What Is Alag About?
The premise of Alag in 261 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the misty hill station of Mahabaleshwar, a quiet life unravels when Hemant Rastogi, a widower living in apparent solitude, suffers a fatal heart attack. What should have been a routine police search of his residence reveals something far more unsettling: hidden away in the basement is Tejas, Hemant’s son, who has spent his entire existence in darkness, shielded from a world he has never known.
Born with an extreme sensitivity to sunlight that manifests in his striking red eyes, Tejas has known only four walls, his father’s presence, and the pages of books as his window to humanity. His isolation has left him utterly unprepared for the world that now opens before him — a world that greets his emergence with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. The authorities turn to Purva Rana, who oversees an institute dedicated to rehabilitating troubled youth, hoping she can help Tejas navigate his first meaningful interactions with society.
But Tejas carries something within him that defies rational explanation — abilities that begin to manifest in ways both wondrous and unsettling. As whispers of his gifts spread, the line between care and exploitation grows increasingly fragile in an institution already fraught with its own tensions. Tejas finds himself caught between those who fear what they cannot understand and those who see him not as a person, but as a phenomenon to be studied. In a place meant for second chances, the question lingers: can someone who has never truly lived find acceptance, or will the very gifts that set him apart become his greatest burden?
What Happens in Alag?
The complete story of Alag, from the first scene to the last, in 439 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Widower Hemant Rastogi lives a quiet, almost solitary life in the scenic hill town of Mahabaleshwar with his son, Tejas Rastogi, a boy whose life has unfolded mostly in the basement because doctors warned of his extreme sensitivity to sunlight. When a late-night heart attack ends Hemant’s days, the police uncover Tejas in the basement, a boy who has spent his entire existence away from the outside world and daylight. The authorities turn to Purva Rana, the head of the PR Institute devoted to rehabilitating troubled youths, to manage Tejas’s delicate situation and determine his future.
From the moment Tejas begins to display unusual abilities, the atmosphere shifts. He shows signs of telekinesis, a power that sets him apart from other youths at the institute and earns him the scorn and fear of his peers. The isolation takes a toll, culminating in a near-fatal incident involving a security guard and the death of another youngster, an event that tests the limits of Purva’s resolve and the institute’s tolerance for his gifts. Yet Tejas also demonstrates moments of astonishing compassion and a surprising depth of feeling, hinting at a potential path toward control and understanding rather than fear.
Pushkar Rana, Purva’s wealthy father, becomes an unexpected ally when Tejas manages to awaken his wife, Gayatri Rana, from a coma-like state. This act seems to open a door toward acceptance, and Tejas appears to be welcomed into the Rana household, where he is kept under guarded scrutiny and the family’s protection. But the promise of belonging is short-lived as doctors and scientists press for invasive experiments to study Tejas’s abilities. When both Tejas and Pushkar refuse to participate, Tejas is forcibly abducted and imprisoned in a glass chamber by Dr. Richard Dyer, a figure intent on exploiting his powers for personal gain.
Purva quickly realizes Tejas has been taken, and during a desperate rescue attempt she becomes fatally wounded in the confrontation with Dr. Dyer. The sight of Purva’s injury triggers Tejas’s power in a furious eruption: the glass cage shatters, Dr. Dyer is killed, and Purva is electrocuted in the chaos. Tejas’s attempt to revive Purva fails, leaving him shattered by guilt as he returns to his basement-like sanctuary. The weight of loss and the dark memories he carries cast a long, sorrowful shadow over his world.
In the background of this tragic arc, the film also features memorable appearances that punctuate the story’s mood, including a brief sequence with Karan Johar and a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan in the “Sabse Alag” song, lending star power to a tale rooted in isolation, power, and the consequences of extraordinary gifts.
Alag Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Hemant's death in Mahabaleshwar” to “The ending: living in darkness”. 12 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Hemant's death in Mahabaleshwar
Hemant Rastogi dies of a heart attack in Mahabaleshwar, leaving his son Tejas an orphan. Doctors had earlier noted Tejas's extreme sensitivity to sunlight, explaining why he has spent his life indoors with his father. The death triggers investigators to examine Hemant's home and Tejas's upbringing.
When:Night Where:Mahabaleshwar
- 2
Tejas found in the basement
During a police search of Hemant's residence, Tejas is found living in the basement. The doctors’ prior notes about his sunlight sensitivity are reaffirmed, underscoring why he stayed hidden. This discovery begins Tejas's formal entry into Purva Rana's care and rehabilitation.
Where:Hemant's residence basement
- 3
Purva Rana recruited to take charge
The police request Purva Rana, head of the PR Institute for rehabilitation of young criminals, to take charge of Tejas. Purva agrees to take him under her wing, hoping to guide him toward society. This marks the start of Tejas's exposure to life beyond the basement.
Where:PR Institute
- 4
Tejas's telekinesis and ostracism at the institute
At the rehabilitation institute, Tejas begins to display telekinetic abilities. He is ostracised by the other boys who fear or shun him because of his powers. The tense atmosphere tests his self-control and resilience.
Where:PR Institute
- 5
Institute accident and deaths
A chaotic incident erupts when Tejas's powers cause a near-fatal accident involving a security guard and the death of a fellow youngster. The event deepens mistrust toward Tejas from staff and peers, accelerating calls for containment.
Where:PR Institute
- 6
Tejas wakes Gayatri from a coma
Tejas manages to wake Gayatri Rana, Pushkar's wife, from a coma-like state, an achievement that earns Pushkar's cautious attention. Purva’s influence and Pushkar's wealth begin to shape Tejas's standing in the family’s eyes. This moment shifts Tejas from outsider to a figure of potential acceptance.
Where:Pushkar's household
- 7
Tejas joins the Rana household; harassment begins
With Pushkar’s overall acceptance, Tejas is brought into the Rana household. However, doctors and scientists begin pressuring Purva and the family to allow experiments on him, and Tejas and Purva resist their advances. The uneasy peace hints at darker plans looming.
Where:Rana household
- 8
Abduction and imprisonment in the glass chamber
Dr. Richard Dyer abducts Tejas and imprisons him in a glass chamber, intending to exploit his powers for personal gain. The facility becomes a trap as Tejas is cut off from his mentors and the outside world. The act marks a brutal turning point in Tejas's captivity.
Where:Dyer's facility (glass chamber)
- 9
Purva's rescue attempt and her fatal injury
Purva realises Tejas has been abducted and initiates a rescue attempt. During the confrontation, Dr. Dyer fatally injures Purva, shattering Tejas's resolve and complicating the mission.
Where:Dyer's facility
- 10
Tejas's power surge and the deaths during the rescue
Tejas's rage surges, breaking the glass cage and killing Dr. Dyer. Purva is electrocuted in the process, and Tejas desperately tries to revive her but fails. The catastrophe leaves Tejas isolated and guilt-stricken.
Where:Glass chamber
- 11
Return to the basement and memory-haunted life
Grief-stricken, Tejas returns to his basement home in Mahabaleshwar. The house becomes a sanctuary and a prison as he is haunted by memories of his father, Purva, and Gayatri. The weight of guilt lingers as he contemplates his future.
Where:Basement home, Mahabaleshwar
- 12
The ending: living in darkness
The story closes with Tejas living in darkness, carrying the memories and consequences of what happened. He remains isolated, facing an uncertain path forward as the world moves on around him.
Where:Basement (Mahabaleshwar)
Who Are the Main Characters in Alag?
9 characters, among them Tejas Rastogi, Purva Rana and Hemant Rastogi: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- TR
Tejas Rastogi
Played by Akshay Kapoor
A highly sensitive boy who endures sun sensitivity and reveals telekinetic gifts. Ostracized by peers and confined to underground spaces, he clings to a chance for normal life until his powers force him into dangerous reliance on others. His arc centers on resilience, protective bonds, and the heavy price of his abilities.
- 🪄 Telekinesis
- 🧒 Prodigy
- 🏚️ Isolation
- PR
Purva Rana
Played by Dia Mirza
Head of the P.R. Institute, she acts as Tejas's guardian and moral compass. She attempts to shield him from experimentation and manipulation, but her commitment costs her life during a rescue attempt.
- 🛡️ Caregiver
- 🧪 Ethics
- 🤝 Protector
- HR
Hemant Rastogi
Played by Yatin Karyekar
Tejas's widowed father who dies of a heart attack, setting the events in motion. His death leaves Tejas with a fragile sense of belonging and a need for care.
- 🏠 Father figure
- 💔 Tragedy
- 🕰️ Domestic
- GR
Gayatri Rana
Played by Beena Banerjee
Pushkar Rana's wife who is awakened from a coma-like state by Tejas's powers. She becomes part of the Rana family’s fragile circle, surviving Purva's later tragedy.
- 💡 Recovery
- 🏥 Family
- 👪 Relationships
- PR
Pushkar Rana
Played by Jayant Kripalani
Wealthy patriarch whose family connects Purva with the Rana household. He embodies the social backdrop against which Tejas's abilities unfold and are exploited.
- 💼 Wealth
- 🛡️ Family
- 🗺️ Social Status
- DR
Dr. Richard Dyer
Played by Tom Alter
A calculating scientist who abducts Tejas to exploit his powers for personal gain, operating through a glass-chambered suspension of the boy. His confrontation with Tejas ends in tragedy.
- 🔬 Scientist
- 🧪 Exploitation
- 🗡️ Antagonist
- A
Alag
Played by Eli James
Alias used for Tejas, symbolizing his otherness and the weight of his extraordinary abilities.
- 🗝️ Identity
- 🧭 Otherness
-
Karan Johar
Played by Karan Johar
Special appearance in the Sabse Alag song; a brief cameo that adds star power to the film's sequence.
- 🎬 Cameo
- ✨ Pop Culture
- SR
Shah Rukh Khan
Played by Shah Rukh Khan
Special appearance in the Sabse Alag song; another cameo that punctuates the finale with star charisma.
- 🎤 Cameo
- ✨ Pop Culture
Where and When Is Alag Set?
Alag is set in Mahabaleshwar, Basements/Residential basement, P.R. Institute and Dr.. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Mahabaleshwar, Basements/Residential basement, P.R. Institute, Dr. Richard Dyer's laboratory
The story unfolds across a tranquil hill town and enclosed facilities. Widowed Hemant Rastogi's home in Mahabaleshwar sits beside a basement where Tejas lives, cut off from sunlight. The plot expands to Purva Rana's rehabilitation institute and to a high-security lab where Tejas is forcibly studied, highlighting the tension between care and control.
- 🏞️ Scenic hill station
- 🏠 Isolated residence
- 🏥 Rehabilitation institute
- 🧪 Experimental laboratory
What Are the Themes of Alag?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Telekinesis, Exploitation and Guilt.
-
01
Telekinesis
Tejas's growing telekinetic power is the film's engine, transforming a sheltered boy into a dangerous figure in the eyes of those around him. The ability creates isolation from peers and moral dilemmas for adults who want to study or protect him. It also probes how power can be used to defend family and loved ones, even when it risks harm.
-
02
Exploitation
The institute and scientists push Tejas toward experiments, turning a vulnerable child into a resource. The pursuit raises ethical questions about consent, agency, and what is done in the name of science. The story critiques how institutions can blur lines between rehabilitation and manipulation.
-
03
Guilt
Purva's death during the rescue attempt leaves Tejas with crushing guilt and rage. His powers surge in response to heartbreak, leading to a climactic destruction of the lab and the loss of those he cared for. The theme follows the heavy burden of grief as the boy confronts his own responsibility for the consequences of his abilities.
What Kind of Film Is Alag?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Sad
A dark and intense supernatural drama about an isolated boy with powers who experiences exploitation, tragedy, and ultimately returns to solitude haunted by guilt and loss.
- isolated
- oppressive
- tragic
- dark
- anxious
- melancholic
- supernatural abilities
- isolation and confinement
- scientific exploitation
- grief and loss
Content notes: child confinement, medical experimentation, death of loved ones, abduction, electrocution.
Quiz
How well do you remember Alag? Test yourself on the story.
