Andaaz 2003

Raj Malhotra is a young man who lives a busy life with his elder brother Rohit Malhotra, his sister-in-law Kiran, and his niece. A terrible accident leaves him with a fractured leg that keeps him from walking, and for psychological reasons the problem lingers even after the bone heals. When the Malhotras move to Guntur, Raj forms a close bond with their new neighbour, the tomboyish and adventurous Kajal, drawn to each other by a shared love of airplanes. With Kajal’s steady encouragement, Raj regains the ability to walk, and a strong friendship blossoms that everyone expects to become something more in time.

Years pass, and Raj secretly carries a quiet love for Kajal, while she treats him as her best friend. After a stint with Air India, Raj spends a year and a half in rigorous training before rushing back to Kajal to propose. He is stunned to learn that Kajal has fallen for a different man, the multimillionaire businessman [Karan Singhania]. Despite his own feelings, Raj conceals them and tells Kajal that Karan is the ideal life partner for her. Kajal and Karan marry, and during the lively reception she discovers Raj’s true feelings. Hurt by what she perceives as his long-held silence, Kajal asks him to let her move on.

Raj leaves for new horizons—West Indies and South Africa—for further training—while his brother and family relocate to Kottayam. In a club one night, Raj meets the vivacious Jiya, whose warmth and spontaneity draw him in. She falls for Raj because of his genuine, “clean” personality, but he remains haunted by thoughts of Kajal and cannot fully return her feelings. After finishing his training, Raj returns to India, where he finds that Jiya has already arrived and is staying with his family in Nainital. Jiya makes several earnest attempts to win his heart, but Raj stays emotionally distant.

During Dussehra, Jiya performs the traditional rites that a wife would, which unsettles Raj. He becomes angry and asks her to leave. His brother and sister-in-law reveal that they had hoped Raj would marry Jiya, nudging him to move forward with life. Eventually Raj agrees to marry Jiya, and moves toward engagement with her. Then a twist of fate unfolds: while visiting Jiya’s family, Raj learns that Jiya is actually the sister of [Karan Singhania], tying Kajal and Jiya together by marriage in a new, unexpected way. It’s revealed that Kajal, having survived a helicopter crash, was widowed by Karan’s death, and she has carried guilt over what happened, blaming herself for the tragedy. Raj steps in to help Kajal confront her past and begin living again.

As the truth about Kajal’s past surfaces, Jiya recognizes the growing closeness between Raj and Kajal and suggests to her father that Kajal, too, should consider a second marriage to secure her future. At Raj and Jiya’s engagement, Kajal learns that her own family plans an engagement for her as well, leading to a tense moment where Raj urges Kajal not to be forced into a union she does not want. A fervent Jiya speaks up, admitting that her real aim was to bring Raj and Kajal to acknowledge their feelings publicly. In a dramatic turn, Raj places the wedding tilak on Kajal, effectively signaling that he has chosen her. Jiya reveals that her intention was to reveal the truth and bring everyone to accept their bond. The film closes with the three characters entwined in a complex, heartfelt moment, as Jiya participates in Raj and Kajal’s wedding ceremony, affirming that love can take many shapes and find its own way home.

• Kajal’s family dynamics and past tragedies are woven through the central romance, adding layers of forgiveness, resilience, and the question of whether destiny—or choice—defines a life’s path.

• The narrative remains grounded in emotional honesty, focusing on how two people who start as friends navigate fear, pride, and a shared longing for connection.

• The interplay between duty to family, personal happiness, and the scars of past loss gives the story a steady, human rhythm, wrapped in moments of warmth, humor, and quiet courage.

Mrs. Kajal’s grandmother plays a gentle, grounding presence at crucial moments, reminding the characters of their roots and the enduring importance of family. The supporting brothers, portrayed by Prithvi Zutshi and Vishwajeet Pradhan, add texture to the parental and sibling perspectives that shape the decisions the leads must confront. The result is a melodramatic, emotionally resonant romance that stays true to its core: the redemptive power of love that refuses to be confined by what is expected and instead seeks what is real.