Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Raazi (2018) movie poster

Timeline

Raazi (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 138 min · Hindi
Echo score 90
JustWatch #7,280 1
Directed by
Meghna Gulzar
Starring
Shishir Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Jaideep Ahlawat, Vicky Kaushal, Pallavi Batra, Arif Zakaria
Budget
$4.5M

During the tense Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, a young Kashmiri woman named Sehmat is recruited as an Indian spy. She is married to a Pakistani army officer to gain intelligence and navigate a dangerous world of espionage. Balancing her duty to her country with the risks to her new family, Sehmat must use her intelligence and courage to uncover vital secrets and protect India from within.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Raazi
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Raazi (2018)

Where can you watch Raazi? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Raazi Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Raazi (2018) 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. Hidayat Khan's Dying Wish

    Hidayat Khan, a former freedom fighter in India, reveals his dying wish to see his daughter, Sehmat, follow in his footsteps of national service. Despite his wife Teji's objections, he inspires Sehmat to leave her college education to embark on a journey of espionage.

  2. Training Under Khalid Mir

    Sehmat begins rigorous training under the guidance of Khalid Mir and Bakshi, learning essential espionage skills such as martial arts and Morse code. The training equips her with the tools she needs to navigate the dangerous world ahead, preparing her for her covert mission.

  3. Marriage to Iqbal Syed

    Hidayat Khan leverages his relationship with Brigadier Syed to facilitate Sehmat's marriage to Iqbal Syed, an officer in the Pakistan Army. This strategic union is intended to place her directly in the midst of crucial military operations.

  4. Establishing Trust

    After her marriage, Sehmat adapts to her new life in Pakistan, successfully earning the trust of her in-laws. She becomes a part of the household, allowing her access to vital information as Brigadier Syed rises to the rank of Major General.

  5. Gathering Intelligence

    As tensions heighten, Sehmat begins to relay critical information back to her handlers in India. Her position within the family gives her insight into military plans, and she begins building a network for transmitting sensitive documents.

  6. Discovery of Offensive Plans

    Sehmat discovers plans for a major offensive against India, risking her life to collect vital intelligence. The situation intensifies when she realizes Abdul, a servant in the household, has become suspicious of her activities.

  7. Desperate Measures

    To protect her identity, Sehmat makes a grave decision and fatally runs Abdul over with a jeep. This act of desperation marks a turning point for her, leaving her grappling with guilt and an impending sense of dread as a spy.

  8. Confronting Iqbal's Brother

    As her situation worsens, Sehmat is forced to eliminate Iqbal's brother, Mehboob, who is investigating Abdul’s death. This further entangles her in a web of deceit and violence, as she struggles with the emotional toll of her actions.

  9. The Revelation

    As the war escalates, Sehmat's true identity as a spy is unveiled, leading to a confrontation with Iqbal. The chaos surrounding their lives intensifies, culminating in Iqbal’s tragic death due to a bomb orchestrated by Khalid Mir.

  10. Escape in Disguise

    In a narrow escape, Sehmat swaps places with an agent disguised in a burqa, evading capture as she bears witness to the horrors of war. This moment catalyzes a profound reflection on the sacrifices and losses inflicted by her role as a spy.

  11. Return to India

    Overwhelmed by the consequences of her actions, Sehmat pleads with Khalid for a way back to India, revealing her pregnancy from her time with Iqbal. This revelation marks a new chapter in her life, filled with hope yet shadowed by tragedy.

  12. Crucial Intelligence and War Begins

    Her intelligence leads to the sinking of the Pakistani submarine PNS Ghazi by the INS Rajput, significantly contributing to the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. This pivotal moment showcases her impact and the cascading events that lead to a national conflict.

    Where
    Visakhapatnam
  13. Culmination of the War

    The war culminates in the Pakistani Instrument of Surrender, marking a significant victory for India. Sehmat's contributions are instrumental in this outcome, solidifying her legacy as a true patriot amidst the turmoil.

  14. A Mother's Resolve

    As the dust settles after the war, Sehmat reflects on her past actions and resolves to raise her child alone. The experience has changed her fundamentally, and she is determined to instill values of bravery and resilience in her son, Samar Saeed.

  15. Lieutenant General Bakshi's Address

    Lieutenant General Bakshi addresses the dedicated officers aboard the INS Viraat, recounting Sehmat's remarkable journey and sacrifices. His speech serves as both an homage and a reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of national service.

    Where
    INS Viraat

Last updated: October 27, 2024 at 22:29

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Raazi Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Raazi (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Sehmat agree to become a spy for India?

Sehmat became a spy because of her dying father's wish. Hidayat Khan, a former Indian freedom fighter, wanted his daughter to continue the family's legacy of national service. Despite her mother's objections, Sehmat left college to undergo training with RAW agent Khalid Mir and serve her country.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish that Sehmat comes from a patriotic family with a tradition of sacrifice for India.

  • sehmat spy
  • Hidayat Khan
  • RAW agent
  • patriotic daughter
Q2

How was Sehmat recruited and trained by RAW?

Sehmat was recruited through her father Hidayat Khan's connection to Pakistan. After leaving college, she underwent intensive training under Khalid Mir and his aide Bakshi, learning martial arts, espionage tactics, and Morse code transmission to prepare for her covert mission.

Foreshadowing: The training sequence shows Sehmat mastering various skills that she later uses in Pakistan.

  • sehmat training
  • RAW
  • Khalid Mir
  • espionage skills
Q3

Why was Sehmat married to Iqbal Syed?

Sehmat was strategically married to Iqbal Syed, a Pakistani army officer, as part of her espionage mission. Her father leveraged his friendship with Brigadier Syed to orchestrate the marriage, placing Sehmat inside a Pakistani military household where she could gather intelligence.

Foreshadowing: Hidayat Khan's friendship with Brigadier Syed is introduced early as a key advantage for infiltration.

  • Sehmat Iqbal marriage
  • Pakistani army
  • strategic marriage
  • espionage
Q4

Why did Sehmat kill Abdul the servant?

Sehmat killed Abdul because he discovered her true identity as an Indian spy. When Abdul became suspicious of her activities and threatened to expose her, she made the desperate decision to run him over with a jeep to protect her cover and mission.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Abdul observing Sehmat's suspicious behavior around the house.

  • Sehmat kills Abdul
  • spy exposed
  • murder cover
Q5

Why did Sehmat kill Mehboob Syed?

Sehmat killed Mehboob, Iqbal's brother, because he began investigating Abdul's death and his suspicions threatened to expose her identity as a spy. She eliminated him to protect her cover and continue her mission.

Foreshadowing: Mehboob's questioning of Abdul's death signals growing danger for Sehmat's double life.

  • Sehmat kills Mehboob
  • Iqbal brother
  • expose spy identity
Q6

How did Iqbal Syed die in Raazi?

Iqbal Syed died when a bomb, orchestrated by Khalid Mir (Sehmat's RAW handler), exploded. While the intended target was likely a Pakistani military operation, Iqbal was caught in the explosion during the chaos of the war.

Foreshadowing: Khalid Mir's control over Sehmat's mission and his willingness to use lethal force foreshadows this tragic outcome.

  • Iqbal death
  • Khalid Mir bomb
  • Sehmat husband dies
Q7

How did Sehmat escape from Pakistan?

Sehmat escaped by swapping places with another RAW agent disguised in a burqa. This covert exchange allowed her to evade detection during the chaos of the war and return to India.

Foreshadowing: The burqa disguise was established earlier as a common method for covert movements in the region.

  • Sehmat escape
  • burqa disguise
  • return to India
Q8

What happened to Sehmat's baby after the war?

Sehmat was pregnant with Iqbal's child when she returned to India. She gave birth to a son named Samar Saeed and raised him alone, carrying the bittersweet memory of her husband whom she had grown to love despite their circumstances.

Foreshadowing: Sehmat's emotional attachment to Iqbal developed throughout the film as they lived together.

  • Sehmat pregnancy
  • Samar Saeed
  • Iqbal child
Q9

How did Sehmat's intelligence help sink the Pakistani submarine PNS Ghazi?

Sehmat relayed critical intelligence about Pakistani military operations, which enabled the Indian Navy to sink the Pakistani submarine PNS Ghazi by the INS Rajput off the coast of Visakhapatnam. This was one of the early warnings of Pakistan's offensive plans and a significant turning point in the 1971 war.

Foreshadowing: Sehmat's discovery of Pakistan's offensive plans against the INS Vikrant establishes her valuable intelligence network.

  • PNS Ghazi sinking
  • INS Rajput
  • Sehmat intelligence
  • Visakhapatnam
Q10

How did Sehmat's spy mission contribute to India's victory in the 1971 war?

Sehmat's intelligence gathering was instrumental in India's victory. Her warnings about Pakistani attacks, including the sinking of PNS Ghazi, helped the Indian military anticipate and counter Pakistani operations, leading to the Pakistani Instrument of Surrender and a decisive Indian victory.

Foreshadowing: The escalating tension between India and Pakistan provides context for the importance of Sehmat's mission.

  • 1971 war
  • India victory
  • Pakistani surrender
  • Sehmat contribution
Q11

Did Sehmat fall in love with Iqbal?

Yes, Sehmat grew to genuinely love Iqbal despite their circumstances. Their relationship evolved from a strategic marriage to genuine emotional attachment. This love created an intense internal conflict for Sehmat as she balanced her duty to India with her feelings for her Pakistani husband.

Foreshadowing: Sehmat's emotional turmoil increases as she becomes more attached to Iqbal and his family.

  • Sehmat Iqbal love
  • emotional conflict
  • spy feelings
Q12

How did Sehmat cope with the guilt of killing people?

Sehmat struggled deeply with the psychological toll of her actions. Killing Abdul and Mehboob weighed heavily on her conscience, leaving her haunted by guilt and trauma. The film shows her emotional breakdown as she grapples with the consequences of her choices while maintaining her cover.

Foreshadowing: The narrative emphasizes Sehmat's deteriorating mental state as she commits increasingly difficult acts.

  • Sehmat guilt
  • trauma
  • psychological toll
  • murder consequences

Movie threads

More Movies Like Raazi, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about the moral cost of espionage like Raazi

Stories where deep cover espionage tears apart personal loyalties and moral lines. If you were gripped by the moral conflicts in Raazi, explore these movies like Raazi that delve into the heavy emotional weight of undercover work. These similar spy thrillers and drama stories feature characters torn between duty and personal connection, set against high-stakes political backdrops.

  • morally conflicted
  • claustrophobic
  • suspenseful
  • anxious
  • somber
  • gripping
  • Tone: tense, morally conflicted
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow an agent who must embed themselves within an enemy group or family, often forming real emotional bonds. The central conflict arises from the collision of their mission objectives with their growing personal attachments, forcing impossible choices where duty demands profound betrayal.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their intense focus on the internal struggle of the spy, the high-tension atmosphere of constant threat, and the exploration of patriotism's personal cost. They share a steady, methodical pacing that builds psychological dread and a tone of deep moral unease.

Wartime thrillers with bittersweet endings like Raazi

Thrillers where strategic success is forever shadowed by profound personal loss. For viewers who appreciated the complex ending of Raazi, this list features movies like Raazi where the mission's success is bittersweet. These similar war stories and historical thrillers explore the theme of victory marred by personal tragedy, often based on true events with heavy emotional impact.

  • somber
  • gripping
  • urgent
  • patriotic
  • tragic
  • solemn
  • Tone: tense, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, building
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist achieving a crucial goal that saves many lives or changes the course of a war, but in the process, they lose their loved ones, their innocence, or their peace of mind. The ending acknowledges the public victory while focusing intimately on the character's private devastation.

Why they belong together: These films are linked by their shared structure of a costly triumph, a tone that balances tense action with deep sorrow, and a pacing that steadily builds towards an emotionally complex resolution. They resonate with viewers seeking stories that acknowledge the true, human price of war and duty.

If you liked this

Movies Like Raazi

Similar movies to Raazi: 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

Raazi (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Raazi 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.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app