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Salaam-e-Ishq (2007) Plot Summary

Salaam-e-Ishq (2007) movie poster

Salaam-e-Ishq is a 2007 romance and comedy film directed by Nikkhil Advani and Karan Johar, running 3 hours 36 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 863 words (about 4 minutes to read). Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for Salaam-e-Ishq.

to read the plot summary
4 min
runtime
3h 36m
words in the plot summary
863
Salaam-e-Ishq (2007) movie poster
Released
Runtime
3h 36m
Directors
Nikkhil Advani and Karan Johar
Genres
Romance, Comedy, Drama
Original language
Hindi
No spoilers

What Is Salaam-e-Ishq About?

The premise of Salaam-e-Ishq in 314 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

A tribute to love unfolds across the bustling landscapes of India and beyond, where six very different couples discover that destiny has a curious way of intertwining their paths. Set against a vibrant backdrop that swings between Bollywood glamour and the everyday rhythms of small-town life, the film weaves together stories that range from the deeply romantic to the delightfully absurd, all bound by the universal language of the heart.

At the center of the drama stands Kamna*, a temperamental and ambitious young woman from Dehradun who reinvents herself as the dazzling* Kamini Ranawat*, one of Bollywood’s most sought-after heroines. With her sharp-tongued manager* Babu ever at her side, she navigates the dazzling yet demanding world of film, where image and ambition reign supreme. Far from the spotlight, Gia Bakshi and Shiven Dungarpur find themselves on the brink of a marriage complicated by cold feet and misplaced advice, while Raju*, a humble taxi driver, crosses paths with the frantic* Stephanie*, a woman chasing love across Northern India.*

Elsewhere, a long-married couple discovers that fifteen years together can still stir unexpected complications, and a Hindu man named Ashutosh faces the delicate challenge of a cross-cultural love story with Tehzeeb Hussain*, a Muslim news reporter whose courage matches her convictions. Rounding out this colorful tapestry are* Ramdayal and Phoolwati*, a newlywed couple whose attempts at intimacy are thwarted by an endless parade of comical mishaps. Each pair carries their own dreams, doubts, and desires, unaware of how their journeys are about to converge in the most unexpected of ways.*

*Brimming with warmth, humor, and heartfelt emotion, the film paints a portrait of love in all its many forms — star-crossed, unconventional, enduring, and playful. As the characters move through glamorous weddings, chaotic road trips, and quiet moments of reflection, the story celebrates the beautiful chaos that fate orchestrates when hearts refuse to follow the expected path.

Full plot

What Happens in Salaam-e-Ishq?

The complete story of Salaam-e-Ishq, from the first scene to the last, in 863 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout.

Spoilers ahead

Born in Dehradun, temperamental and ambitious Kamna changes her name to Kamini Ranawat, hires Babu as her manager, and becomes one of the most sought-after heroines in Bollywood. As a publicity stunt to change her image from item queen and to get the attention of filmmaker Karan Johar, she says that she is in love with a man named Rahul. In London, a man saying that he is Rahul Saxena poses as her childhood sweetheart and future husband. Kamna has to play along or she will not get the film deal she was looking for with Johar. This results in a dilemma for her as Rahul reveals that he loved her back when she was Kamna, and she has to choose between her career and Rahul. Kamna initially chooses her career but soon realizes that she is in love with Rahul when she cannot stop thinking about him. Kamna turns down Johar’s movie offer and hunts down Rahul at Gia Bakshi and Shiven Dungarpur’s wedding, where she proposes to him. Rahul and Kamini accept their love for each other and reunite.

Raju is a taxi driver who comes to the assistance of a white woman Stephanie, who is frantically trying to hunt down her lover Rohit Chaddha. While Raju drives her around all of Northern India searching for Rohit, he falls in love with her and drops her off to the venue where Rohit is getting ready to marry Gia. However, it turns out that Rohit does not want to marry Stephanie because he wants to marry an Indian girl and tells her to get lost. Raju slaps Rohit across the face and confesses his love for Stephanie. Stephanie confesses her love for Raju, and the couple unites.

Gia Bakshi lives with her father Col. Bakshi and is in love with Shiven. Both are to get married shortly, but Shiven starts to get cold feet thanks to a few misleading words about marriage from his friend Juggy. He decides to disappear from her life, leaving Bakshi with no alternative but to arrange Gia’s marriage with Rohit Chaddha. However, Shiven remains heartbroken and cannot stop thinking about Gia. While driving one day, he accidentally hits Tehzeeb Hussain, who is walking on the road, and helps her reunite with Ashutosh Raina. As he sees the pair reunite, he realizes that he cannot let Gia go. He rushes to her wedding with Rohit and stops the wedding, professing his love for Gia. Shiven and Gia get married.

Gia’s sister Seema, who lives in London, has been married to Vinay Malhotra for 15 years, and they have two children. Vinay sees his life as boring and dull until a woman named Anjali comes into his life. The two start to meet and begin an affair, but while preparing to travel to India for Gia’s marriage, Seema finds out about Vinay’s affair, leaving her heartbroken. Vinay is left to choose between Seema and Anjali. He chooses Seema and runs to the airport as she is leaving for India with their children. Vinay apologizes to Seema, and the couple reunites.

Ashutosh is a Hindu but falls in love and marries Tehzeeb, who is Muslim, much to the chagrin of his father, who will not have anything to do with him. Tehzeeb is a TV news reporter; while travelling on an inaugural train route, the train derails. Tehzeeb survives but loses her memory and is unable to recall who Ashutosh is – and may end up leaving him and returning to her parents’ home. Ashutosh takes Tehzeeb to his parents’ house where they first met so that Tehzeeb can restore her memories, but he must deal with his father in order to help her. Tehzeeb is overwhelmed and runs away. She is accidentally hit by Shiven’s car. Shiven calls Ashutosh, and they bring Tehzeeb to Shiven’s house to rest. When Tehzeeb wakes up, she wants to leave Ashutosh and go to her family’s house because she is tired of seeing him sad when she is unable to remember who he is. Ashutosh tells her that even if she cannot remember their past, the couple can form new memories together. He also tells her that without her, he has no present or future and that whatever the future brings, the couple will be able to face together. Tehzeeb and Ashutosh then reunite and resume their life together. A few years later, they are back to being the loving couple that they were before Tehzeeb’s accident.

Ramdayal weds attractive Phoolwati and would like to spend some intimate moments with her, but comical circumstances prevent him from doing so. On the day they get married, Ram accidentally sets the room on fire, thus ruining his and Phoolwati’s first night. One night, Ram gets kicked out of a brothel when five kids see him kissing Phoolwati. Ram and Phoolwati hide in a car but get injured when the car crashes into a house. Then, while travelling together on a train, they see the train getting inside a tunnel . During this time the interior of the train remains very dark. So they take advantage of this darkness and finally enjoy some romantic time together.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is Salaam-e-Ishq?

Hopeful in tone, with variable pacing and a complex story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Hopeful
Pacing
Variable
Story
Complex
Intensity
Medium
Ending
Happy

A sprawling Bollywood romantic comedy-drama weaving six interconnected love stories through careers, amnesia, infidelity and cultural divides, ultimately celebrating love's resilience with warmth and humor.

  • romantic
  • heartfelt
  • sentimental
  • chaotic
  • lively
  • dramatic
  • love and marriage
  • infidelity
  • memory loss
  • cross cultural romance

Content notes: infidelity, car accident, train derailment, memory loss, family rejection, drunkenness.

Where to watch

Where to Watch Salaam-e-Ishq

Stream it on Eros Now Select, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

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FAQ

Salaam-e-Ishq Plot Questions

2 quick answers about Salaam-e-Ishq, taken from the plot summary on this page and the film’s credits.

What is Salaam-e-Ishq about?

A tribute to love unfolds across the bustling landscapes of India and beyond, where six very different couples discover that destiny has a curious way of intertwining their paths.

Read the full plot summary

Who directed Salaam-e-Ishq?

Salaam-e-Ishq (2007) was directed by Nikkhil Advani, Karan Johar and Sohail Khan and runs 3 hours 36 minutes.

Nikkhil Advani’s films

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