Thappad 2020

Amrita “Amu” Sabharwal and Vikram Sabharwal appear to share a contented life, with Amrita tending the home and supporting her husband as he pursues a promotion at work. During a party to celebrate that very promotion, Vikram learns that the advancement has been compromised for an inexperienced junior who is related to his boss, Rajhans Jetley. Angered, he unleashes a heated confrontation with his superior, and when Amrita steps in to intervene in front of all the guests, Vikram slaps her, insisting she stay out. The shocking moment stuns everyone and marks a turning point that exposes the quiet unfairness Amrita had long tolerated.

That single act becomes a mirror, showing Amrita that a husband who truly respects his partner would never strike her, and it also reveals Vikram’s unwillingness to own up to what he has done. He refuses to take accountability or offer a genuine apology, and the incident leaves Amrita startled, shaken, and unable to simply “forget it and move on,” as some counsel. She chooses to leave for her parents’ home and file for divorce, making it clear that she is not seeking alimony—her stance is straightforward: Vikram has no right to hit her, and the slap has shattered any illusion of happiness or respect that once existed.

Complications mount when Amrita discovers she is pregnant. Vikram, aided by his lawyer, pushes aggressive arguments aimed at winning sole custody of the unborn child. In response, Amrita files a domestic violence charge unless Vikram agrees to a divorce and joint custody. Vikram settles for the divorce, and life outside the court begins to unfold in its own complex ways. At the same time, the boss [Rajhans Jetley] congratulates him, acknowledging the turmoil but maintaining that the promotion will proceed, a reminder that ambition and consequence are deeply entangled.

In the family corridor, Amrita confronts Sulakshana Sabharwal, her mother-in-law, in front of both families, explaining that on the night of the incident, no one asked if she was okay, no one held Vikram accountable, and no one urged an apology. Sulakshana Sabharwal, portrayed by Tanvi Azmi, listens, reflects on the misogyny at play, and offers her own apology, affirming that Amrita is doing the right thing by choosing to stand up for herself.

As court proceedings unfold, Vikram offers the first real apology, admitting the damage caused and revealing that he chose to step back from the promotion and quit his job to become a person worthy of Amrita. The divorce is finalized, and the couple parts ways with a sense of renewed hope, recognizing that their paths may diverge, but the possibility of a more respectful, safer future remains within reach.