Krishna

Krishna

Year: 1996

Runtime: More mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Deepak S. Shivdasani

RomanceActionDrama

A convict freshly out of prison is given an undercover name “Krishna” and the task to bring down a drug kingpin and his cartel.

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Timeline & Setting – Krishna (1996)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Krishna (1996). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

India

Set across Indian urban environments, the film unfolds where crime, politics and nightlife intersect. Dens, clubs and brothels form the backdrop to a brutal underworld drama. The setting emphasizes a society where power is negotiated through fear and loyalty is a currency.

🌆 Urban crime hub 🎭 Underworld drama 🌃 Nightlife backdrop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:35

Main Characters – Krishna (1996)

Meet the key characters of Krishna (1996), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sunil / Krishna (Suniel Shetty)

A rising figure in the underworld who adopts Krishna’s identity to survive and navigate a web of rivals. He is driven by a desire for truth and justice, and his double life creates tension between personal loyalty and ruthless ambition. As the crimes unfold, he reveals his true self, orchestrating a reckoning with those who harmed his loved ones.

🪪 Dual Identity 🗡️ Underworld Operative 🧭 Vengeance

Rashmi (Karisma Kapoor)

A club dancer who mistakes Krishna for Sunil and falls in love with him. Her trust drives key revelations, and her heartbreak upon learning the truth fuels the emotional arc. She becomes a barometer for Sunil/Krishna’s choices and the consequences of his double life.

💃 Dancer ❤️ Love 🕊️ Betrayal

Raja (Shakti Kapoor)

An heir to a dead underworld don who pledges his power to Bhau and navigates a treacherous landscape of loyalties. He embodies opportunism and calculation, working to become the de facto kingpin by leveraging alliances with other criminals.

🗡️ Power 🤝 Alliance 🕶️ Rivalry

Bhau (Bhujang Rao) (Mohan Joshi)

A powerful don who tries to pull Krishna into his gang, representing the corrupt side of law and order. His influence and schemes weave through the criminal network, pushing Sunil/Krishna toward a final confrontation.

💼 Boss 🧭 Manipulation 🗡️ Violence

Cobra (Tinnu Anand)

A notorious figure in the underworld who enforces deals and controls information. He operates from the shadows, connecting the criminals across the network and pushing for the supremacy of his own syndicate.

🕷️ Shadow Boss 🧩 Manipulation 🧪 Corruption

Amar Prabhakar (Minister) (Om Puri)

A minister entangled in criminal exploits and political image crafting. His actions reveal the corruption within the system, including the manipulation of personal tragedy for political gain and the sexual exploitation network that Sunil/Krishna confronts.

🏛️ Politics 🗡️ Corruption 📜 Deception

Commissioner (Kulbhushan Kharbanda)

A law-enforcement figure whose escape from danger intersects with the political games around Amar and Cobra. His presence underscores the tension between law and crime and the fragile line that sustains public order.

👮 Authority ⚖️ Law vs Crime 🕵️ Investigation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:35

Major Themes – Krishna (1996)

Explore the central themes of Krishna (1996), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪪 Identity

Sunil and Krishna share a dangerous secret: one man assumes another's identity to survive in the underworld. The film explores how a lookalike can ride two paths—innocent bystander and feared enforcer—while keeping his true past hidden. Rashmi's belief in Sunil's memory triggers a revelation about Krishna's alias. This duality drives the emotional core of the story as loyalty, love, and deceit collide.

🎭 Power & Crime

Raja and Bhau maneuver within the criminal empire, turning alliances into leverage and violence into policy. Cobra uses manipulation and fear to keep the operations profitable and unchecked. Corruption threads through law and governance, with Amar Prabhakar playing a cynical role in elections and public image. The film paints a brutal landscape where power is seized through treachery as much as force.

🔪 Betrayal and Retribution

Sunil's sister's fate reveals a web of exploitation and deceit that stretches into the highest circles of crime. A videotape and a web of lies push Sunil toward a personal crusade against his enemies, culminating in a decisive act of vengeance. Amar's exposure triggers a clash with the law and a dramatic beheading with a sacred symbol, forcing Sunil to surrender. The arc frames justice in a world where personal loyalty clashes with systemic corruption.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:35

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Krishna Summary

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