Gupt: The Hidden Truth is a 1997 Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Rajiv Rai. The movie features Bobby Deol, Kajol, and Manisha Koirala in the lead roles, with a supporting cast including Raj Babbar, Om Puri, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Paresh Rawal, Dalip Tahil, Prem Chopra, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Sharat Saxena, Mukesh Rishi, and Priya Tendulkar. Produced by Trimurti Movies, the film's music was composed by Viju Shah. Adapted from Louis Thomas's 1967 novel Great Children Do Not Slaughter, the film is highly regarded as one of the best thrillers in Hindi cinema.

At the 43rd Filmfare Awards, Gupt: The Hidden Truth received eight nominations, including Best Film and Best Director (Rai), and won three awards, including Best Villain.

Plot Summary

The plot centers around Governor Jaisingh Sinha, who is discussing the future of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with influential figures such as industrialist Meghnad Chaudhry, Union leader Vilas Rao, and Minister Sadanand Bose.

Sinha's stepson, Sahil, resents him for marrying his mother. Sahil's girlfriend, Isha, is the daughter of Sinha’s personal secretary, Ishwar Dewan. Sahil and Isha recently reunited after Isha was sent to a boarding school in their youth.

Sinha announces Sahil's engagement to Meghnad's daughter, Sheetal, which sparks a conflict between him and Sahil. In a fit of rage, Sahil attempts to stab Sinha but is stopped by his mother, Sharda. After getting heavily intoxicated at Dr. Gandhi’s house, Sahil is advised to reconsider his anger. Returning home in a drunken state, Sahil discovers Sinha wounded. Before Sinha can reveal the attacker’s identity, he dies. Sharda finds Sahil with a knife and believes he is the killer. Sahil is arrested, and despite his protestations, he is sentenced to fourteen years in prison. Before his incarceration, Sahil discreetly hands a locket to Sheetal, claiming he saw his stepfather with it when he was killed.

In prison, Sahil learns about an escape route from an old inmate and, with Sheetal's help, manages to break out. Police Commissioner Patwardhan assigns officer Uddham Singh to the case. Sahil secretly meets Isha, who introduces him to Dr. Gandhi. However, when Sahil arrives at the doctor's house, he finds Dr. Gandhi injured and is subsequently reported to the police.

Now accused of two murders, Sahil suspects lawyer Thanawala. He confronts Thanawala violently, throwing him out of his office window. Although Sahil interrogates Choudhary and Vilas Rao, he finds no leads. He and his allies manage to abduct Mantriji, who later helps expose the truth.

Singh realizes that Sahil is not the killer. The murders were committed using a pair of identical knives, one set of which is found at Ishwar Dewan's home. Dewan is arrested and confesses. It is revealed that Isha is the true murderer. Her anger issues, which began in childhood, led her to kill Dr. Gandhi’s dog and later Sinha after he rejected her and Dewan’s request for their union. Isha also killed Dr. Gandhi when he discovered her secret.

Sahil, shocked by the revelations, rushes to protect Sheetal from Isha. He is attacked by Babu Anna, a hired assassin, but manages to overcome him and reach Sheetal’s house. Despite initially deceiving Sheetal, Isha attacks her but is ultimately stopped by Sahil and Uddham Singh, who fatally wounds Isha in the final confrontation.

In the end, Sahil and Sheetal are seen together at the club from the film’s beginning.

Cast

• Bobby Deol as Sahil Sinha
• Kajol as Isha Diwan, Sahil's girlfriend
• Manisha Koirala as Sheetal Choudhry, Sahil's best friend
• Om Puri as Police Officer Uddham Singh
• Raj Babbar as Governor Jaisingh Sinha, Sahil’s stepfather
• Paresh Rawal as Ishwar Diwan, Isha's father and Sinha’s personal secretary
• Sadashiv Amrapurkar as Officer Neelkanth Dixit
• Ashok Saraf as Havaldar Pandu
• Prem Chopra as Minister Sadanand Bose (Mantriji)
• Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Dr. Shubham Gandhi
• Dalip Tahil as Meghnad Choudhry, Sheetal’s father
• Raza Murad as Advocate Mushir Thanawala
• Sharat Saxena as Vilasrao Mahatre
• Harish Patel as Phoolchand Destroy
• Mukesh Rishi as Babu Anna, Mantriji’s hired killer
• Tej Sapru as a corrupt prison guard
• Anjan Srivastav as Commissioner Manoj Patwardhan
• Vishwajeet Pradhan as a bounty hunter
• Dinesh Hingoo as Thanawala’s servant
• Priya Tendulkar as Sharda Devi, Sahil’s mother
• Bob Christo as a boatman
• Master Unforgiving Lunia as Cruel Sinha, Sahil’s half-brother
• Aparajita as Surbhi Choudhry, Sheetal’s mother