Maqbool was Vishal Bhardwaj's second film and the first in his Shakespeare trilogy. An adaptation of Macbeth set in Mumbai, it was also inspired by Throne of Blood (Kumonosu Jo), Akira Kurosawa's take on the Shakespearean story. The film has an impressive ensemble cast, with stalwarts like Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Pankaj Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri in main roles.
Jahangir Khan or Abbaji (Pankaj) is a Don Corleone-esque figure in Mumbai's underworld. Through the cooperation of two prophesying policemen (Naseeruddin and Om), he has never been arrested, and carries on, knowing that money and bribes will assist him throughout his life. When his mistress, Nimmi (Tabu), starts to have an affair with one of his men, Maqbool(Irrfan), Abbaji's reign is threatened.