Maqbool

Maqbool

Year: 2003

Runtime: 132 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Vishal Bhardwaj

DramaCrimeCrime drugs and gangstersCaptivating vision and Shakespearean dramaShow All…

A modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth transposes the Scottish tragedy to Mumbai’s underworld, where a power‑hungry crime lord, Abbaji, mirrors Duncan. Two crooked, fortune‑telling police officers assume the part of the Weird Sisters, guiding and manipulating events as ambition and betrayal erupt.

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Timeline & Setting – Maqbool (2003)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Maqbool (2003). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

early 2000s

Set in modern-day Mumbai during the early 2000s, the film mirrors the era's gangland dynamics and political corruption. The pace of the city and the web of favors shape Maqbool’s ascent and the gang’s survival. The time period underscores the themes of ambition, betrayal, and the heavy cost of power.

Location

Mumbai

The story unfolds across the crowded streets and labyrinthine neighborhoods of Mumbai, a city known for its stark contrasts between wealth and crime. It serves as a brutal, pulse-pounding backdrop for the underworld power struggles led by Abbaji. The city’s nocturnal energy and dense urban landscape heighten tension as loyalties shift and plans unravel.

🏙️ Mumbai 🕶️ Underworld ⚖️ Crime & power

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:27

Main Characters – Maqbool (2003)

Meet the key characters of Maqbool (2003), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Maqbool Miyan (Irrfan Khan)

A loyal, intelligent right-hand man whose quiet ambition edges him toward seizing power. He balances gratitude with a growing hunger for control, driving him to set in motion Abbaji's downfall. His inner conflict reveals how loyalty can become a pathway to deadly ambition.

🧭 Anti-hero 🗡️ Power-seeker 🎭 Complex loyalties

Jahangir 'Abbaji' Khan (Pankaj Kapur)

A powerful, calculating don who rules his territory with a quiet menace. He acts as a father figure to Maqbool and commands fear and respect within the underworld. His murder becomes the catalyst that exposes the fragility of loyalty and the cost of power.

🕶️ Don 💼 Authority 🧠 Strategist

Nimmi (Tabu)

Abbaji’s mistress whose loyalties shift between affection for Maqbool and a stake in the throne. Her influence over Maqbool catalyzes the plan to eliminate Abbaji. The relationship blends desire with political calculation, accelerating the tale’s tragedy.

💘 Femme fatale 🎭 Influencer 🗝️ Secret-keeper

Inspector Purohit (Naseeruddin Shah)

A corrupt cop whose dark humor masks a sharper instinct for balancing forces in the city. His scheming angles help maneuver events, complicating loyalties and guiding Maqbool toward power. He represents the rot inside law and order itself.

🕵️‍♂️ Corrupt cop 🧭 Machiavellian 🃏 Schemer

Inspector Pandit (Om Puri)

Another morally gray police figure who participates in the political chess of the underworld. He collaborates with Purohit to derail rivals and support preferred outcomes. His presence underscores the blurred lines between crime and law.

🕵️‍♂️ Corrupt cop 🧭 Machiavellian 🗝️ Access to power

Riyaz Boti (Ankur Vikal)

A rival player in the underworld whose fate intertwines with Maqbool’s ascent. His role as a counterbalance heightens the stakes of the power struggle. The dynamics with Maqbool show how rivals are exploited and eliminated in this city.

🤼 Rival 🗡️ Target 🧭 Strategist

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:27

Major Themes – Maqbool (2003)

Explore the central themes of Maqbool (2003), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Power & Ambition

Loyalty is tested as Maqbool seeks Abbaji's throne, driven by ambition and the promise of greater influence. The plan to kill the Don exposes the brutal calculus behind leadership in the underworld. Ambition blinds some to consequences while sharpening others, setting a tragic course in motion.

💞 Love & Loyalty

Nimmi's secret bond with Maqbool intertwines romance with political calculation. The lovers navigate competing loyalties — to Abbaji, to each other, and to a future they crave at the cost of murder. Their relationship accelerates the plot and reveals how personal desires fuel public betrayals.

🕯️ Guilt & Consequence

After Abbaji's murder, guilt gnaws at Maqbool and Nimmi as the act haunts their ascent. The ghost of Abbaji and the paranoia within the gang illustrate the moral price of crime. The narrative traces how power corrodes trust and leads to a tragic downfall.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:27

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Maqbool Summary

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Maqbool Summary

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Maqbool Timeline

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Maqbool Spoiler-Free Summary

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