Waqt

Waqt

Year: 1965

Runtime: 178 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Yash Chopra

CrimeRomanceDrama

After an earthquake shatters the life of a wealthy businessman, his family is scattered. Years later they confront each other in a courtroom, where the father and his sons find themselves on opposite sides—one as the accused, another as the defense lawyer, and the third as a key witness—forcing them to relive past wounds, seeking truth.

Tense
Bittersweet ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Steady pacing
Moderate complexity

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Waqt (1965)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Waqt (1965). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1960s

The narrative unfolds in the post-independence era of India, a time of rapid urban growth and traditional family ties. The 1960s provide the stage for public life—courts, wealth, and social expectations—to collide with personal tragedy. Time becomes a force that ages the characters as they split, grow, and eventually reunite, guided by fate and the events that unfold.

Location

Mumbai, India

Waqt unfolds in Mumbai, a bustling Indian metropolis where a wealthy family’s life is shattered by a devastating earthquake. The city’s dense neighborhoods and markets provide the backdrop for a tale of fortune, loss, and reunion. The film juxtaposes urban wealth with poverty and the social shifts that follow a family’s displacement.

🏙 City life 🧭 Indian setting 🌍 Disaster aftermath

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:56

Main Characters – Waqt (1965)

Meet the key characters of Waqt (1965), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lala Kedarnath

Proud patriarch of the Kedarnath family whose ambitious plans for a richer future are upended by a catastrophic earthquake. His stubborn optimism clashes with fate, yet his devotion to his wife and sons anchors the family’s ultimate reunion.

patriarch family resilience

Laxmi Kedarnath

Maternal figure who endures poverty after the disaster and supports the family through illness and hardship. Her strength and care help keep the family together as they navigate separation and reunion.

mother caregiver illness

Raju

Oldest son who grows up to become Raja, a sophisticated thief drawn into a world of crime but torn between loyalty to family and his own desires. His arc blends risk, romance, and a search for belonging.

brother antihero evolution

Ravi

Middle son raised by a wealthy couple after the disaster; loyal, principled, and protective of his family. He ultimately defends his brother in court and helps guide the family toward reconciliation.

brother defender justice

Renu Khanna

Vibrant young woman caught between family duty and her love for Vijay. Her relationship with Vijay highlights the tension between personal happiness and social expectations.

romance sister loyalty

Vijay

Chauffeur for Chinnoy Seth who dreams of a better life and deeply cares for Renu. His struggle to support his ailing mother drives him to make difficult moral choices.

driver lover sacrifice

Meena Mittal

Meena is torn between social circles and affection for Raja, while her parents push for a match with Ravi. Her relationships drive key emotional turns in the story.

romance conflict social pressure

Chinnoy Seth

Cunning antagonist whose crime sets off a chain of events that nearly tear the family apart. His attempt to frame Raja leads to a courtroom revelation of the truth.

villain crime manipulation

Balbir Singh

Chinnoy Seth’s accomplice whose confrontation with the tycoon sparks a fatal struggle. His death exposes the crime and catalyzes the pursuit of justice.

antagonist victim

Jeevan Dhar

Orphanage warden associated with the harsh treatment the children face before the family’s separation. His role underscores the vulnerability of abandoned youths.

authority orphanage

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:56

Major Themes – Waqt (1965)

Explore the central themes of Waqt (1965), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕰️ Time & Fate

Time (waqt) governs the characters’ destinies, erasing wealth and status in an instant. An earthquake shatters the Kedarnath family and forces every member to carve a new path. The story follows a generation’s growth as it learns to survive, forgive, and reunite despite the odds. The unfolding events underscore that time is unpredictable, and family bonds endure beyond circumstance.

❤️ Love & Loyalty

Renu’s devotion to Vijay and Meena’s ties to Raja test loyalty within the family and circles of affection. Raja’s love for Meena creates tension with Ravi, who values family duty over personal desire. The relationships navigate social norms, class differences, and hidden parentage, ultimately reinforcing kinship above romance. Throughout, love acts as a bridge across divisions and misfortune.

⚖️ Truth & Justice

A courtroom becomes the arena where truth emerges and justice is pursued. Raja’s arrest and Ravi’s defense reveal hidden loyalties and the misdeeds of Chinnoy Seth. The killer’s confession, sparked by cross-examination, shifts the balance of power and reveals the real criminal. The resolution restores family honor and vindicates the innocent.

💰 Wealth & Class

Wealth shapes opportunities and loyalties, as Ravi is raised by a rich couple while his siblings face poverty. The film contrasts affluence with destitution, showing how money can provide safety yet cannot buy family or moral integrity. The disparity drives choices, from career paths to romantic prospects, and underscores that wealth alone cannot preserve a family’s unity.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:56

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about fateful family reunions like Waqt

Stories where destiny forces a broken family to confront their past.If you liked the powerful drama of separation and courtroom reunion in Waqt, explore more movies like it. This collection features emotionally heavy stories about families shattered by tragedy and brought together by destiny, often involving class conflict and a tense, bittersweet search for truth.

dramaticmelancholicfatefulsombergrippingemotionalreflective

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern begins with a catastrophic incident that fractures a family, scattering its members across different walks of life. Years later, an unforeseen event—a trial, an inheritance, a death—converges their paths, forcing them to relive past trauma. The story unfolds as a tense examination of identity, privilege, and the unbreakable, painful bonds of family.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the theme of destiny intervening in family life, a steady, deliberate pacing that builds toward an emotional confrontation, and a heavy, somber mood. They all explore the lasting impact of childhood trauma and the complex dynamics of reunion after years of separation.

Courtroom dramas with family conflict like Waqt

Legal battles where the opposing sides are intimately connected by blood.For viewers who enjoyed the tense courtroom confrontation in Waqt, this list features similar dramatic movies where legal battles pit family members against each other. Discover gripping stories where a trial unveils family secrets, explores moral dilemmas, and leads to a heavy, emotionally complex resolution.

tensegrippinganxiousdramaticsombermoral conflicthigh stakes

Narrative Summary

The central conflict is a legal case that serves as a proxy for a unresolved family drama. The structure pivots around the trial, using testimony and evidence to flash back to the events that shattered the family. The tension derives from the personal stakes overshadowing the legal ones, as characters are forced to choose between truth, duty, and family loyalty.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific narrative device: using a courtroom setting to amplify familial tension. They are united by a gripping, tense tone, high emotional intensity, and a focus on moral ambiguity. The pacing is steady, building methodically towards a climactic revelation that redefines family relationships.

Unlock the Full Story of Waqt

Don't stop at just watching — explore Waqt 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 Waqt is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Waqt Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Waqt, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Waqt Summary

Waqt Timeline

Track the full timeline of Waqt with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Waqt Timeline

More About Waqt

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Waqt: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Waqt

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