Andaz 1971

Raj Malhotra, played by Rajesh Khanna, lives a peaceful life with his elder brother Ravi, his sister-in-law Sheetal, and his niece. His world takes a sudden turn when he suffers a severe accident that fractures his leg, leaving him unable to walk. Even after his leg heals physically, Raj finds himself stuck emotionally and psychologically, unable to regain the ability to walk. This period of struggle leads to a lot of inner turmoil for him.

The story takes a warm turn when Raj and his family relocate to Guntur. There, Raj befriends his lively new neighbor, a spirited tomboy named Kajal, played by Aruna Irani. Both share a passionate interest in airplanes, which serves as a strong bond between them. With Kajal’s encouragement and support, Raj gradually begins to regain confidence and, ultimately, his ability to walk again. Their friendship grows over the years, and everyone around them begins to assume they are destined to be more than just friends.

As time passes, Raj secures a position with Air India, undergoing intensive training that lasts about a year and a half. During this period, he develops deep feelings for Kajal but keeps them hidden, waiting for the right moment to confess. When his training concludes, Raj’s hope to propose is shattered as he learns that Kajal is in love with a wealthy businessman named Karan Singhania. Despite his own feelings, Raj urges Kajal to follow her heart and encourages her to marry Karan. Kajal and Karan marry, but the joy of her wedding is marred when she realizes, during her reception, that Raj harbors feelings for her—a revelation that leaves her feeling guilty and regretful.

Kajal’s realization of Raj’s true feelings hits her hard, and she asks him to move on with his life. Heartbroken, Raj moves abroad to the West Indies and South Africa for further training, while his family relocates to Kottayam. During a visit to a club abroad, Raj encounters a lively and cheerful woman named Jiya, played by Simi Garewal. Jiya quickly falls for Raj because of his honest personality, but Raj remains emotionally tied to Kajal.

When Raj returns to India, he finds that Jiya has already come to live with his family as a paying guest in Nainital. She makes numerous efforts to win his affection, but Raj is still unable to forget Kajal. During the festive Dussehra celebrations, Jiya tries to perform traditional rituals as a wife would, but Raj becomes upset and asks her to leave, revealing his lingering feelings. Despite her efforts, Raj’s family reveals they had hoped he would marry Jiya, and he finally agrees to marry her, seeing it as a way to move forward in life.

A shocking revelation comes when Raj learns that Jiya is actually the sister of Karan Singhania, Kajal’s late husband who had died in a helicopter crash—an event Kajal survived but blames herself for. She is haunted by guilt and has even attempted to take her own life. Raj becomes her pillar of support, helping her to recover from her depression and face life again with renewed hope. As their bond deepens, Jiya begins to notice the growing closeness between Raj and Kajal.

Jiya, understanding the situation, suggests to her father that Kajal should be considered for a second marriage to give her a new beginning. At the engagements of Raj and Jiya, as well as Kajal, tensions rise. Kajal learns about her family’s plans to marry her off, but Raj intervenes, urging her to make her own choices and not be forced into marriage. To everyone’s surprise, Raj places the wedding Tilak on Kajal’s forehead, symbolizing his commitment to her. Jiya, in an emotional moment, admits that her true intention was to bring Raj and Kajal together openly. The story concludes with Jiya participating in the wedding of Raj and Kajal, symbolizing the resolution of their long-standing love triangle and celebrating their union.

Throughout the film, themes of love, friendship, sacrifice, and second chances are explored. The characters navigate their complex emotions and past traumas, ultimately finding happiness through understanding and perseverance, culminating in a heartfelt ending that emphasizes the importance of true love and honest self-discovery.