Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Krishna 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!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Krishna (1996), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Krishna is a rising name in crime, drawing the attention of Raja, the heir to a fallen underworld don. Raja is kept in line by Bhau, another formidable don who dislikes Raja’s attitude. Despite Bhau’s persuasive pitch of a brighter future in his gang, Krishna remains loyal to Raja and resists the lure of Bhau’s offers. The power struggle sets the stage for a brutal web of loyalties, betrayals, and blood-soaked decisions.
Meanwhile, Rashmi, a club dancer, mourns the loss of Sunil, her love. Sunil, who was Krishna’s lookalike, was a pilot who died during training. Rashmi clings to the belief that Sunil will return, refusing to accept the official story that he is gone. Her yearning for Sunil’s return collides with Krishna’s carefully guarded truth, creating a tension that threads through every encounter.
During a gig, Rashmi runs into Krishna and is delighted to see him. Krishna speaks gently, making it clear he is not Sunil, yet the moment she notices a tattoo bearing Rashmi’s name—meant for Sunil’s arm—missing from Krishna’s arm cracks her certainty. Broken-hearted, she leaves the scene, unsure of what or who she truly witnessed. When goons attack her, Krishna intervenes and saves her. It’s at this moment that Krishna reveals a deeper truth: he is indeed Sunil, and he begins to unpack the saga that led him here.
Sunil’s descent into mystery begins with his instructor, who was secretly a link to criminals. The instructor forced Sunil to land at an abandoned place to meet them, and one of the criminals is Cobra, a notorious figure in the underworld. The plan goes awry, Sunil’s instructor is killed, Sunil survives, and he is wrongfully arrested. He is bailed out by minister Amar Prabhakar, who tells him that survival in this dangerous world demands taking down those who could threaten him. To survive, Sunil adopts a new name—Krishna—and steps deeper into the criminal labyrinth.
Cobra returns to India and it becomes clear that both Bhau and Raja are on his payroll. Cobra intends to install Raja as the de facto ruler of his Indian network, while Raja himself becomes bonded to Cobra’s schemes. Cobra reveals his interest in Krishna and the wider implications of their confrontations, dragging more players into the deadly game. The tension crescendos as Cobra and Krishna cross paths, with Cobra suspecting that he has seen Krishna somewhere before. Sunil understands that Cobra may recognize him, but the path ahead has already been set in motion.
As the plot thickens, Raja visits a brothel, where Sunil is startled to see his sister performing. His sister is overwhelmed with shame and ultimately takes her own life. Sunil learns from a dancer that many others in the same trade share similar stories—men who arrive with gifts, marry them, and then sell them into ruin, only to leave them to suffer. The dancer also explains that Cobra keeps a tape-filled record of his victims to use as blackmail, a tool of control that fuels much of the violence.
In a moment of rage, Sunil confronts the man who trafficked these women, but the confrontation ends with the man dead. Sunil’s world is further rattled when he discovers that his mother has died, and Amar quietly arranges a proper funeral while keeping the truth buried. Sunil then learns that Amar’s daughter has been kidnapped and that Cobra possesses a tape that might reveal the identity of Sunil’s sister’s rapist. The realization that the network’s reach extends to Sunil’s own life galvanizes him to strike back.
Armed with resolve, Sunil chooses to confront Cobra’s broader alliance—an alliance that now binds Bhau and Raja—as a path to end the criminal empire. In a bloody confrontation, the criminals are eliminated one by one, but the more personal reckoning awaits. Sunil discovers the damning tape: his sister was raped by Amar Prabhakar. The discovery exposes Amar’s political façade, revealing that the supposed kidnapping of Amar’s daughter was a calculated ploy to win sympathy for elections. The Commissioner learns of Amar’s fraud and Amar is arrested, turning the political arena into a battlefield of accountability.
The climactic moments unfold in a tense public setting. Amar, about to address a crowd, is confronted by Sunil. The Commissioner, who has managed to escape in the chaos, intervenes to prevent a possible takedown, pleading with Sunil to let the police handle the situation. Amar attempts to flee, but Sunil ends his life in a brutal, symbolic act, using a Sudarshan Chakra taken from a Krishna idol to behead Amar. With Amar dead, Sunil surrenders, accepting the consequences of a life built on violence, trauma, and vengeance, and choosing to face the law after a storm of crime and lies.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:41
Don't stop at just watching — explore Krishna 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 Krishna is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Krishna with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Krishna. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Discover movies like Krishna that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Krishna (1996) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Krishna (1996) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Krishna (1996) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Krishna – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Radha (2017) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Kranti (2002) Story Summary & Characters
Kaante (2002) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
krishna (2007) Complete Plot Breakdown
Krishna - The Birth (2006) Story Summary & Characters
Ranadheera (1988) Full Summary & Key Details
Krishna and His Leela (2020) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Kirathakudu (1986) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Karma (1986) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Saravana (2006) Full Summary & Key Details
Radhe (2021) Complete Plot Breakdown
Das Ka Dhamki (2023) Complete Plot Breakdown
Bhola Shankar (2023) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Kantri (2008) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Krishnarjuna (2008) Film Overview & Timeline