Lady Catherine Williams (nee Beckett) (Polly Adams), a wealthy British woman, arrives in India to donate Rs 3500 Crores to charity as part of India's Republic Day Celebrations. Catherine is a state guest but ignores all requests for a media interview. She has also ignored all requests from various states to visit them and see their tourist attractions. The media portrays this as snobbish behavior from the British, so much so that the Ministry requests Catherine to visit a few places before she leaves India. Catherine wants to see the real India, and she requests a visit to Devprayag, where India's 2 rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet to form the Ganges River. At Devprayag, Lady Catherine remembers her childhood and narrates her story to a small crowd, which includes journalists Jimmy (Ronit Roy) and Rita (Ashwini Kalsekar). Shocking them, she reveals that she can speak Hindi very well. Catherine (Antonia Bernath) was born in India in 1930, to British citizens living in the country. She had a privileged and peaceful upbringing. In 1935, a young Catherine befriends Kisna (Vivek Oberoi), a local village boy, and the two share a joyous friendship. Upon learning of this, Catherine's father Peter forcefully sends her back to England. Shanta (Zarina Wahab) is Kisna's mother and Shankar (Yashpal Sharma) is his elder brother. Bhairo Singh (Amrish Puri) is a revolutionary and Kisna's maternal uncle. Sriram (Shivaji Satam) is the manager of stables and Kisna's father. Bhairo says that Peter Beckett, the British officer of the province, has stopped water supply to the farmers and diverted it to Prince Raghuraj (Rajat Kapoor). In 1947, during the Independence Struggle, Catherine comes back to India on holidays and again meets Kisna. Kisna has now developed into a poet and a singer. Kisna is now engaged to be married to Lakshmi (Isha Sharvani). Meanwhile, Prince Raghuraj has the hots for Catherine, even though she considers him as her uncle. The childhood friendship between Kisna and Catherine is rekindled and over time the feelings slowly develop into love. Their relationship is tested by the fact that they seemingly belong to the opposite sides of India's struggle for freedom. Anti-British sentiment is rife in the province, as people are dying after drinking polluted water as a result of Raghuraj's activities. Shankar has joined Bhairo Singh as a revolutionary. There is growing resentment against colonialism after British Government declares that all officers have to return to England by 14th Aug 1947 in preparation for Indian Independence. Catherine finds herself being targeted by an enraged mob of Indian nationalists including Bhairo and Shankar, who set her home on fire. She is protected by Kisna, who hides her in the family stables. Shanta finds Catherine and orders Kisna to protect her at all costs. Kisna is torn between his friendship and love for Catherine, and his duty to his country and the hatred of the British Raj. Kisna takes it upon himself to escort Catherine to the British High Commission, where safe passage back to England can be arranged for her. Kisna faces backlash from his family and community, who were part of the mob. Shankar vows that out of Kisna and him, only one will survive. Lakshmi is heartbroken that Kisna ran away with Catherine. Kisna and Catherine seek refuge with Kisna's friend Nandu (Vivek Mushran), in Rishikesh, on their way to Delhi. Kisna and Catherine pretend to be married in front of Nandu's family and stay with them. With the family, Catherine learns about Indian culture and traditions. The trip reaffirms their love for each other. At Rishikesh railway station, Raghuraj finds Catherine and lures her with her mother. He takes her away when Kisna was buying tickets at the counter. Catherine says that Kisna saved her life, but her mother Jennifer only trusts Raghuraj. Meanwhile, Lakshmi also goes to search for Kisna. Kisna is determined to save Catherine as he knows that she is not safe with Raghuraj. Kisna finds Raghuraj at a local guesthouse. Jennifer by now has found that Raghuraj wants to marry Catherine and is disgusted by him. Kisna blinds Raghuraj temporarily which allows Jennifer and Catherine to escape into a nearby commercial vehicle. Juman Masum Kishti (Om Puri) is the driver, who helps them get away along with Kisna. Juman is a servant of Naima Begum (Sushmita Sen). Naima agrees to protect her guests for the night, with the promise of delivering the trio to Delhi the following morning. On their way, the horse cart is attacked by Shankar and his forces. Juman saves Jennifer, while Kisna saves Catherine and hides with her in the jungles. They take shelter in ruins and spend the night. The next morning, Lakshmi catches up to them and confronts them in the ruins. Kisna says that he and Catherine are friends and that is it only his duty to deliver her safely to Delhi. Lakshmi is livid, but Kisna refuses to abandon Catherine. This is when Bhairo and Shankar's forces surround Kisna and Catherine. Kisna kills Bhairo when he attempts to kill Catherine. Kisna defeats Shankar in a sword-fight but spares him. Kisna says that saving Catherine is his duty. He realizes that he truly loves Catherine. Kisna kills an assassin sent by Raghuraj and uses his jeep to travel to Delhi. Kisna reaches Ghaziabad with Catherine, but the city is locked down by curfew. A police inspector recognizes Raghuraj's jeep and guides Raghuraj when he arrives in the city looking for Catherine. The police arrest Catherine as she and Kisna navigate the riots in the city, and she is produced in front of Raghuraj. Raghuraj tries to sexually assault Catherine, but Kisna finds her and engages Raghuraj in battle. Kisna burns Raghuraj alive. Shankar arrives and kills Raghuraj, just as he is about to shoot Kisna in the back. Kisna is ultimately forced to choose between his feelings for Catherine and his duty to his country. Kisna is offered to leave India with Catherine. Kisna chooses the latter and the pair bid an emotional farewell to each other. In the present, it is revealed that Kisna married Lakshmi, and fulfilled his duties to his wife and country, but always loved Catherine till his death. His last wish was for his ashes to be spread at Devprayag, the place where first love blossomed between him and Catherine. Catherine's last wish is also for her ashes to be spread at Devprayag, so that, even though they both married different people, she and Kisna can be together forever.
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