Vikram Vedha is the Hindi-language remake of the 2017 Tamil original and shows a cat-and-mouse chase between the UP police special task force, headed by Vikram, and Vedha, the notoriously elusive gangster. 

Vedha Betaal’s part is played by Hrithik Roshan, while Vijay Sethupathi had the role in the original. The story draws inspiration from the Vikram Betaal lore, where the cop plays the part of the brave warrior and king, who is tasked with bringing Betaal to a mendicant. However, Betaal evades capture and raises questions to the king, until he is satisfied with the answer. In the process, Betaal gains the king’s trust and makes him aware of the mendicant’s true intentions, thus avoiding a greater catastrophe. 

Vedha’s role is somewhat similar. He is a criminal but the gangster points out there is a larger criminal element entrenched in society that Vikram should be fighting. He does this by first surrendering to the cops and posing a question with a moral dilemma to Vikram – what does one do when both people are wrong, but one has issued the order and the other has executed it? Vikram’s answer mirrors what Vedha had done when he killed the gangster who ordered Shatak to be hurt, for ruining their drug trade. 

Also Read | Vikram Vedha: OTT release updates

By the time the story is over, Vedha’s lawyer arrives and he walks. The second time the cops raid Vedha’s place, Vikram manages to overpower the gangster and is about to pull the trigger when civilians show up, forcing him to arrest Vedha. On the way to a staged encounter, Vedha poses another question – What does one do when both parties are morally correct, but one’s loyalty is divided between their bosses and their families? While Vikram answers, Vedha’s intentions of avenging his brother’s death become clear. Shatak was killed in a police encounter where Vikram pulled the trigger. Vedha attacks the cop and escapes capture. 

He then goes underground and stays one step ahead of the authorities, but realizes the inherent incorruptibility within Vikram. The gangster leads the cop on a chase which helps the latter uncover a greater conspiracy of corruption inside his own task force. Vedha also gains information on Vikram’s life, getting the latter’s wife to defend him in court, and obtaining a bike part to help the cop restore his father’s ride. 

Also Read | Vikram Vedha: Top encounters in Uttar Pradesh STF history

Vedha learns the identity of the man truly responsible for Shatak’s death with some help from Vikram. It turns out to be Babloo, his associate. After getting his revenge, the gangster has a chance to flee but rushes to aid Vikram when he sees his nemesis in trouble. A gunfight ensues after which Vikram and Vedha are left in a standoff with the former having to decide whether Vedha’s current actions and motivations are enough to spare his life. 

Roshan’s character is a gangster with a moral compass, who is not afraid of killing, but remains violently protective of his family and holds a strong desire to help people around him, up until Shatak is killed, at which time a switch flips and Vedha descends into a life of unhindered crime and darkness, lacking his younger brother’s guiding light.