Ravi, a wealthy model, leaves his father's business after unsatisfactory modeling work and returns to his parents' home to join struggle students and revolutionary Manohar.

Sudarshan Sahni would like his son, Raju, to marry his Europe-based friend's daughter, Rita, but Raju is in love with Anu, and both plan to marry each other. Anu's dad, Pradeep Rai Choudhry, does not approve of Raju, and warns Anu not to have anything to do with him, in vain though. Both Anu and Raju elope, and get married and re-locate to a small and remote village, where they spend several months in perfect harmony. It is then that their respective parents come to know of their location, and descend on them to bring them back to their world.

An estranged couple accidentally meet in a railway station's waiting room and revisit their past.

Amiran is sold to a brothel by a corrupt cop after her father testifies against him. Many years later, she grows up to be an accomplished poetess and a renowned courtesan, Umrao Jaan.

Nirmala Gupta rules her household with an iron fist. While most of her family resents it, they do comply and try to appease to her. When her daughter-in-law's free-spirited sister comes over to stay for a few days, things in the Gupta family start to change, agitating Nirmala.

Najma is in platonic love with Salim Akhtar but cannot marry him until he is financially stable. An elderly Shakir promises to help Akhtar set up his business in exchange for Najma finding a suitable bride for him.