Naseeb

Naseeb

Year: 1981

Runtime: 197 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Manmohan Desai

Drama

The film opens with a lottery ticket that sparks the story of fate. A drunken patron, unable to settle his restaurant bill, swaps his newly bought ticket with a waiter. That simple exchange sets off a chain of events that weave together love, friendship, sacrifice, deceit, revenge and ultimately examine the power of destiny.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Naseeb 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!

Timeline – Naseeb (1981)

Trace every key event in Naseeb (1981) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Lottery ticket exchange and Jaggi wins

In 1961, a drunken man unable to pay his tab sells his lottery ticket to Namdev and his three friends. They use a card-draw to decide who keeps the ticket, and Jaggi ends up with it. The sale and the draw set off a chain of events that will shape everyone's fate.

1961 Bombay, India
2

Damu and Raghu murder Jaggi and frame Namdev

When the ticket proves to be a winner, Damu and Raghu turn on Jaggi and murder him to seize the prize. They frame Namdev for the crime, hoping to ruin his life. Damu also secretly photographs Raghu killing Jaggi, a cruel keepsake used later as leverage.

1961 Bombay, India
3

Namdev goes on the run and is presumed dead

Namdev flees to avoid the frame, but Raghu and Damu trap him and throw him off a bridge into a river. He is presumed dead by all who knew him. The crime appears solved, leaving Namdev's fate uncertain.

1961 Bridge over river near Bombay, India
4

Two decades later: Damu and Raghu build a hotel empire

In 1981, Damu and Raghu use the stolen lottery money to build a lavish hotel and become wealthy businessmen. The hotel becomes their empire and symbol of their success. They also fund Vicky's education in England and hire Namdev's eldest son Johnny as a waiter.

1981 Mumbai, India
5

Johnny and Vicky fall for Asha; Julie sacrifices

Johnny and Vicky both fall for Miss Asha, a beautiful singer at the hotel. Julie, Vicky's childhood friend, loves him too but he treats her as a friend. Johnny and Julie sacrifice their own romance to help Vicky and Asha stay together.

1981 Mumbai, India
6

Sunny falls for Asha's sister Kim

Meanwhile Sunny, Johnny's younger brother, falls for Asha's younger sister Kim. This adds another romantic thread to the intertwined fates around the hotel and the lottery's legacy. The love triangles complicate loyalties as danger looms.

1981 Mumbai, India
7

Namdev is rescued and goes undercover

Namdev is rescued by a man known as Don, who operates in the criminal underworld. Don sends Namdev undercover to investigate the death of KK after Damu killed him. The arrangement pulls Namdev deeper into a web of secrets.

1981 Mumbai, India
8

Mrs. Gomes witnesses Namdev and falls unconscious

Mrs. Gomes spots Namdev during his undercover assignment and, in excitement, falls from a bus and collapses unconscious. The incident adds a layer of urgency to Namdev's mission as he tries to clear his name. The moment foreshadows how close the truth is to being exposed.

1981 Mumbai, India
9

Raghu's sons plot to kill Damu and Vicky

Raghu's sons plot to kill Damu and Vicky for their own financial motives. Ashok shoots at them, but they survive, prompting Namdev to intervene and knock out Ashok, while taking Vicky away with him. Johnny follows in pursuit as the situation spirals toward a dangerous confrontation.

1981 Mumbai, India
10

Namdev confronts Johnny; truth revealed

Namdev and Johnny come face to face in a tense confrontation; just as Namdev is about to kill Johnny, Mrs. Gomes regains consciousness and reveals that Johnny is Namdev's son. The revelation reframes Namdev's motivation and strengthens his resolve to seek justice.

1981 Hotel in Mumbai
11

Asha and Kim are Jaggi's daughters; Jaggi's murder photo surfaces

Asha and Kim are revealed to be Jaggi's daughters, tying their fates to Namdev's past. Damu confronts Raghu and presents the photograph of Raghu killing Jaggi as proof, complicating who truly holds the truth about Jaggi's murder.

1981 Mumbai, India
12

Prem kills Raghu; evidence near Namdev's innocence

Raghu's elder son Prem pushes his father off a balcony, killing him. Before dying, Prem tells Sunny that proof of Namdev's innocence is nearby. Sunny finds the crucial photo, but Raghu and his son burn it to keep the truth buried.

1981 Mumbai, India
13

Don seizes the photo; threats loom

Namdev, Johnny, Vicky and Sunny capture Raghu's younger son Ashok. Don holds them hostage and uses the photo to pressure Namdev into confessing, while warning Raghu that his men will shoot Johnny, Vicky and Sunny when they return home.

1981 Mumbai, India
14

Zabisco's revenge and the break-in

Zabisco, Don's son, tries to kill the group out of revenge for Vicky closing down his London casino. Asha, Julie and Kim break in and subdue Zabisco, turning the tide of the conflict.

1981 London, England
15

Final showdown: photo to police; Namdev vindicated

That night, during a hotel performance, they retrieve the photo from Don and hand it to the police. Namdev, Johnny, Vicky and Sunny fight their enemies and the hotel catches fire, leading to Raghu and Zabisco's deaths. Namdev is vindicated and becomes the hotel’s owner, blessing the man who sold him his destiny.

1981 Mumbai, India

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:51

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Naseeb Summary

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