Plot

Joint Commissioner of Police Dev Pratap Singh, a duty-bound, self-righteous officer, and Special Commissioner Tejinder Khosla, the balancing force between the political interests of Chief Minister Bhandarker and Dev's commitment to the law, are lifelong friends, each with his own ideals. Farhaan, a law graduate, was brought up with ideals of non-violence and patriotism. Dev unwittingly gives Farhaan the wound that plunges him into rage and violence after witnessing the death of his father during a peace demonstration. Taking advantage of the situation, corrupt politician Latif sets the vulnerable young man on a path of violence and destruction that threatens to ignite the city. Aalyn is the light in Farhaan's life. Beautiful and innocent, the young woman also gets caught in extraordinary circumstances that transform her life and she dares to stand up for the truth.—gavin (gunmasterM@hotmail.com)

The friendship between Dev and Tej is tested, when they move to Bombay after law school, and find the place filled with a hatred for the muslim community, which is being accused of terrorism and slowly wiped out. Both men try to put an end to these accusations, but their methods differ significantly.

Dev is the saga of Dev and Tej's friendship, a bond stronger than blood ties in which Farhaan emerges as the wedge driving them apart. The story unfolds against the vitiated atmosphere of present times where innocent lives become fodder for political expediency. The spark of terrorist violence unknowingly set off by Farhaan under the aegis of the corrupt politician Latif engulfs the whole city in its flames. Tej transgresses beyond the boundaries of law in his passion to eliminate anti-national crime. Dev is faced with the spectre of the tragic human cost and a moral compulsion to act. The stakes rise beyond self-interest. Dev and Tej are set on a path of dramatic collision. Even as Dev and Farhaan's fate gets irreversibly linked, two soldiers whose allegiance may be to different causes but admiration for each other's courage and integrity brings them together.—annonymous

On a train bound for Bombay from Surat, a Police Inspector questions a young man named Farhaan, who has just obtained his law degree, for his reason to go to Bombay, and whether he has any alliance with Pakistanis. Farhaan answers that he is going to Bombay to live with his father, and he does not know anyone from Pakistan. Farhaan finds out that Bombay Police have been targeting the Muslim community, and in the name of fighting terrorism, have been killing innocent Muslim men, women and children. He comes to know that Joint Commissioner of Police, Dev Pratap Singh, is involved in this witch-hunt, and he would like to kill him. Farhaan joins hands with the local Muslim political leader, Latif, and he is provided training in handling guns, and is subsequently made ready for this task. Unfortunately, Farhaan is unable to kill Dev, who escapes unhurt, albeit a little shaken. Chief Minister Bhandarkar views this incident seriously, and instructs the police to root out terrorist elements in the city, which they do so ruthlessly. Farhaan is told to deliver a package to a man near a Hindu temple, and he does so. While at a stop to buy some snacks, the package explodes, killing several people. Since this incident occurred near a Hindu temple, a right-wing political party member, Mangal Rao, organizes a wave of riots against the Muslim community. Riots take place, and the police are instructed to observe and not prevent the violence. As a result, hundreds are killed. Latif organizes his men to target and attack Hindus and Hindu establishments, rendering the region unsafe, with people being killed in the name of religion. When Hindus and Muslims have had enough, they publicly ask for peace, it is only then Latif and Mangal Rao agree on a truce, on the condition that no Muslim male, female or child will file a FIR (First Information Report) in any police station, to which Latif agrees. Latif then warns everyone in the Muslim community not to complain against anyone. Period. It is then Farhaan finds out that he has been treated as a pawn by Latif, and decides to trust Dev and become an informer. But will Dev trust a man who just attempted to kill him? And will Latif and Mangal Rao join forces to eliminate Farhaan, who now has become a liability to both sides.—rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)

Joint Commissioner of Police Dev Pratap Singh (Amitabh Bachchan), a duty-bound, self-righteous officer (He has just killed a minority community student leader as he was conducting unlawful activities on campus), and Special Commissioner Tejinder Khosla (Om Puri), the balancing force between the political interests of Chief Minister Bhandarker (Amrish Puri) and Dev's commitment to the law, are lifelong friends, each with his own ideals. Tej believes in using excessive force for control, while Dev believes in upholding the rule of law. Tej reminds Dev that his own 8 yrs old son Armaan was killed by the bullet of a Muslim terrorist.. Dr. Bharati Singh (Rati Agnihotri) is Dev's wife.

Farhaan (Fardeen Khan), a law graduate, was brought up with ideals of non-violence and patriotism. On a train bound for Bombay from Surat, a Police Inspector questions Farhaan, who has just obtained his law degree, for his reason to go to Bombay, and whether he has any alliance with Pakistanis. Farhaan answers that he is going to Bombay to live with his father, and he does not know anyone from Pakistan. Farhaan finds out that Bombay Police have been targeting the Muslim community, and in the name of fighting terrorism, have been killing innocent Muslim men, women and children.

Dev has had a meeting with Muslim community leaders asking them to share list of all people attending their madrasas, their funding and any suspicious activities. corrupt politician Latif (Ehsan Khan) is angry with this biased attitude from Dev, but moderate leader Ali Khan (Pramod Moutho) wants to cooperate with the government. Ali is Farhaan's dad.

Farhaan comes to know from Ali that Joint Commissioner of Police, Dev Pratap Singh, is involved in this witch-hunt. Dev orders the encounter of Kareem Khan of Latif's party involved in smuggling of arms. Kareem tries to hide behind his family and as a result, the family is also killed. The community is outraged and launches peaceful demonstrations (egged on by Latif). Latif publicly asks Ali to lead the Morcha. Latif's men start throwing stones & petrol bombs at the police during the Morcha, prompting Dev to open fire. As a result, Ali is killed. Latif meets CM's right hand man MangalRao (Milind Gunaji) and conveys that he helped the CM get elected in exchange for a promise of a MLA ticket. He reminds Mangal Rao for the CM to keep his promise.

Meanwhile Farhaan meets Latif and says he wants to kill Dev. Farhaan is provided training in handling guns, and is subsequently made ready for this task. Aaliya (Kareena Kapoor) is the light in Farhaan's life. Beautiful and innocent, the young woman also gets caught in extraordinary circumstances that transform her life and she dares to stand up for the truth.

Unfortunately, Farhaan is unable to kill Dev, who escapes unhurt. But one of Farhaan's assistant is killed and is identified to be Latif's man. Chief Minister Bhandarkar views this incident seriously, and instructs Tej to root out terrorist elements in the city. Tej raids Latif's hideouts and manages to capture Farhaan. Farhaan is eventually released as there is no evidence against him. Dev tries to counsel Farhaan that Latif is using him for political purposes. Tej is an ultra Hindu Nationalist, while Dev is a secularist in his views. Dev sees Armaan in Farhaan.

Latif is alarmed by Farhaan's release as this was unexpected. He plans to divert their attention by conducting a bomb blast in the city and stoking communal tensions. Latif chooses Farhaan for the job as he does not intend for Farhaan to escape alive.

Farhaan is told to deliver a package to a man near a Hindu temple, and he does so. While at a stop to buy some snacks, the package explodes prematurely, killing several people, but Farhaan survives. Since this incident occurred near a Hindu temple, a right-wing political party member, Mangal Rao, organizes a wave of riots against the Muslim community. Riots take place, and CM instructs Tej to observe and not prevent the violence. As a result, hundreds are killed. Latif organizes his men to target and attack Hindus and Hindu establishments, rendering the region unsafe, with people being killed in the name of religion. Dev is at the location, but is under orders from Tej not to act. After waiting, Dev decides to ignore his orders and bring the situation under control. Aaliya escapes sexual assault and Farhaan finds her and takes her to a hospital where Bharati treats her.

When Hindus and Muslims have had enough, they publicly ask for peace, it is only then Latif and Mangal Rao agree on a truce, on the condition that no Muslim male, female or child will file a FIR (First Information Report) in any police station, to which Latif agrees. Latif then warns everyone in the Muslim community not to complain against anyone. Period. But Latif frames it as saying that Muslims cannot hope to get Justice from this govt and hence there is no point begging for it.

But Aaliya breaks rank and complains to Dev publicly about his police officers and Mangal Rao, whom she had witnessed during the riots. Seeing Aaliya, many witnesses come forward. Mangal Rao is arrested by Dev. CM and Tej want Dev to release Mangal Rao, but he refuses.

Latif summons Farhaan and beats him senseless and wants to kill him, but Farhaan escapes. It is then Farhaan finds out that he has been treated as a pawn by Latif, and decides to trust Dev and become an informer.

Tej releases Mangal Rao and he plans to kill Aaliya. Tej knows this & stops Dev from helping the victims as Mangal Rao sets fire to the entire colony where Aaliya lived (Aaliya had secretly moved in with Bharati, without Tej or Dev's knowledge). Dev writes a formal complaint against Tej and this leads to a departmental inquiry. As Dev heads to court, he is shot down by unknown assailants on the steps of the court, and it is clear that Tej instigated the shoot-out. Tej tries to use the chaos to shoot Farhaan, but Dev saves him before dying.

Tej is riddled with guilt on Dev's death and understands that Dev treated Farhaan like his own son. Tej kills himself and hands over all the evidence to Frahaan so that he can fight the battle in court.