Character Relationship Map: Baghban

Characters

• Pooja Malhotra (played by Hema Malini) — protagonist

  Pooja Malhotra is Raj Malhotra’s wife of forty years and the mother of his four sons. Forced to live apart from Raj, she endures poor treatment from Ajay Malhotra, Kiran Malhotra, and Payal Malhotra,...

• Alok Raj Malhotra (played by Salman Khan) — supporting

  Alok Raj Malhotra is an orphan adopted and raised by Raj Malhotra, who provides him with education and financial support. Deeply grateful to Raj, Alok later brings Raj and Pooja Malhotra into his home...

• Arpita Raj (played by Mahima Chaudhry) — supporting

  Arpita Raj is Alok Raj Malhotra’s love interest and later becomes his wife. Her relationship with Alok connects her to Raj and Pooja Malhotra, whose suffering leads them to declare Alok and Arpita the...

• Sanjay Malhotra (played by Samir Soni) — supporting

  Sanjay Malhotra is one of Raj and Pooja Malhotra’s four sons. He takes Raj into his household for part of the arranged separation, but Raj receives little affection there and is saddened by his treatm...

• Ajay Malhotra (played by Aman Verma) — supporting

  Ajay Malhotra is one of Raj and Pooja Malhotra’s four sons. He participates in the decision to divide his parents between the sons’ households, and Pooja suffers abuse while staying with him, his wife...

• Karan Malhotra (played by Nasir Khan) — minor

  Karan Malhotra is one of Raj and Pooja Malhotra’s four sons. He becomes responsible for housing Pooja during part of the six-month separation arrangement, after she first stays with Ajay Malhotra. Lik...

• Rahul Malhotra (played by Yash Pathak) — minor
• Rahul (played by Nakul Vaid) — minor
• Rohit Malhotra (played by Saahil Chadha) — minor

  Rohit Malhotra is one of Raj and Pooja Malhotra’s four sons. He houses Raj after Raj’s stay with Sanjay Malhotra, as part of the sons’ plan to divide their parents between different homes. Rohit later...

• Kiran Malhotra (played by Suman Ranganathan) — minor

  Kiran Malhotra is Ajay Malhotra’s wife and Pooja Malhotra’s daughter-in-law. While Pooja is staying in Ajay’s household, Kiran participates in treating her poorly alongside Ajay and Payal Malhotra. Sh...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Pooja Malhotra → Arpita Raj (Family Mother-in-Law And Daughter-in-Law) — Pooja accepts Arpita as family when she recognizes Alok as her son.

  Alok and Arpita are declared Pooja's only son and daughter-in-law at the end of the story.

• Kiran Malhotra → Ajay Malhotra (Family Wife And Husband) — They share a household where Pooja is treated poorly.

  Kiran's profile identifies her as Ajay's wife.

• Alok Raj Malhotra → Karan Malhotra (Family Adoptive Brother) — They share a family connection, highlighted by Alok's care for the parents.

  Alok is raised as Pooja's son, and Karan is identified as one of her sons.

• Alok Raj Malhotra → Rohit Malhotra (Family Adoptive Brother) — They share a family connection; Alok later provides the care their parents lack in their sons' homes.

  Alok is raised as Pooja's son, and Rohit is identified as one of her sons.

• Alok Raj Malhotra → Ajay Malhotra (Family Adoptive Brother) — The plot contrasts Alok's generosity toward his parents with Ajay's mistreatment of Pooja.

  Alok is raised as Pooja's son, and Ajay is identified as one of her sons.

• Alok Raj Malhotra → Sanjay Malhotra (Family Adoptive Brother) — They are part of the same family, though the plot contrasts Alok's care with the sons' treatment of their parents.

  Alok is adopted and raised as Pooja's son, while Sanjay is one of her sons.

• Pooja Malhotra → Rahul (Family Grandmother And Grandson) — Rahul's affection offers comfort to the grandparents amid their sons' neglect.

  The plot names Rahul as Raj and Pooja's grandson and says he is the only person showing Raj affection in Sanjay's home.

• Pooja Malhotra → Rahul Malhotra (Family Grandmother And Grandson) — Rahul's absence from the appeal reflects his concern about his grandparents' suffering.

  Rahul is identified as Pooja's grandson, and he is among the grandchildren who do not attend the sons' forgiveness appeal.

• Pooja Malhotra → Kiran Malhotra (Family Mother-in-Law And Daughter-in-Law) — Their household relationship becomes abusive while Pooja stays with Ajay.

  Kiran is identified as Ajay's wife and Pooja's daughter-in-law; the plot says she mistreats Pooja.

• Alok Raj Malhotra → Arpita Raj (Romantic Husband And Wife) — Their relationship connects Arpita to Alok's adoptive family.

  The plot says Alok falls in love with Arpita, and the character profile identifies her as his later wife.

• Pooja Malhotra → Alok Raj Malhotra (Family Adoptive Mother And Son) — Alok welcomes and cares for Pooja and her husband when their other sons do not.

  Alok was adopted and raised by Pooja's husband as their own son, and Pooja later accepts Alok as her son.

• Pooja Malhotra → Karan Malhotra (Family Mother And Son) — Karan participates in the arrangement that separates Pooja from her husband.

  Karan is one of Pooja's sons, and Pooja stays with him after Ajay's household.

• Pooja Malhotra → Rohit Malhotra (Family Mother And Son) — Their relationship is part of the family conflict over caring for Pooja and her husband.

  Rohit is identified as one of Pooja's sons.

• Pooja Malhotra → Ajay Malhotra (Family Mother And Son) — Pooja suffers poor treatment while living with Ajay.

  Ajay is one of Pooja's sons, and she stays in his household during the separation.

• Pooja Malhotra → Sanjay Malhotra (Family Mother And Son) — Their family bond is strained when the sons divide their parents between households.

  The plot identifies Sanjay as one of Pooja's sons.

Story Analysis

An elderly couple endure neglect from their sons, find support in their adopted son, and decide which relationships deserve their trust.

Plot Progression

1. A Family's Obligation — Pooja and her husband have built a family and raised their sons, including adopted Alok. Retirement leaves them unable to support themselves, while their sons are unwilling to care for them.
2. The Divided Household — The sons arrange for their parents to live separately in different homes. Their parents accept, and both experience neglect and poor treatment.
3. Writing Through Separation — While separated from Pooja, Raj writes about his family, his sacrifices, and his longing for his wife. Their stays rotate between their sons' homes, while Payal begins to repent after Pooja saves her.
4. A Kinder Home — Pooja and her husband reunite in Vijaynagar and are welcomed by Alok. Raj learns that Hemant has published his writing as a novel, which becomes successful.
5. Forgiveness and Choice — The sons and their wives seek forgiveness at the book ceremony after learning of the novel's success. Pooja and her husband reject their appeal, then affirm Alok and Arpita as their family.