Arjun is an ill-tempered but soft-hearted man. He always falls into in situations that others take him as a bad person. His teacher, who he calls Masterji, is the only person who understands him and appreciates his good qualities, hence Arjun follows his wishes completely. Arjun loves a woman named Aarti and wants to marry her, but Aarti's father opposes this alliance and forcibly marries her off to a man of his choice. Arjun is dejected, but soon finds love in Margaret, his Christian college mate. As time passes, he overcomes Aarti and devotes himself to Margaret. While on a business trip to another city, Arjun finds that Aarti is now a prostitute. Angered and irritated, Arjun finds himself in a pitiable state. Margaret's uncle and mother are against her marrying Arjun. Arjun and Margaret flee to the hills; Masterji catches up with them and tries to pacify Arjun, but he refuses and instead pushes him down the hill to his death. Traumatised due to killing his teacher, Arjun asks Margaret if she will join him where he goes; she says she will, and both jump to their deaths.
Zehreela Insaan is a remake of the 1972 Kannada film Naagarahaavu, itself based on three different novels: Nagarahavu, Ondu Gandu Eradu Hennu and Sarpa Mathsara, all written by T. R. Subba Rao. Puttanna Kanagal, who directed the Kannada film, returned to direct the Hindi remake, which was produced by Virendra Sinha under Pragati Chitra International. Cinematography was handled by Sudarshan Nag, and the editing by V. P. Krishna. Ambareesh, who played a character named Jaleel in Naagarahaavu, reprised his role in Zehreela Insaan. While the character of the teacher in Naagarahaavu wore a white dhoti, black coat and Mysore turban, the same character in Zehreela Insaan wore a kurta-pyjama and a Nehru jacket. Much of the film was shot in Chitradurga, with the song "O Hansini" being shot at Chitradurga Fort.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by R. D. Burman while the lyrics were written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The song "O Hansini" attained popularity. The song Saanp Se Badhke was the re-used version of the Kannada song Haavina Dwesha from the original Kannada version.
Release and reception
Zehreela Insaan was released on 20 November 1974, and did not succeed commercially. Rishi Kapoor later admitted it was a "mistake", feeling that he should have accepted a film similar to his earlier Bobby and not something that was "drastically different".
