Jahangir Khan (Pankaj Kapoor), called "Abbaji" as a title of respect, is a powerful and influential Mumbai the Indian name for Bombay-based gangster involved in several criminal activities. Through the cooperation of two prophesying policemen and through them, connections to national politicians, he has never been arrested, and carries on, knowing that money and bribes will assist him throughout his life. Things turn ugly when his mistress, Nimmi (Tabu), starts to have an affair with one of his men, Maqbool (Irfan Khan), who has aspirations of succeeding Abbaji one day. Things come to a boil, Maqbool kills Abbaji, and his dreams come true when he takes over as the new underworld leader, without realizing that he, too, has become a target of another faction of Abbaji's men.