Vaastav (1999)

In the sprawling, bustling city of Mumbai, Raghunath Namdev Shivalkar, played by Sanjay Dutt, and his loyal companion Dedh Footiya, played by Sanjay Narvekar, are two struggling souls navigating their life amidst the slums. Raghunath, a school drop-out, desperate for work, accepts his father's assistance to open a small pav bhaji stall. However, their journey takes a dark turn when Raghunath accidentally kills a customer, who, unbeknownst to him, is the sibling of the feared gangster, Fracture Pandya. As their existence becomes perilous, a rival gang lord, Vitthal Kaanya, portrayed by Ashish Vidyarthi, offers them shelter, introducing them to the murky world of crime. Under Vitthal's guidance, Raghunath transforms from an average man into a feared hitman, with Dedh Footiya becoming his trusted accomplice. As they ascend the ranks of the underworld, their presence causes a seismic shift, with Vitthal's gang reaching unprecedented heights in Mumbai's forbidden terrain. However, the underworld isn't without its own politics. Raghunath finds himself protected by a cunning politician, BabbanRao, who manipulates Raghunath to serve his own agenda. Yet with power comes enemies, and when Raghunath makes a fatal mistake, he becomes a liability to BabbanRao and finds himself in the crosshairs of the police and BabbanRao's men. Amidst this chaos, Raghunath finds solace in the arms of a captivating prostitute, Sonia, whom he marries. As Sonia carries his child, Raghunath realizes the grave danger his family is in. His life spirals out of control when he discovers that the police have been ordered to kill him in an "encounter". In a world where survival is the only law, Raghunath is left with no choice but to confront the harsh reality of his life and the inevitable doom that awaits him. "Vaastav" is a gritty, unflinching portrayal of a man's descent into the underworld, a tale of survival, power, and the devastating consequences of choices made in desperation. Will Raghunath find redemption, or is he too far gone in the unforgiving maze of the underworld? The answer lies within the dark heart of Mumbai's underworld.

Vaastav is an action movie featuring Sanjay Dutt and directed by Mahesh Manjrekar.

Vaastav is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.