusing on the cost of justice.

Unlock the Full Story of Khiladi

Don't stop at just watching — explore Khiladi 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 Khiladi is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Khiladi Summary

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Khiladi Summary

Khiladi Timeline

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Khiladi Timeline

Khiladi Spoiler-Free Summary

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Khiladi Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Khiladi

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