Year: 1978
Runtime: 137 mins
Language: Hindi
Director: Krishna Shah
Kumar, a thief, poses as Raja Bahadur Singh’s son to attend Sir John Locksley’s island gathering, where guests K.P.W. Iyengar (Romeo), Dr. Dubari, Colonel Columbus and Countess Sylvia Rasmussen are criminals. Sir John seeks a successor and forces them to steal the ruby Shalimar (135 crore rupees) from a guarded vault, promising death for any failure. Kumar’s ruse is uncovered, yet he must join the lethal heist.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Shalimar 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!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Shalimar (1978), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
On the run from the police, a cunning thief named S. S. Kumar Dharmendra stumbles upon a private invitation addressed to Raja Bahadur Singh Premnath Malhotra for a secret gathering on the island associated with Sir John Locksley Rex Harrison. After witnessing the Raja being shot, Kumar steals the invitation, ferries the injured man to a hospital, and undertakes a bold disguise—wearing a Sikh turban—and pretends to be Bahadur Singh, Jr., the Raja’s supposed son, in order to gain entry to the exclusive event. The ruse kicks off a tense game where appearances must be maintained and every move is watched with suspicion.
Inside the gathering, Kumar encounters a cast of notorious criminals who were invited for a purpose beyond reunion or leisure. There is the mute Colonel Columbus John Saxon, a fearless acrobat named Countess Sylvia Rasmussen Sylvia Miles, a devoted follower of many religions named Dr. Dubari Shammi Kapoor, and a suave, scheming lothario known as K.P.W. Iyengar (Romeo) OP Ralhan. The scenes unfold with a charged mix of wit, danger, and schemes as Kumar’s true identity begins to blur with the others’ expectations, and the line between ally and rival becomes perilously thin. His entrance and demeanor don’t fool everyone, especially his former sweetheart and fiancée Sheila Enders Zeenat Aman, who now works for Sir John.
Sir John Locksley Rex Harrison himself is present, and the real Bahadur Singh Jr. appears at his father’s hospital bedside. Yet Sir John allows Kumar to stay, arguing that Kumar’s seemingly amateur background aligns with the other guests. The host’s darker motive emerges clearly: he has summoned these criminals to see who among them can be trusted to succeed him as a leader, because he is dying of cancer and wants a worthy successor to handle a final, high-stakes test. The pivotal objective is to steal the Shalimar diamond, a jewel valued at 135 crores of rupees, from a fortified room inside the palace. The room is protected by alarms, armed guards, and a surrounding minefield, turning the caper into a deadly contest where failure means death for all involved.
The perilous sequence of events begins almost immediately. Colonel Columbus is the first to die while attempting the heist, and Kumar claims that the mute man had screamed in his final moments, shocking the others. Countess Rasmussen makes an attempted theft next, but she, too, is killed. Dr. Dubari is shown dying during the attempt, though it is later revealed that he had survived the perilous moment. Romeo eventually withdraws from the scheme, only to be killed by Sir John in a brutal turn of events. Then comes Kumar’s turn to act; he stages a bold, ruse-filled effort and succeeds in stealing the Shalimar.
Just as the gem slips from the safety of the vault, the local tribal leaders ambush Sir John, killing the man who had promised them the jewel. What follows is a dramatic twist: Kumar is not the simple thief everyone assumed him to be. He is revealed to be an elite CBI officer on a special mission to arrest the masterminds behind the conspiracy. The tale wraps with the outcome of the dangerous game and, in a fitting turn of fate, Kumar and Sheila Zeenat Aman marry, tying together justice and personal recompense after a rollercoaster of deception, danger, and revelation.
A tale of deception, high-stakes gambles, and the search for trust, this story threads together glamour, danger, and a final twist that reframes every move the players made on the island and within the palace.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:16
Don't stop at just watching — explore Shalimar in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Shalimar is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Shalimar with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover movies like Shalimar that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Shalimar (1978) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Shalimar (1978) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Shalimar (1978) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Shalimar – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Besharam (2013) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Baadshaho (2017) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Kohinoor (2015) Movie Recap & Themes
Shikari (2000) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Shaan (1980) Movie Recap & Themes
Sultanat (1986) Full Summary & Key Details
Shahenshah (1988) Film Overview & Timeline
Jagir (1984) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Jalwa (1987) Film Overview & Timeline
They Met in Bombay (1941) Full Summary & Key Details
Calcutta (1946) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Shola Aur Shabnam (1992) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Baadshah (1999) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Shikar (1968) Detailed Story Recap
Maharaja (2024) Film Overview & Timeline