Inspector Ashwini Kumar (Dilip Kumar) is a brave and dedicated police officer. His young son is kidnapped by J.K. (Amrish Puri) and his men. The kidnappers ask Ashwini to release a criminal in exchange for his son. He refuses to compromise, as he holds the law in high esteem. He lets nothing come in the way of his duty, not even his family. Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) hears his father's refusal. In his desparate bid to escape, he is helped by a henchman, K.D. (Kulbhushan Kharbanda).

Vijay grows up to be a bitter and rebellious man. The kidnapping episode and his father's refusal to save his life still prey upon his mind. This causes a great rift between father and son, it becomes wider till both father and son soon find themselves standing on opposite sides of the law. Vijay's mother (Raakhee) gets caught in this cross-fire, torn apart between her love for her errant son and respect for her brave and principled husband. Inspector Ashwini's efforts to bring back his errant son into his fold are in vain. Vijay's mother becomes a victim to J.K.'s bullet.

Vijay is driven to fury and sets out to kill J.K. Ashwini gets wind of Vijay's plans and goes to stop his son. He is unable to stop him from killing J.K. but when Vijay tries to escape from the law, he shoots him down and kills him.