Kurbaan 2009

Avantika Ahuja, Kareena Kapoor Khan, a psychology professor based in the United States, returns to Delhi to care for her ailing father. There, she meets Ehsaan Khan, a university lecturer, and the two form a deep connection that steadily grows into love. They marry, choosing to start a life together back in the United States when Avantika is offered a teaching position there. The newlyweds settle in a calm, suburban neighborhood that is largely populated by South Asian families, and Avantika helps Ehsaan land a teaching post at the same university, where he begins lecturing on Islam and the Modern World.

Avantika soon befriends Salma, a neighbor who confides that she is being confined at home by her husband Hakil. Salma pleads with Avantika to contact Rehana, a television journalist, and Avantika eventually meets Rehana and her partner Riyaz, a Muslim American journalist. The group’s efforts to intervene on Salma’s behalf unfold as Rehana prepares to depart for Iraq as part of a United Nations envoy mission.

Not long after, Avantika discovers she is pregnant. While walking near her home, she overhears a meeting led by Bhaijaan, the neighborhood elder, who is steering a discussion about a planned bombing targeting Rehana’s flight. Soon after, Avantika also stumbles upon Salma’s body. She is pursued by the conspiracy but manages to escape to her house, where she learns that Ehsaan is part of the terrorist cell. He reveals that he married her to secure legal residency in the United States.

Bhaijaan directs Ehsaan to kill Avantika, but he spares her life upon learning of the pregnancy. Ehsaan confines Avantika to their home and threatens harm to her father if she tells anyone. She manages to leave a voicemail warning Rehana, but the plane is bombed, killing everyone on board.

Riyaz, devastated by Rehana’s death, discovers Avantika’s message and begins to investigate. He enrolls in Ehsaan’s university course and gradually earns his trust. Aapa, Bhaijaan’s wife, explains the motivations behind their ideology to Avantika and reveals Ehsaan’s past as a man radicalized after his family was killed in Afghanistan.

Ehsaan and Hakil attempt to dispose of Salma’s body, drawing the attention of the police. Ehsaan kills Hakil and the officers, and Salma’s remains are recovered and disseminated through the FBI. Ehsaan introduces Riyaz to Bhaijaan, who tests him with a staged firearm scenario. Riyaz passes the test and is inducted into the group’s next plot to bomb subway stations in New York.

Riyaz and Avantika team up to foil the plan. Though Riyaz arranges a meeting with the FBI, Bhaijaan discovers Salma’s identification and accelerates the mission. During the operation, Riyaz’s cover is blown. In the ensuing chaos, Bhaijaan is fatally shot. Before dying, he reveals that additional explosives are hidden in the women’s belongings, including Avantika’s.

Ehsaan releases Riyaz and races to rescue Avantika. The FBI intervenes, removing the explosives from the women. Ehsaan kills Aapa and saves Avantika. Wounded while escaping the police, he reveals his real name—Khalid—and professes his love before taking his own life.