Laaga Chunari Mein Daag

Story:

Laaga Chunari Mein Daag – Journey Of A Woman is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Pradeep Sarkar and starring Jaya Bachchan, Rani Mukherji, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher, Kunal Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan. Produced by Aditya Chopra, it premiered on 12 October 2007. The film was the first directed by Sarkar under the Yash Raj Films banner.

PLOT

Vibhavari “Badki” Sahay and Shubhavari “Chutki” Sahay, are the daughters of Shivshankar Sahay and Savitri Sahay. They live on the banks of the Ganges in Banaras. Life is full of happiness and joy for the two sisters although the family is poor and their house badly needs repairs. Savitri struggles to financially support the family by sewing clothes, and Badki left school before completing 12th standard in order to help Savitri earn more. Both Savitri and Badki are determined to ensure that Chutki completes her education, while Shivshankar spends his days buying lottery tickets and voicing his resentment that Badki was not born a son.

When Shivshankar falls ill and greedy relatives threaten to sue the family for their house, Badki goes to Mumbai to find work, but she is continuously rejected due to her lack of education and qualifications. She begs her friend Karan to introduce her to his sleazy middle-aged boss, Gupta. Married yet lonely, he offers her a lucrative job on the condition that she physically please him, with sex. She returns to her residence to find out the land lady has evicted her without notice. Homeless and lonely, a desperate Badki contacts Gupta and meets him in a posh hotel room, where they have sex. She feels she has secured her job, only for Gupta to reveal that he had manipulated her for sex; he refuses her the job and throws money at her, offering her a job as his personal escort, leaving her anguished. Feeling defeated and out of options, Badki becomes an escort, taking only wealthy men as clients. Coached by Karan’s friend Michelle, Badki learns how to speak English and how to dress modernly and goes by the name “Natasha.” Badki lies to her father and Chutki that she found work as an event planner and sends money for Shivshankar’s medicines, house repairs, and a family lawyer. Although Savitri knows the truth and is pained by it, she does not dissuade Badki for fear of losing the steady flow of money. Through one of her clients, Badki meets and falls in love with attorney Rohan in Zurich but then leaves him fearing that he would be disgusted by her profession.

Meanwhile, Chutki completes her MBA and comes to live with Badki in Mumbai. She starts working at an agency and begins a relationship with her boss, creative director Vivaan, who soon proposes to her. While wedding preparations begin in Banaras, Savitri calls Chutki to implore her that Badki not attend the celebrations, for fear of Badki’s profession being discovered and bringing shame on the family. Chutki then inadvertently discovers Badki’s secret, and while initially upset, she apologizes to Badki for their family’s selfishness. Chutki fiercely vows to remain by Badki’s side and begs Badki to attend her wedding.

At Chutki’s wedding in Banaras, Badki comes face-to-face with Rohan, who is revealed to be Vivaan’s older brother. Old feelings resurface between the two, and Rohan asks Badki to marry him. Badki refuses, feeling that Rohan would never accept her if he knew the truth, and informs her mother of his proposal. Savitri is terrified of the possibility of Chutki’s wedding being ruined and blames Badki for coming to Banaras. Chutki, however, rebukes her mother for overlooking Badki’s sacrifices for the family and urges Badki to finally put herself first, whatever consequences there might be for Chutki’s marriage. Shivshankar overhears this conversation and, along with Savitri, realizes what Badki has suffered for the family’s sake. Badki divulges her profession to Rohan, who shocks her by revealing that he knew from the moment they were introduced by her client in Zurich. He explains that he deeply admires her character and the sacrifices she made for her family and wants to marry her. Badki accepts, and the two couples marry in a joint wedding ceremony.