Sludge derived from sewage wastewater functions as an organic manure or natural fertilizer for improving the crop productivity while aiding in the appropriate disposal of this type of waste. However, it also tends to concentrate heavy metals which can negatively regulate plant growth. Thus, the present sand culture study aimed to evaluate the effect of major sewage sludge derived-elements (both beneficial and harmful) along with the role of root-nodulating bacteria as well as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in promoting the development and biochemical characteristics, yield as well as uptake of toxic elements in roots and shoots of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). C. arietinum plants were inoculated with Rhizobium and two selected species of AM fungi i.e., Funneliformis caledonius and Glomus bagyarajii in earthen clay pots filled along with acid-washed sand and treated with sewage sludge-equivalent toxic metals (including Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni and Zn) or nutrients (such as N, P, K, Ca and Mg) separately and also their combination with three replicates each. Treatments with toxic elements reduced overall development of C. arietinum and thus increased the content of proline. However, the tested microbial inoculants in presence of sewage sludge-derived nutrients promoted C. arietinum growth and yield. These results were corroborated with increased nodulation and AM fungal colonization of C. arietinum roots; increased nutrient uptake in C. arietinum tissues; and restriction of heavy metals at the root level. Thus, Rhizobium and AM fungi-mediated C. arietinum growth involved reduced translocation of heavy metals to above-ground parts, and thereby protection of photosynthetic pigments, cellular osmolyte (proline), protein content as well as the activity of nitrate reductase.