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Mrs. Serial Killer (2020) movie poster

Timeline

Mrs. Serial Killer (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 106 mins · Hindi
Echo score 32
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Directed by
Shirish Kunder
Starring
Jacqueline Fernandez, Darshan Jariwala, Deepak Arora, Manoj Bajpayee, Mohit Raina, Zayn Marie Khan

A killer love story. When her husband is framed and imprisoned for serial murders, a doting wife must perform a copycat murder, to prove her husband’s innocence.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Mrs. Serial Killer
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Mrs. Serial Killer Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Mrs. Serial Killer (2020) 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. Sona reveals pregnancy to Joy

    Sona tells Joy that she is pregnant, marking a new personal milestone for the couple. This revelation contrasts with the dark rumors looming over Joy. The moment sets the stage for the conflict between love and suspicion that follows.

    Where
    Sona's home
  2. Imran Shahid visits Sona to gather evidence

    Inspector Imran Shahid arrives at Sona's house under the pretext of collecting evidence against Joy. Sona suspects that Imran intends to frame Joy and resents his presence. Tensions rise as the investigation sharpens the divide between them.

    Where
    Sona's home
  3. Serial killings surface; six pregnant girls found; Joy arrested

    News of the serial killings shocks the town: six unmarried, pregnant girls vanish and are later found dead. The bodies are discovered in an isolated house owned by Joy, and he is arrested. The community loses respect for him as the case intensifies.

    Where
    Isolated house
  4. Sona visits Joy in prison; urged to contact Rastogi

    Sona visits Joy in prison to reaffirm his innocence and to seek help. He urges her to contact Rastogi, a famed lawyer he had previously saved. The exchange deepens Sona's belief that a legitimate defense can still prove Joy's innocence.

    Where
    Prison
  5. Bail rejected; Joy remains jailed

    Joy's bail application is rejected as the case mounts against him. The authorities show little room for doubt given the collected evidence. Sona clings to the hope that Rastogi can mount a compelling defense.

    Where
    Court/Jail
  6. Rastogi advises an extreme plan to prove Joy's innocence

    Rastogi suggests a drastic tactic: prove Joy's innocence by killing one more girl in the same way as the previous victims. Sona reluctantly agrees, driven by fear and the belief that there are no other options. The idea marks a grim descent for Sona's ethics.

    Where
    Rastogi's office
  7. Anushka abducted for the staged death

    Sona identifies Anushka Tiwari, a neighbor who is unmarried and pregnant, as the target. She plans to abduct Anushka to stage her death and implicate it as Joy's crime. The plan proceeds in secrecy, setting dangerous events in motion.

    Where
    Anushka's home
  8. Anushka's 'death' leads to bail for Joy

    News of Anushka's apparent death reaches the police, and the court believes Joy is not the killer, leading to his bail. The public narrative shifts, allowing Joy to walk free for the moment. Sona's fear intensifies as the trap seems to work.

    Where
    Police / Court
  9. Joy shows Anushka alive and captive; deception revealed

    After Joy returns home, Sona shows him Anushka, who is still being held captive. Joy reveals that he did not kill Anushka; he found an unclaimed body and dressed it to resemble Anushka's. The revelation confirms to Sona that Joy was indeed the killer they’re looking for.

    Where
    Joy's clinic
  10. Sid finds Anushka alive in the basement

    Anushka's boyfriend Sid tracks the case and discovers Anushka alive in the basement of Joy's clinic. He tries to free her but ends up locking himself in a cupboard. The discovery escalates the danger and raises the stakes for everyone.

    Where
    Joy's clinic basement
  11. Night confrontation; Sona realizes Joy is the killer

    Sona wakes up in the night and finds Joy missing; she drives to the clinic to confront him about Anushka. She realizes that Joy is the actual killer and is about to kill Anushka again. The night turns into a deadly confrontation.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Joy's clinic
  12. Motive and struggle; Sona, Imran, and Anushka cornered

    Joy explains the motive behind his monstrous acts, revealing his hatred for unwed pregnancies and his traumatic past. He pins Sona down with a scalpel while Sid and Imran struggle to intervene. Imran manages to contact help and tries to coordinate a rescue as Anushka's life hangs in the balance.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Joy's clinic
  13. Imran arrives; rescue plan unfolds

    Imran arrives but is immediately restrained by Joy. He eventually frees himself and helps Sona, Sid, and Anushka escape from the clinic. The group fights through the peril to reach safety.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Joy's clinic
  14. Final struggle; Joy stabbed

    In the climactic struggle, Joy stabs Sona as she throws herself in front of Anushka and Sid. Imran then stabs Joy from behind, seemingly killing him, though the film hints at Joy coming back to life. The chaotic moment ends the immediate threat for the survivors.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Joy's clinic
  15. Aftermath and revelations

    Sona wakes up in hospital with the loss of her baby and the emotional weight of events. Anushka survives and declines to file a case against Sona. Rastogi is revealed to have known about Joy's crimes and offers him shelter, leaving the ending with ambiguous loyalties.

    Where
    Hospital

Last updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:07

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Timeline questions answered

Mrs. Serial Killer Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Mrs. Serial Killer (2020): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Sona agree to kill someone to prove Joy's innocence?

Sona agrees to the plan because all other options seem exhausted. After Joy's bail is rejected and the evidence appears stacked against him, lawyer Brij Rastogi proposes that if another death occurs in the same pattern as the serial killings, it would prove Joy isn't the killer. Sona, who dislikes hurting others, reluctantly agrees after weighing every option, believing this is the only way to save her husband and unborn child.

  • sona
  • joy
  • murder plan
  • rastogi
  • bail
  • prove innocence
Q2

How does Sona stage Anushka's death?

Sona abducts her neighbor Anushka Tiwari, an unmarried pregnant woman, and holds her captive in the basement of Joy's clinic. She then finds an unclaimed body and dresses it to resemble Anushka, creating the appearance of a murder matching the serial killing pattern. When the news of this 'death' reaches the police, the court believes Joy isn't the killer and grants him bail.

  • anushka
  • staged death
  • body double
  • sona
  • clinic basement
Q3

What is Joy's real motive for killing pregnant girls?

Joy reveals that his mother became pregnant out of wedlock and was abandoned, which traumatized him. This experience shaped his deep hatred for unmarried pregnant women, driving him to target and kill them, aborting and dismembering their fetuses. His profession as a gynecologist gave him access to his victims.

  • joy
  • motive
  • pregnant women
  • serial killer
  • mother
  • trauma
Q4

Why does Imran help Sona despite being her ex-boyfriend?

Despite being Sona's ex-boyfriend and initially investigating Joy, Imran ultimately helps Sona, Sid, and Anushka escape when he realizes the truth about Joy. During the confrontation at the clinic, Imran breaks free from Joy's restraints and assists in the rescue. His actions suggest he prioritizes stopping the real killer over personal resentment.

  • imran
  • sona
  • ex-boyfriend
  • help
  • rescue
  • joy
Q5

What happens to Sona's baby?

Sona loses her baby after being stabbed by Joy during the final confrontation. When she wakes up in the hospital, Imran explains that she has lost the baby. This loss, combined with discovering her husband's true nature as a serial killer, adds to the emotional devastation she experiences.

  • sona
  • baby
  • lost
  • hospital
  • stabbed
  • miscarriage
Q6

Does Joy actually die at the end of the movie?

In the climactic struggle, Imran stabs Joy from behind, seemingly killing him. However, the film leaves ambiguity, he survives the doctor's intervention and evades hospital surveillance. The ending suggests Joy may still be alive, as the truth about his crimes and their consequences lingers with uncertain outcomes.

  • joy
  • death
  • alive
  • escaped
  • hospital
  • ending
Q7

Why doesn't Anushka press charges against Sona?

Anushka decides not to press charges against Sona because Sona saved her life. Although Sona abducted and held her captive to stage a murder, Sona ultimately helped rescue her from Joy's clinic and protected her during the final confrontation. Anushka feels she owes her life to Sona.

  • anushka
  • charges
  • not pressing
  • saved
  • sona
  • grateful
Q8

What is Rastogi's true connection to Joy?

Rastogi is revealed to have known about Joy's crimes all along. While he posed as a helpful lawyer, he has at times shielded Joy and offered him shelter. His deeper knowledge of Joy's true nature comes to light in the aftermath, showing his role in the tangled web of complicity.

  • rastogi
  • lawyer
  • knew
  • joy
  • crimes
  • shielded
  • complicit
Q9

How does Sona realize Joy is the actual killer?

After Joy is released on bail, Sona reveals Anushka is still alive and held captive. Joy then admits he didn't kill Anushka, he staged her death by using an unclaimed body. This revelation shocks Sona, and she realizes the real killer is the person she married. Later, at night, she finds Joy approaching Anushka with a deadly plan, confirming her worst fear.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Sona wonders why Joy was framed, not realizing he was guilty all along.

  • sona
  • realize
  • joy
  • killer
  • discovered
  • truth
  • shocked
Q10

Why is Imran investigating Joy for the serial killings?

Inspector Imran Shahid is investigating the serial killings of six missing pregnant girls whose bodies were found in an isolated house owned by Joy. As the investigating officer, he visits Sona to collect evidence. Sona suspects Imran is framing Joy to get revenge for taking away her love years ago, but the evidence actually points to Joy being guilty.

  • imran
  • investigation
  • joy
  • serial killings
  • evidence
  • frame
Q11

Why does Joy target and kill pregnant women specifically?

Joy specifically targets unmarried pregnant women due to his traumatic past. His mother became pregnant out of wedlock and was abandoned, which created deep psychological trauma. This shaped his pathological hatred toward unwed pregnancies, leading him to target and murder pregnant women, using his medical knowledge to carry out and cover up his crimes.

  • joy
  • pregnant women
  • victims
  • unmarried
  • targeting
  • psychology
Q12

How does Sid discover Anushka is still alive?

Anushka's boyfriend Sid follows the investigation and discovers that Anushka is actually alive, hidden in the basement of Joy's clinic. He attempts to free her but accidentally locks himself inside a cupboard, trapping himself. This discovery leads to the final confrontation at the clinic where the truth about Joy is revealed.

  • sid
  • anushka
  • alive
  • basement
  • clinic
  • discovered
  • trapped

Movie threads

More Movies Like Mrs. Serial Killer, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about desperate moral compromises like Mrs. Serial Killer

Characters pushed to extreme acts, blurring the line between protector and perpetrator. If you liked the high-stakes dilemma in Mrs. Serial Killer, explore these other movies where characters are forced into dark deeds for love or loyalty. These films delve into the psychological toll of moral decay and the blurred lines between right and wrong in extreme situations.

  • desperate
  • anxious
  • moral decay
  • betrayal
  • claustrophobic
  • obsessive
  • Tone: tense, bleak, morally complex
  • Pacing: fast, urgent, driven by desperation
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a shocking injustice or threat against a loved one, forcing the protagonist to adopt the methods of the enemy. The plot revolves around a dangerous deception or copycat act, escalating tension as the protagonist's original moral compass is dismantled, culminating in a revelation that questions the very foundation of their sacrifice.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by the central theme of moral compromise for love. They share a heavy emotional weight, a tense and anxious mood, and often feature a bittersweet or bleak ending where the 'victory' comes at a profound personal cost.

Claustrophobic thrillers with shocking revelations like Mrs. Serial Killer

A tense unraveling where a safe reality is revealed to be a dangerous lie. Fans of the tense, unraveling mystery in Mrs. Serial Killer will enjoy these movies where a seemingly normal life hides a dark secret. These suspenseful stories build anxiety as the protagonist uncovers a terrifying truth, often about someone close to them, creating a gripping and nerve-wracking experience.

  • claustrophobic
  • suspenseful
  • dark
  • paranoid
  • betrayal
  • anxious
  • Tone: dark, tense, paranoid
  • Pacing: fast, suspenseful, unraveling quickly
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist living in a state of willful ignorance or comfortable denial. An external event triggers an investigation, forcing them to peel back the layers of their seemingly normal world. Each clue increases the claustrophobia and danger, leading to a climax where the foundational truth—often about a trusted partner—is exposed as something horrifying.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared oppressive, suspenseful mood and the core plot device of a shocking revelation. They deliver a consistent vibe of anxiety and paranoia, with fast pacing that mirrors the protagonist's frantic search for the truth and high intensity stemming from the intimate nature of the betrayal.

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Every angle

Mrs. Serial Killer (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Mrs. Serial Killer 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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