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Timeline

Kroadh (1990) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1990 · More mins · Hindi
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Directed by
Shashilal K. Nair
Starring
Sanjay Dutt, Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Paresh Rawal, Amrita Singh, Sunny Deol

Ajay and Vijay plunge into the criminal underworld to avenge their mother’s murder. As they descend deeper, Ajay abandons the life of crime, becomes a police officer, and tries to convince Vijay to leave. By the time he acts, it’s already too late, leaving Vijay trapped in darkness.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Kroadh Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Kroadh (1990) 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. Peaceful life shattered by Dharamdas' crime

    Ajay and Vijay grow up with their policeman father, Inspector Vikram Shukla, and their mother. Dharamdas murders their mother, shattering their peaceful life. Vikram arrests Dharamdas, but a hostile witness allows him to walk free, leaving the family in danger.

    When
    Childhood
    Where
    Home, Mumbai
  2. Father imprisoned; brothers left in the care of a neighbor

    Following the chaotic turn, Vikram ends up imprisoned for killing his own brother, who had been an advocate for criminals. With both parents gone, the two brothers are taken in by a kind neighbor who provides shelter and guidance. The loss and isolation plant the seeds of their lifelong pursuit of justice and revenge.

    When
    Post-mother death
    Where
    Neighborhood, Mumbai
  3. Brothers grow up with vengeance in their hearts

    As they grow, Ajay embodies a cool Kroadh and a logical mind, while Vijay harbors a hotter, impulsive hunger for revenge. They swear to find Dharamdas and end the pain his crime caused. Their path soon leads them into Mumbai's brutal underworld as they chase rumors and danger.

    When
    Adolescence/years later
    Where
    Mumbai streets
  4. Ajay is arrested and wrongly convicted

    A major turning point comes when Ajay is arrested and wrongly convicted of a murder committed during the underworld chaos. The sentence lands him in prison while Dharamdas remains at large. Vijay's determination intensifies, driving him deeper into crime as he searches for Dharamdas.

    When
    Late teens/early adulthood
    Where
    City prison
  5. Vijay descends into the underworld

    While Ajay remains jailed, Vijay visits him and is urged by Ajay to take the path of crime to hunt Dharamdas. Vijay becomes an underworld criminal, climbing the ranks and operating in the shadows of Mumbai's gangs. The brothers' fates diverge as one adheres to the law and the other thrives in crime.

    When
    During imprisonment
    Where
    Underworld, Mumbai
  6. Ajay reforms in prison and reconnects with his father

    In the jail, Ajay is reunited with his long-lost father, who is also imprisoned. This period causes Ajay to reflect and commit to reform, aided by a kind jailor who sees his potential for change. He emerges from the jail with a new resolve to pursue justice through lawful means.

    When
    During incarceration
    Where
    Prison
  7. Ajay returns to society as a police officer

    Upon release, Ajay joins the police force, dedicating himself to upholding the law. His new path puts him at odds with Vijay, who has become a powerful criminal kingpin. The brothers' journeys now diverge, even as they still seek Dharamdas.

    When
    Post-release
    Where
    Police headquarters, City
  8. A clash of worlds: pursuit of Dharamdas

    Ajay and Vijay operate on opposite sides of the law, but their shared goal remains to find Dharamdas. They move through Mumbai's streets and alleys, entangled in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game with rival gangs. The pursuit broadens into a full-blown clash between the two brothers' worlds.

    When
    Present
    Where
    Mumbai streets and dens
  9. Discovery of Dharamdas' true identity

    The brothers finally uncover Dharamdas' true identity, discovering he has been working under an alias. With justice eluding them through the police system, they realize Dharamdas remains free and dangerous. The reveal intensifies the brothers' determination to finish the job on their own terms.

    When
    Climax build-up
    Where
    Underworld hideouts, Mumbai
  10. Ajay leaves the police to pursue real justice

    Frustrated by the legal system's inadequacy, Ajay abandons the police force to take direct action against Dharamdas. He decides to fight fire with fire in his own, more radical way. The decision marks a turning point where the brothers may finally confront their common enemy.

    When
    Pre-climax
    Where
    City
  11. Ajay and Vijay unite to take Dharamdas down

    Reluctant at first, Vijay agrees to join forces with Ajay to take down Dharamdas. They set aside their differences and plan a final confrontation. The unity signals a last chance for justice and vengeance to converge.

    When
    Climax
    Where
    City outskirts, hideout
  12. Tragic showdown and the cost of vengeance

    In the final confrontation, Vijay is shot by the police as the brothers fight Dharamdas together. Ajay overpowers Dharamdas, dousing him with gasoline and forcing Vijay to light a match. Dharamdas is set ablaze; Vijay dies in Ajay's arms as a police officer arrives with handcuffs, sealing the tragedy.

    When
    Finale
    Where
    Dharamdas' hideout, city

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:03

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Timeline questions answered

Kroadh Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Kroadh (1990): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Inspector Vikram kill his own brother?

Vikram's brother had been aiding criminals for years, betraying his own family by helping the very criminals who threatened them. After Dharamdas walked free and destroyed their family, Vikram killed his brother in a fit of rage over this betrayal, which led to his imprisonment.

Foreshadowing: The early scenes show the father as a police officer, establishing the tragic irony of him becoming a convict.

  • vikram shukla
  • brother murder
  • imprisoned
  • dharamdas revenge
Q2

Why does Ajay become a police officer after being wrongfully convicted?

While in prison, Ajay reunites with his father and is influenced by a compassionate jailor who helps him reflect on his life. He decides that pursuing justice through lawful means is more meaningful than revenge, choosing to reform and join the police force upon release.

Foreshadowing: Ajay is described as the elder brother with a calm, logic-driven approach from the beginning.

  • ajay becomes police officer
  • wrongful conviction
  • reform
  • jailor influence
Q3

What is Dharamdas's alias or true identity?

Dharamdas has been operating under a hidden alias throughout the years, allowing him to remain free and continue his criminal activities in Mumbai's underworld despite the brothers' search for him.

Foreshadowing: The brothers only have the name Dharamdas as their only clue, hinting that his true identity is concealed.

  • dharamdas alias
  • true identity
  • underworld
  • hidden identity
Q4

Why does Ajay leave the police force?

After discovering Dharamdas's true identity, Ajay realizes the legal system cannot bring him to justice. Frustrated by the slow machinery of justice and Dharamdas's continued freedom, Ajay abandons the police force to take direct action against the man who destroyed his family.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Ajay's growing frustration with the legal system throughout the story.

  • ajay quits police
  • justice system failure
  • dharamdas escape
Q5

Why does Ajay make Vijay light the match that kills Dharamdas?

Ajay overpowers Dharamdas and drenches him with gasoline, but deliberately makes Vijay light the match. This act forces Vijay to become an active participant in the vengeance they both sought, ensuring they share the burden of this violent justice together.

Foreshadowing: Both brothers swore to avenge their mother's murder from their adolescent years.

  • vijay lights match
  • dharamdas burned
  • vengeance
  • brothers united
Q6

How does Vijay die at the end?

Vijay is shot by the police during the final confrontation with Dharamdas. After being mortally wounded, he dies in Ajay's arms while Dharamdas burns. The police arrive shortly after to arrest Ajay, who is handcuffed as the tragic price of their pursuit.

Foreshadowing: The timeline foreshadows that the brothers' quest for vengeance comes at a devastating cost.

  • vijay death
  • police shooting
  • finale
  • arrested
Q7

Why do the brothers end up on opposite sides of the law?

While both brothers sought revenge for their mother's murder, their paths diverged during Ajay's imprisonment. Ajay chose to reform and join the police, while Vijay descended deeper into crime to hunt Dharamdas. This created a stark contrast between the brothers, one upholding the law, the other breaking it.

Foreshadowing: Ajay is described as the elder brother with a calm, logical approach, while Vijay acts with impulsive speed.

  • ajay vs vijay
  • opposite sides
  • law vs crime
  • brothers path
Q8

Why does Dharamdas walk free after murdering the mother?

After Inspector Vikram arrests Dharamdas for murdering his wife, a hostile witness refuses to cooperate or testify against the criminal. This allows Dharamdas to walk free on a technicality, setting in motion the tragic events that follow.

Foreshadowing: The hostile witness is introduced immediately after the mother's murder.

  • dharamdas walks free
  • hostile witness
  • justice failed
  • mother murder
Q9

Why does Vijay become an underworld criminal?

When Ajay is wrongfully convicted and imprisoned, Vijay visits him in jail and urges him to take the path of crime to reach Dharamdas. After Ajay refuses, Vijay descends into Mumbai's underworld to become a feared gangster, using his new power and connections to search for their mother's killer.

Foreshadowing: Vijay is characterized as having a hotter, impulsive hunger for revenge from adolescence.

  • vijay underworld
  • becomes criminal
  • search for dharamdas
  • prison visit
Q10

What happens to Ajay at the end of the movie?

After defeating Dharamdas by burning him alive and holding Vijay as he dies, Ajay faces the consequences of his actions. A police officer arrives with handcuffs and arrests Ajay, leaving him as a devastated law enforcement officer facing legal punishment for taking justice into his own hands.

Foreshadowing: The meta notes describe the ending as bittersweet with the survivor facing consequences.

  • ajay arrested
  • handcuffed
  • consequences
  • police arrest
Q11

What is the role of Matki and Sonu in the story?

Matki (Ajay's girlfriend) and Sonu (Vijay's girlfriend) provide human stakes to the brothers' dangerous world. Their relationships add emotional depth and personal motivation, showing what the brothers are fighting for beyond revenge and highlighting the domestic lives they cannot fully embrace.

Foreshadowing: The girlfriends are introduced as the brothers become entrenched in the underworld.

  • matki
  • sonu
  • girlfriends
  • romantic subplot
  • human stakes
Q12

Why is the father imprisoned in the movie?

Inspector Vikram Shukla is imprisoned for killing his own brother, who had been assisting criminals and betraying the family. The murder of his brother occurs after Dharamdas escapes justice, and Vikram's snap decision to kill his sibling results in his own criminal conviction.

Foreshadowing: The father's position as a police officer creates dramatic irony throughout.

  • vikram imprisoned
  • father arrested
  • brother killed
  • criminal family

Movie threads

More Movies Like Kroadh, by Mood & Story

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

Brothers Torn Apart Movies like Kroadh

Siblings forced onto opposite sides of the law by a shared tragedy. If you liked the tragic brotherly conflict in Kroadh, explore other movies where siblings are forced onto opposite sides of the law. These films focus on the emotional weight of divided loyalties, revenge, and the desperate attempts to save a brother from a dark path.

  • tragic
  • brooding
  • angry
  • vengeful
  • grim
  • intense
  • Tone: dark, tragic
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a shared, often violent, trauma that forces a moral schism between siblings. The story follows their diverging journeys—one towards order and redemption, the other towards chaos and vengeance—culminating in a fraught and emotionally devastating confrontation.

Why they belong together: They share a heavy emotional core driven by familial bonds tested by extreme circumstances, a dark tone, and a focus on the tragic consequences of moral choices within a crime-ridden world.

Vigilante Vengeance Thrillers like Kroadh

Relentless, fast-paced journeys of revenge that consume the seeker. For viewers who enjoyed the furious revenge quest in Kroadh, this list features movies about characters descending into the criminal underworld for vengeance. These are high-intensity, dark thrillers with fast pacing, organized crime, and morally complex vigilantism.

  • vengeful
  • furious
  • violent
  • intense
  • grim
  • angry
  • Tone: dark, vengeful
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is propelled by a traumatic inciting incident that launches a swift and violent campaign of retribution. The protagonist's journey is a downward spiral, often into the underworld they seek to destroy, facing moral compromises and the heavy cost of their actions.

Why they belong together: They are united by a high-intensity, fast-paced narrative, a dark and angry tone, and a central theme of revenge that explores the destructive nature of vengeance on the seeker.

Every angle

Kroadh (1990) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Kroadh 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.

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