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Qurbani (1980) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Qurbani (1980) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1980 · 157 mins · Hindi
Starring
Zeenat Aman, Aruna Irani, Shakti Kapoor, Dinesh Hingoo, Vinod Khanna, Kader Khan

Sheela, a charismatic cabaret dancer and singer, captivates two very different admirers: Rajesh, a small‑time thief with a roguish charm, and Amar, a young, eligible widower of good standing. The two men are close friends, each blissfully unaware that they are competing for the same woman, leading to a tangled web of love and rivalry.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Characters explained (9)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (4)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Qurbani
  7. 7 Every angle

9 main characters · contains spoilers

Qurbani Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Qurbani (1980), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Rajesh

    played by Feroz Khan

    Former motorcycle stuntman in a circus, now a skilled thief who can crack safes. He hides his criminal life from his lover Sheela, creating tension between love and loyalty. After a traffic accident leads to his arrest and a two-year prison term, his world collides with Vikram and Amar, setting up a high-stakes confrontation.

    • 🎭 Antihero
    • 🗝️ Thief
    • 💔 Lover
  • Sheela

    played by Zeenat Aman

    A gorgeous disco club dancer and singer who loves Rajesh. Her faith in him is shattered when she learns of his criminal life, leaving her devastated. She later becomes entangled with Amar, adding emotional complexity to the evolving loyalties.

    • 💃 Dancer
    • ❤️ Lover
    • 🎭 Complex
  • Vikram Singh

    played by Shakti Kapoor

    A vengeful criminal mastermind who seeks to strike back at Rakka. He teams up with his sister Jwaala to recover the money she was cheated out of, and he drives the plot toward London. His tactics include kidnappings and brutal confrontation to enforce his will.

    • 🧠 Mastermind
    • 🗡️ Revenge
  • Amar

    played by Vinod Khanna

    A criminal in Rakka’s gang who revolts against his boss. He is a widower with a daughter, Tina, and he forms an unlikely alliance with Rajesh after saving Sheela. He plans the heist as part of a scheme to start a new life, ultimately sacrificing himself to protect others.

    • 🕵️‍♂️ Criminal
    • 👨‍👧 Father
    • 🤝 Ally
  • Tina

    Amar’s daughter, studying in a boarding school, whose safety becomes a bargaining chip in the gang’s schemes. Her presence links the personal with the criminal, raising the emotional stakes for the protagonists.

    • 👧 Daughter
    • 🎒 Student
  • Rakka

    played by Amrish Puri

    Crime boss who cheated Jwaala and siphoned her money, becoming the central antagonist of the scheme. His ruthless empire sets the stage for Vikram and Jwaala’s drive for retribution.

    • 💼 Boss
    • 🗡️ Ruthless
  • Jwaala Singh

    played by Aruna Irani

    Vikram’s sister who seeks revenge against Rakka for the betrayal and loss of money. She partners with Vikram to regain what was taken and to take down Rakka.

    • 👭 Sister
    • 💰 Revenge
  • Parsi Man

    played by Dinesh Hingoo

    A minor member of Rakka’s gang who participates in the criminal operations. His presence helps fill out the gang dynamics without driving the main plot.

    • 🧩 Gang Member
  • Police Inspector Amjad Khan

    The investigating inspector who pursues Rajesh and the gang. His pursuit acts as a catalyst that accelerates the plot and test of loyalties.

    • 👮 Inspector
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Investigator

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:41

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Setting

Where and When Does Qurbani Take Place?

The setting of Qurbani (1980): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Location

India, London

The story unfolds across India's gritty urban crime landscape and culminates in London, where the final confrontation unfolds. Early on, Rajesh navigates a world of heists and police scrutiny in India, setting a tone of danger and risk. The shift to London amplifies the stakes, turning a local crime plot into an international chase that tests loyalties and survival.

  • 🎭 Crime
  • 🌆 Urban
  • ✈️ Travel

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:41

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4 major themes

Qurbani Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Qurbani (1980) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Crime & Revenge

    The plot is driven by daring heists and a vendetta against the crime boss Rakka. Rajesh’s loyalties are tested as Vikram and Amar pursue their own ambitions, pulling friends and lovers into danger. The story moves from India’s streets to a high-stakes showdown in London, fueled by a desire for revenge.

  • Love & Loyalty

    Rajesh’s romance with Sheela provides emotional stakes that complicate their criminal lives. Amar’s unexpected affection for Sheela tests loyalties among former allies. Tina’s presence adds a familial dimension, tying together love with crime and risk.

  • Betrayal & Alliances

    Plans to stage a final robbery hinge on shifting loyalties and deception. Rajesh’s arrest and the ensuing schemes reveal how fragile alliances can be in the pursuit of money. The relationships among Rajesh, Amar, Vikram and others continually redefine who can be trusted.

  • Sacrifice

    Amar sacrifices himself to save Rajesh, Sheela and Tina from Vikram’s wrath. This act injects a note of selflessness into a world defined by crime and betrayal. The ending emphasizes the moral cost and potential redemption through sacrifice.

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:41

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Character & theme questions

Qurbani Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Qurbani (1980): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Qurbani set?

Qurbani unfolds primarily in India's gritty urban crime world, where the story's early heists and police pursuits set a dangerous tone. The narrative then shifts to London for the final confrontation, elevating a local crime plot into an international chase that tests loyalty and survival.

  • setting
  • india
  • london
  • locations
  • qurbani
Q2

What are the main themes in Qurbani?

Qurbani explores several interconnected themes including crime and revenge as the plot drives forward through daring heists against crime boss Rakka. Love and loyalty complicate the characters' criminal lives, while betrayal and shifting alliances reveal how fragile trust can be in pursuit of money. The story culminates in sacrifice, as one character gives up everything to save others.

  • themes
  • crime
  • revenge
  • love
  • loyalty
  • betrayal
  • sacrifice
Q3

Who is Rajesh in Qurbani?

Rajesh is a skilled thief and former motorcycle stuntman from a circus who can crack safes. He hides his criminal life from his lover Sheela, creating ongoing tension between love and loyalty. After a traffic accident leads to his arrest and imprisonment, his world collides with Vikram and Amar, setting up the high-stakes confrontations.

  • rajesh
  • character
  • thief
  • safe cracker
  • qurbani
Q4

Who is Sheela in Qurbani?

Sheela is a gorgeous disco club dancer and singer who genuinely loves Rajesh. Her faith in him is shattered when she discovers his criminal life, leaving her devastated. She later becomes entangled with Amar, adding emotional complexity to the evolving loyalties among the characters.

  • sheela
  • dancer
  • singer
  • character
  • qurbani
Q5

Who is Vikram Singh in Qurbani?

Vikram Singh is a vengeful criminal mastermind seeking to strike back at the crime boss Rakka, who cheated his sister Jwaala out of money. He partners with his sister to recover what was taken and drives the plot toward London. His tactics include kidnappings and brutal confrontation to enforce his will.

  • vikram singh
  • villain
  • revenge
  • crime boss
  • qurbani
Q6

Who is Amar in Qurbani?

Amar is a criminal in Rakka's gang who rebels against his boss. He is a widower with a daughter named Tina, and he forms an unlikely alliance with Rajesh after saving Sheela. He plans a major heist as part of a scheme to start a new life, ultimately sacrificing himself to protect Rajesh, Sheela and Tina.

  • amar
  • character
  • widower
  • father
  • sacrifice
  • qurbani
Q7

Who is Rakka in Qurbani?

Rakka is the central crime boss antagonist who cheated Jwaala and siphoned her money. His ruthless criminal empire sets the stage for Vikram and Jwaala's drive for retribution, making him the target of the revenge plot that drives much of the story's conflict.

  • rakka
  • crime boss
  • antagonist
  • villain
  • qurbani
Q8

How does sacrifice play a role in Qurbani?

Sacrifice is a central theme in Qurbani's ending, where Amar gives up his life to save Rajesh, Sheela and Tina from Vikram's wrath. This act of selflessness injects moral depth into a world defined by crime and betrayal, emphasizing the potential for redemption through sacrifice despite the characters' criminal backgrounds.

  • sacrifice
  • ending
  • redemption
  • amar
  • qurbani
Q9

How does Qurbani handle betrayal and alliances?

Qurbani shows how fragile alliances can be in the criminal underworld, with characters constantly redefining who can be trusted. Plans for a final robbery hinge on shifting loyalties and deception, and Rajesh's arrest triggers schemes that test every relationship. The ever-changing dynamics between Rajesh, Amar, Vikram and others keep trust in constant question.

  • betrayal
  • alliances
  • trust
  • loyalty
  • qurbani
Q10

What is the love dynamic in Qurbani?

Qurbani features a love triangle between Sheela, Rajesh, and Amar. Sheela is captivated by Rajesh, a small-time thief with roguish charm, while Amar, a young eligible widower of good standing, also falls for her. The two men are close friends, each unaware they are competing for the same woman, creating emotional stakes that intertwine with the criminal plot.

  • love triangle
  • sheela
  • rajesh
  • amar
  • romance
  • qurbani
Q11

What kind of world does Qurbani portray?

Qurbani portrays a world of constant criminal danger where heists, police scrutiny, and violent confrontations are everyday realities. The urban setting in India establishes a tone of risk and danger from the start, while the shift to London amplifies these stakes into an international crime narrative.

  • crime world
  • urban setting
  • heists
  • danger
  • qurbani
Q12

Who is Tina in Qurbani?

Tina is Amar's daughter who studies at a boarding school. Her safety becomes a bargaining chip in the gang's schemes, linking the personal stakes of family with the criminal plot. Her presence adds emotional weight to Amar's decisions and motivations throughout the story.

  • tina
  • child
  • amar's daughter
  • character
  • qurbani

Movie threads

More Movies Like Qurbani, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about love triangles fracturing friendships like Qurbani

Brotherhood fractures when a charismatic lover comes between inseparable friends. If you enjoyed the intense rivalry between Rajesh and Amar in Qurbani, you'll like these movies where a dangerous love triangle pits close friends against each other. This collection features similar crime dramas and action thrillers centered on betrayal, sacrifice, and the high emotional cost of competing for love.

  • tense
  • dramatic
  • romantic
  • melancholic
  • betrayal
  • rivalry
  • Tone: tense, dramatic, melancholic
  • Pacing: fast, driven by interpersonal conflict
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically begin with a strong, loyal friendship that is disrupted by the entrance of a compelling love interest. The narrative unfolds as the friends become bitter rivals, leading to a series of betrayals, confrontations, and often a climactic sacrifice where one character must choose between their love and their former friend.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on the 'brotherhood vs. romance' conflict, a tense and dramatic tone, and a plot structure where personal relationships drive the action and suspense, resulting in emotionally charged, bittersweet conclusions.

Fast-paced crime thrillers with romance like Qurbani

High-stakes criminal plots collide with intense, doomed love stories. For viewers who liked the mix of action, crime, and romance in Qurbani, this list features similar movies that combine a gritty criminal underworld with a compelling love story. These films share a fast pace, high tension, and a dramatic tone where personal relationships are central to the plot's high stakes.

  • action-packed
  • suspenseful
  • romantic
  • gritty
  • dramatic
  • thrilling
  • Tone: tense, gritty, romantic
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist entangled in a dangerous criminal world whose life is complicated by a powerful romantic connection. The love story and the crime plot are deeply intertwined, with each driving the other forward towards a climax where the protagonist must often confront the ultimate cost of their dual life.

Why they belong together: They are united by a specific blend of genre elements: a fast pace, high intensity, a tense tone, and a plot where romantic entanglements are not a subplot but a primary engine for the action and drama.

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Movies Like Qurbani

Similar movies to Qurbani: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Qurbani (1980) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Qurbani 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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