Maqbool (2003): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch
Maqbool is a 2003 crime drama directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, starring Irrfan Khan as Maqbool Miyan, Pankaj Kapur and Naseeruddin Shah. It is based on Macbeth by William Shakespeare and Barbara Mowat. It runs 2 hours 12 minutes. Stream it on Fawesome, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Google Play Movies.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 12m (132 min)
- Director
- Vishal Bhardwaj
- Original language
-
Hindi - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Maqbool About?
The premise of Maqbool without spoilers, adapted from Macbeth by William Shakespeare and Barbara Mowat. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth transposes the Scottish tragedy to Mumbai’s underworld, where a power‑hungry crime lord, Abbaji, mirrors Duncan. Two crooked, fortune‑telling police officers assume the part of the Weird Sisters, guiding and manipulating events as ambition and betrayal erupt.
Maqbool Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- deception
- character name as title
- mistress
- tragedy
- gangster
- scar
- bullet wound
- bodyguard
- drinking
- forced to drink
- horoscope
- rain
+38 more Show fewer
- thunderstorm
- lightning
- murdered in sleep
- gunshot
- held at gunpoint
- friendship
- anger
- reference to dilip kumar
- father beats up son
- beating
- engagement
- sex scene
- manipulation
- sexual jealousy
- arrest
- reference to karan johar
- cleavage
- reference to ram gopal verma
- reference to subhash ghai
- reference to mani ratnam
- thorn in foot
- bedroom
- corpse
- police officer
- corrupt cop
- muslim
- astrologer
- astrology
- gang war
- shot to death
- organized crime
- barefoot woman
- suicide
- photo album
- homosexual
- gay
- informer
- begging for life
Where to Watch Maqbool
Stream it on Fawesome, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Google Play Movies. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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Maqbool Cast & Characters
Irrfan Khan leads the cast as Maqbool Miyan, with Pankaj Kapur as Jahangir "Abbaji" Khan and Naseeruddin Shah as Inspector Purohit. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj; 21 actors are credited in all.
- Director Vishal Bhardwaj
-
Irrfan Khan as Maqbool Miyan - Pankaj Kapur as Jahangir "Abbaji" Khan
-
Naseeruddin Shah as Inspector Purohit -
Om Puri as Inspector Pandit
Also Starring in Maqbool
· 17 more- Tabu Nimmi
- Ankur Vikal Riyaz Boti
- Pubali Sanyal Riyaz Boti's wife
- Murali Sharma D.C.P. Davsare
- Shweta Menon Mohini
- Deepak Dobriyal Thapa
- Piyush Mishra Kaka
- Dibyendu Bhattacharya Chinna's Killer
- Masumeh Makhija Sameera
- Vivek Mishra Tawde
- Abbas Tyrewala Sadiq Chikna
- Ajay Gehi Guddu
- Shammi Narang Mr. Bhosle
- Manav Kaushik Asif
- Firdaus Irani Usmaan
- Gyanchand Rikhi Mughal
Show all 21 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Vinod Nahadri Chinna
Maqbool Plot Summary
What happens in Maqbool from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film reimagines Shakespeare’s Macbeth set against the brutal pulse of Mumbai’s underworld. Maqbool Miyan [Irrfan Khan] is the trusted right-hand man to Jahangir Khan, known as Abbaji [Pankaj Kapur], a powerful and calculating don who rules his territory with a quiet menace. Their bond feels personal for Maqbool—loyalty and gratitude run deep in a world built on loyalty, fear, and favors—yet the scent of ambition lingers in the air. The foreboding balance of power is watched over by two corrupt cops, Inspector Purohit [Naseeruddin Shah] and Inspector Pandit [Om Puri], whose dark humor sits atop a sharper instinct: they sense that Maqbool’s shadow will soon eclipse Abbaji’s reign.
Full summary
The whole story of Maqbool, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Maqbool?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who portrays the titular character Maqbool in the film?
Maqbool Also Known As
2 alternative titles: “麦克布尔” and “Макбул”.
- Also known as
-
- 麦克布尔
- Макбул
Seen Maqbool?
Movies Like Maqbool
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Omkara, Majboor and Baazigar.
Maqbool FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, the book behind it, post-credit scenes and language of Maqbool, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Maqbool?
Maqbool runs 2 hours 12 minutes (132 minutes).
When was Maqbool released?
Maqbool was released on January 30, 2003.
Who directed Maqbool?
Maqbool was directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.
More films by Vishal Bhardwaj Who is in the cast of Maqbool?
Maqbool stars Irrfan Khan as Maqbool Miyan, Pankaj Kapur as Jahangir "Abbaji" Khan and Naseeruddin Shah as Inspector Purohit, among 21 credited actors.
Where can I watch Maqbool?
In the US, Maqbool is streaming on Fawesome and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube (availability from JustWatch).
Is Maqbool based on a book?
Yes. Maqbool is adapted from Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine.
Does Maqbool have a post-credit scene?
No. Maqbool has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Maqbool in?
The original language of Maqbool is Hindi.
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