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Plot Summary

Raabta (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 147 mins · Hindi
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Directed by
Dinesh Vijan
Starring
Deepika Padukone, Jim Sarbh, Sushant Singh Rajput, Varun Sharma, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao

A couple, Saira and Shiva, are deeply in love, but their happiness is threatened when a mysterious stranger arrives, claiming to be her former lover from a past life. Obsessed with winning her back, this stranger’s arrival creates a complicated situation and jeopardizes their relationship, forcing them to confront the complexities of love, destiny, and reincarnation.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Raabta
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Raabta: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Raabta (2017) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Shiv Kakkar, a fun-loving banker from Amritsar, relocates to Budapest for a lucrative job opportunity, bringing along his childhood friend Radha. In the Hungarian capital, he continues his carefree, flirtatious ways until he meets Saira Singh, a chocolatier haunted by eerie nightmares of drowning. Despite Shiv being on a date with another woman, he feels an intense connection with Saira, who initially resists his advances because she already has a boyfriend, Manav. Yet Shiv persuades her to give them a chance, and the pair begin to grow close, which ultimately ends Saira’s relationship with Manav.

As Shiv and Saira draw nearer, she reveals a fear of water rooted in a childhood tragedy when her parents drowned. Shiv leaves for a business trip, and during his absence Saira meets Zakir, who later abducts her. Zakir claims they were lovers in a past life, showing her paintings of her from that time and triggering memories of her former life as Saiba, a warrior princess. In that life, Saiba loved a warrior named Jilaan, but their romance ends in tragedy when Qaabir kills Jilaan out of jealousy.

To prevent history from repeating, Saira initially agrees to marry Zakir but soon decides to fight back. Shiv, unaware of the past lives but deeply in love with Saira, helps her escape. In a final confrontation, Zakir tries to kill Shiv, and the two plunge into the ocean. Zakir drowns while Saira saves Shiv, and they are rescued by the navy. Ten years pass, and Shiv and Saira, now married with twin sons, visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a quiet moment that marks a hopeful future for their family.

Last updated: February 20, 2026 at 12:18

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Plot questions answered

Raabta Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Raabta (2017): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Zakir believe Saira was his lover in a past life?

Zakir shows Saira paintings from centuries ago depicting her as a warrior princess namedSaiba who was in love with a warrior called Jilaan (Shiv's past incarnation). Zakir claims he was Qaabir in that lifetime, who was also in love withSaiba but killed Jilaan out of jealousy. These paintings and the story trigger Saira's suppressed past-life memories, making her believe their connection transcends current reality.

  • zakir
  • past life
  • saiba
  • paintings
  • reincarnation
  • memories
Q2

What causes Saira's fear of water?

Saira's fear of water stems from a childhood tragedy where her parents drowned. This traumatic event left her with lifelong aquaphobia, which manifests in nightmares about drowning. The fear becomes significant when the final confrontation occurs at sea, forcing her to overcome her trauma to save Shiv.

  • saira
  • fear of water
  • childhood trauma
  • parents drowning
  • nightmares
Q3

Why does Saira initially agree to marry Zakir?

Saira agrees to marry Zakir because she believes doing so will prevent history from repeating itself. In her past life asSaiba, she loved Jilaan but Qaabir (Zakir's past self) killed him out of jealousy. Saira thinks that by consenting to marry Zakir this time, she can break the tragic cycle and save Shiv's life.

  • saira
  • zakir
  • marriage
  • past life
  • fate
  • break cycle
Q4

How does Shiv help Saira escape from Zakir?

Although unaware of the past-life connection between Saira and Zakir, Shiv orchestrates her escape from captivity. His deep love for Saira drives him to confront Zakir and free her from his clutches, setting up the final confrontation where their relationship is truly tested.

  • shiv
  • saira
  • escape
  • captivity
  • rescue
  • zakir
Q5

Why does Zakir attack Shiv at the sea?

Zakir's attack is driven by obsessive jealousy that spans lifetimes. In their past lives, Qaabir killed Jilaan (Shiv's past self) because he lovedSaiba. Unable to accept that Saira chose Shiv over him in the present, Zakir attempts to kill Shiv in a final act of jealousy, forcing Saira to choose between the two men.

  • zakir
  • shiv
  • jealousy
  • attack
  • sea
  • past life
  • qaabir
  • jilaan
Q6

Why does Zakir drown while Shiv survives?

During the struggle, both men fall into the ocean. Saira overcomes her traumatic fear of water to rescue Shiv, but she cannot save Zakir in time, leading to his drowning. This mirrors the tragic ending of their past life where Jilaan died, but in this lifetime, love and Saira's courage allow Shiv to survive.

Foreshadowing: The past-life memory shows Jilaan being killed by Qaabir, establishing the pattern that Shiv could die.

  • zakir
  • drowning
  • shiv
  • sea
  • ocean
  • rescue
  • survival
  • past life
Q7

Why does Saira leave Manav for Shiv?

Saira leaves Manav because she feels an intense, inexplicable connection with Shiv the moment they meet. Despite being on a date with another woman, Shiv is drawn to Saira, and she eventually reciprocates, ending her relationship with Manav to pursue this powerful bond that feels destined.

  • saira
  • manav
  • shiv
  • breakup
  • love
  • attraction
  • connection
Q8

What triggers Saira's past life memories?

Zakir triggers Saira's past life memories by showing her ancient paintings of herself as warrior princessSaiba. These visual artifacts, combined with his claims about their shared history, unlock suppressed memories of her past incarnation and her love with warrior Jilaan.

  • past life
  • memories
  • paintings
  • saiba
  • zakir
  • trigger
  • reincarnation
Q9

Who is Qaabir and what is his relationship to Zakir?

Qaabir is Zakir's past-life identity. In the historical flashback, Qaabir was a warrior who lovedSaiba but she rejected him for Jilaan. Consumed by jealousy, Qaabir murdered Jilaan, causing a tragic ending to that lifetime. Zakir believes he is now destined to have Saira, continuing Qaabir's obsession.

  • qaabir
  • zakir
  • past life
  • jealousy
  • murderer
  • warrior
  • jilaan
Q10

Why does the movie end at the Golden Temple?

The film ends at the Golden Temple in Amritsar (Shiv's hometown) to symbolize healing and hope. Ten years after surviving the traumatic ordeal, Shiv and Saira visit the temple with their twin sons, representing peace, faith, and a future free from the darkness of past-life curses and Zakir's obsession.

  • golden temple
  • amritsar
  • ending
  • hope
  • healing
  • family
  • closure

Movie threads

More Movies Like Raabta, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about obsessive past lives like Raabta

When destiny's plan is threatened by a dangerous obsession from a previous life. If you enjoyed the high-stakes drama of Raabta, you'll love these movies where reincarnated lovers must confront a dangerous obsession from their past. Discover similar thrillers and romantic dramas about destiny, fated love, and the threat of a past that refuses to stay buried.

  • fated
  • obsessive
  • dramatic
  • suspenseful
  • passionate
  • reincarnation
  • Tone: tense, dramatic, passionate
  • Pacing: fast, suspenseful
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a blissful, seemingly destined romance that is suddenly disrupted by the arrival of a character claiming a connection from a past life. This antagonist's obsessive pursuit escalates the plot into a thriller, forcing the protagonists to confront and overcome this threat to secure their present-day happiness, often by uncovering truths about their shared history.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their unique blend of epic, destiny-driven romance and tense, personal thriller elements. The shared core is the conflict between a 'correct' fated path and a 'wrong' but powerfully persistent past connection, creating a specific mix of passion, suspense, and dramatic tension.

High-stakes romance thrillers similar to Raabta

Love stories where the central relationship is threatened by immediate, physical danger. Fans of the tense, fast-paced drama in Raabta will enjoy these romance thrillers where love is put to the ultimate test. Explore more movies like Raabta that combine passionate relationships with kidnapping, danger, and a race against time for a happy ending.

  • romantic
  • suspenseful
  • anxious
  • passionate
  • danger
  • kidnapping
  • Tone: tense, passionate, anxious
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves establishing a strong romantic bond between protagonists, which is then immediately jeopardized by an external threat—often a kidnapping, pursuit, or a single-minded antagonist. The plot becomes a race against time, blending action or thriller sequences with the emotional journey of the couple working together to survive and preserve their relationship.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific vibe: the seamless intertwining of passionate romance with the adrenaline of a thriller. The pacing is typically fast, the tone is tense, and the central question is whether love can conquer not just differences, but dire physical danger.

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Every angle

Raabta (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Raabta 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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