The Indian movie, `Zakhm` is a film of the year 1998 directed and produced by Mahesh Bhatt. The movie starring Ajay Devgan, Pooja Bhatt, and Kunal Khemu in prime roles while south Indian actor Nagarjuna plays a major role in the movie. The film raised some controversial topic of the society, which is a landmark of the director Mahesh Bhatt.

Synopsis:
Mrs. Desai played by Pooja Bhatt is a Bombay-based widow and lives with her singer son, Ajay played by Ajay Devgan, his pregnant wife Sonia played by Sonali Bendre, and a second son, Anand played by Akshay Anand. Anand is currently involved in a right-wing organization run by Subodh Malgaonkar played by Asutosh Rana. Things take a turn for the worst when militants storm the Babri Masjid in Uttar Pradesh and demolish it. Anger runs high amongst the Muslim community, which led to riots, even in far-off Bombay. The Bombay police move quickly and a curfew is imposed in the more sensitive parts such as Mohammed Ali Road, Jogeshwari, and Dharavi. It is on this day that Mrs. Desai goes to offer prayers at her usual place of worship, and it is here that she will be attacked by militants, set on fire. She admitted to the Holy Family Hospital with more than 80 per cent burns, and virtually no chance of surviving.

Ajay is with conflicts with Sonia, who wants to leave India, and re-locate to England, where she wants to give birth to her child without any constraints as to religion and caste, on one hand, and on another attempt to cool a vengeful Anand into attacking other innocent Muslims. But the main thing Ajay has to do is to carry out his mother`s last request i.e. to bury her, which is consistent with the Christian and Muslim religions. Ajay is the only one who knows the answer to this and must ensure that her last request is fulfilled despite of Subodh Malgaonkar`s increasing pressure that his mother be cremated according to Hindu Rites.

Through flashback it can be seen that there are the struggles of his mother, who had to undergo the struggle in order to bring up her children. She was in love with a Hindu film producer played by Nagarjuna Akkineni. Unfortunately she was not allowed to marry him on account of her Muslim faith. This was a harsh fact that she had children with a Hindu man. And because of this fact of her life she made her to hide her faith and live her life as a Hindu. After his father`s death, Ajay`s mother made Ajay promise to bury her in the Muslim faith when she dies. This was because of hr belief that only through a proper burial she will be able to find herself reunited with her lover in heaven. Ajay`s mother succumbs to the burns. Still the resistance comes in Ajay`s task in the form of the leader Subodhbhai and his younger brother Anand. Ajay finally gathers courage and makes his brother understand about the fact that their mother was Muslim by caste and there is no point continuing the argument. He eventually buries his mother and thus fulfills his mother`s wish.

Cast and Crew of the Indian movie `Zakhm` The main star cast of the film includes Ajay Devgan, Pooja Bhatt, Sonali Bendre, Kunal Khemu, Akshay Anand, and Nagarjuna Akkineni in pivotal roles. The film is directed by Mahesh Bhatt while it is produced by Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. The film is written by Mahesh Bhatt, Tanuja Chandra and Girish Dhamija. The music is given by M. M. Kreem while Nirmal Jani does the cinematography.