Vodka Diaries

Vodka Diaries

Year: 2018

Runtime: 112 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Kushal Srivastava

MysteryThriller

In the misty town of Manali, ACP Ashwini Dixit investigates a series of mysterious murders occurring within a single night. The unsettling events appear connected to the local nightclub, Vodka Diaries, as she delves into the investigation and attempts to uncover the truth behind the crimes and the people involved.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Vodka Diaries 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 – Vodka Diaries (2018)

Trace every key event in Vodka Diaries (2018) 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

Murder unfolds at Vodka Diaries

A series of murders shocks the Manali club Vodka Diaries. Three carefree young men are killed in the same night in the presence of three mysterious women. ACP Ashwini Dixit and his junior Sub-Inspector Ankit Dayal arrive to start the investigation.

Night of the murders Manali, Vodka Diaries
2

Investigation centers on the club

Detectives probe the club as the likely hub of the crimes. They interview patrons, inspect the scene, and dissect alibis. The Vodka Diaries setting becomes the focal point of the mystery.

Vodka Diaries, Manali
3

Shikha goes missing

As the case deepens, Ashwini's wife Shikha vanishes, adding a personal twist to the investigation. The police widen the net to locate her and uncover possible motives linked to the murders. The disappearance raises questions about Ashwini's involvement.

Following initial murders Manali
4

Reality shifts: victims alive

Further investigations reveal the supposed victims are alive and seemingly unrecognizable to Ashwini and his associates. People who knew him no longer recognize his identity or his statements. The case takes a surreal turn as the detective's reality appears to unravel.

Later that night
5

Anonymous clues and chase

A chase ensues as anonymous calls and cryptic clues push Ashwini and the team through a labyrinth of misdirection. The hunt expands beyond the club and into the personal sphere of the detective. The pursuit centers on uncovering the fate of Shikha and the killer.

Manali
6

Revelation: Ashwini's true name

The twist reveals that Ashwini is not who he seems; his real name is Rishi Gautam, a famous writer. The detective's presumed identity collapses under this truth. This revelation reframes the entire investigation as a psychological labyrinth.

7

Book release day turmoil

On the day his new book, Redemption of the Murderer, is set to release, Gautam quarrels with Shikha after seeing her with another man, Mayuk. The quarrel escalates the emotional tension that has built up over their marriage. The incident foreshadows the tragic turn to come.

Day of release
8

Shikha's death

During the confrontation, Gautam throws a glass bottle in a fit of rage, inadvertently killing Shikha. He is overwhelmed by guilt and trauma after the act. This fatal moment triggers his downward spiral into a dissociative reality.

During quarrel Home
9

Diagnosis and therapy begins

Gautam is diagnosed with intensive obsessive identification disorder, a condition that blurs his identity with the detective in his book. He begins treatment under psychiatrist Roshni. The diagnosis sets the stage for a therapeutic reimagining of his story.

Post-incident Psychiatrist's clinic
10

Roshni's therapeutic recreation

To treat him, Roshni recreates the entire plot of Redemption of the Murderer, casting actors to play along with him as characters. The aim is to immerse him in his fiction and coax him toward clarity. The boundaries between fiction and reality start to blur further.

Therapy setting
11

Plot to uncover Gautam's identity

The staged recreation serves a dual purpose: to coax Gautam to confront his alter ego Ashwini and reveal his real identity. Clues and performances guide him toward recognizing the truth. The therapist orchestrates the play of his life as the means to cure him.

Therapy sessions
12

Court verdict and Mayuk's testimony

In court, Gautam is acquitted after Mayuk testifies that the act was accidental rather than intentional. The legal system accepts the defense and closes the major case. The truth of the writer's guilt remains contested within him.

Post-trial Courtroom
13

A writer's isolated existence

Gautam returns to a secluded cottage where he continues to work as a writer. He remains haunted by visions of Shikha, suggesting his mind will never fully separate fiction from reality. The final image is of a man living with his own unresolved trauma.

After acquittal Secluded cottage

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:06

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Vodka Diaries Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Vodka Diaries

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Vodka Diaries

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Vodka Diaries Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Vodka Diaries

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