Plot

During the Partition of India in 1947, a Sikh truck driver falls in love with a Muslim girl belonging to an aristocratic family.

Amongst the communal riots that erupt in the city, Tara shelters a wayward Sakina from a crazed mob and a bond that blossoms into love is created. The two eventually get married and have a son. The happy family, now living in Amritsar, gets the shock of their lives when Sakina learns that her father (Amrish Puri), whom she previously believed died in the riots back in Amritsar, is still alive after seeing his picture in a tattered, old newspaper. Upon contacting him, Sakina's father, now the mayor of Lahore in Pakistan, arranges for his daughter to arrive in Lahore to see him. Sakina leaves for Lahore minus Tara and her son, and upon reaching the city, learns of her father's plans for her - plans that include forcing Sakina to forget about her family and start life anew in Pakistan. Then begins an extraordinary journey which will lead Tara to cross the border into Pakistan to find his love Sakina.—gavin@sunny_deol2009@yahoo.com

In the year 1947 the British government decides that they will divide India into 2 parts the other part will be called Pakistan thus the agreement between the two religions was that the Hindus will occupy India while the Muslims will stay in Pakistan but the agreement also states that no one shall vacate their place of residence under duress. Unfortunately this agreement gets breaches when a riot erupted between the Hindus and Muslims leaving thousands of causalities on both end. In the midst truck driver, Tara Singh comes to the rescue of a Muslim girl named Sakeena; his actions are based on the fact that both are acquaintances during her college days. Tara then takes Sakeena to his home where both fall in love and they get married and are soon parents to a young boy named Charanjeet. Shortly after Sakeena decides that she will pay a visit to her family in Pakistan where-by her father, Ashraf Ali is the mayor. Fortunately for her Tara does not have no qualms with this but after Sakeena fail to return within a time-frame he decides to illegally enter Pakistan where he gets to find out that Ashraj is force-fully re-marrying his daughter to a Muslim man. Under these circumstances Tara decides to take drastic steps only to invite the wrath of the Pakistanis where they retaliate by the show of violence. When Tara persists Ashraf decides to put forward certain difficult terms that Tara must fulfilled before he can be accepted as Sakeena's husband.—gavin (racktoo@hotmail.com)

In 1947, Tara, a Sikh truck driver in Punjab, meets and falls in love with a wealthy Muslim girl named Sakina, by accident during anti-Muslim riots whom he saves, courts and marries. Years later, Sakina travels to Pakistan to visit her father, now the mayor of a small Pakistan city, for a visit whom he tries to separate her and Tara and force her into an arranged marriage with a wealthy man of her age and religion.—Anonymous

When the British met with Hindu and Muslim leaders in 1947, they got both the parties to sign an agreement that they agree to divide Pakistan from India. Part of the Agreement also stated that those Muslims who elect to stay in India; and those Hindus who elect to live in Pakistan - will not be forced to leave. After this Agreement was signed, this clause was violated as tens of thousands of Hindus and Muslims were forced to flee, leaving their wealth and belongings behind. During this turmoil, Tara Singh a Truck Driver, rescues a young woman named Sakina, both fall in love with each other and get married. When things calm down, Sakina decides to travel across the border to Pakistan where her dad is now the Mayor, to which Tara and his family consent. When Sakina does not return, Tara goes to look for her, and finds out that her father is refusing to let her return, and would like her to marry a Muslim. When Tara asserts himself he is beaten, but even then he persists. When this matter starts to generate nationwide attention, Sakina's dad puts forth a number of conditions that Tara must fulfill to let Sakina be his wife, some of which are that he change his religion to Islam; join the Pakistani army and battle the Indians; change his name to a suitable Islamic name; and yell out as loud as he can "Victory to Pakistan", and "Death to India". Will Tara accept these conditions in order to be reunited with his sweetheart?—rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)

During the violent 1947 Partition of India, migrating populations clash across the newly formed borders of India and Pakistan. The partition of the country was agreed on the basis that the populations would not be forced to migrate. Muslims staying in India would not be forced to leave for Pakistan and Hindus staying in Pakistan would not be forced to leave for India. But in reality, things were very different on the ground.

Sikhs and Hindus were being attacked by Muslims in Pakistan when trying to migrate to India on a train (10,000 people were trying to climb a train with 8 bogies) in response to the killing of Muslims going to Pakistan from India to get revenge. Parents gave poison to their daughters so they could commit suicide, rather than face the insult of being sexually assaulted by a Muslim mob. As the corpse laden trains reach India, Sikhs and Hindus react by doing the same thing to the Muslims in India who were trying to migrate to Pakistan.

One such family in India is of Ashraf Ali, who is a renowned businessman, who is now being forced to migrate to Pakistan. Despite arguing his case to the Indian authorities, he is told that he will not have any protection, should he choose to stay back in India. Ashraf takes his family and goes to the Amritsar train station to catch the last train to Lahore.

Tara Singh (Sunny Deol), an Indian Sikh, initially participating in the killing of Muslims, encounters Sakina Ali (Amisha Patel) Ashraf's daughter, a Muslim woman, in the middle of the chaos at the train station. Ashraf and some of his family members are able to board the train, but Sakina is left behind in the chaos and the crushing mob at the station.

Sakina gets left behind and emerges from a layer of corpses late at night, drenched in blood. Tara saves Sakina from a murderous mob chasing her as she failed to get onto the train after being pushed and lost in the crowd. The mob want to sexually assault her and then murder her. Recognizing her from their college days, he shields her from a hostile mob. Tara Singh defends Sakina and then converts her to Sikhism to protect her. He applies blood to her forehead, symbolically claiming her as his Sikh wife.

While driving back to Tara's house, it is revealed that Tara and Sakina knew each other before this incident. Tara is a lorry driver, but his real ambition is to become a singer. Some girls in college who are friends of Sakina fool Tara that they have got him a shot an annual music show in return for his doing a favor for them. Tara performs badly in from of the music teacher, who is portrayed by Sakina. His friend then gives him tablets that help him prove his singing skills. Tara's talent is recognized when he returns and impresses them with his singing. Soon after it is shown that Sakina is not the real music teacher, which saddens him.

Sakina, moved by his talent, apologizes to him and advocates for him to the college authorities, securing him a performance at a college event. When performing on the music function Sakina announces that she will not do her act instead gives Tara a chance to sing despite the will against the seniors at the college. This shared experience forges a connection between them. Upon Sakina's college graduation, Tara gifts her a Taj Mahal miniature as a parting gesture.

The partition's horrors soon engulf Tara's family. His parents Gurdeep (Pramod Moutho) & Parmeet (Kanika Shivpuri) and sisters, attempting to migrate, are brutally murdered on a train attacked by a Muslim mob. Tara witnesses the carnage, fueling his retaliatory actions. Alongside other enraged Hindus and Sikhs, he participates in massacres against Muslims fleeing to Pakistan.

Back in the present, Sakina starts living in Tara's house. Despite the circumstances of their union, and upon learning of her family's supposed death, Sakina integrates into Tara's life. Facing societal pressure due to her religious background, she decides to leave for a refugee camp. However, realizing her love for Tara, they marry and have a son, Jeete.

Their life seems like a bed of roses, until Sakina sees an old newspaper that has a photograph of her father Ashraf Ali (Amrish Puri), whom she believes had been killed during the riots during the Partition.

Her father is now the mayor of Lahore. When Sakina calls him from the Pakistani Embassy in Delhi, he arranges to fly her to Lahore. However, Tara and their son, who are supposed to accompany her to Lahore, are told at the last minute that their visa formalities have not been completed, which compels them to stay in India. In Lahore, she is reunited with her family, but her desire to return to India is met with resistance. Her family, concerned with societal backlash, attempts to arrange her marriage to a Muslim man.

The lack of visa does not stop Tara. Tara and his son Charanjeet "Jeete" Singh (Utkarsh Sharma) accompanied by a friend Darmiyaan (Vivek Shauq) enter Pakistan illegally at the border. There they find out that Sakina is getting married and reach her before the marriage can start and reunite.

Seeing this, Sakina's husband-to-be attacks Tara but is instead injured by him. A large fight was about to break until the priest stops them, as this can end up harming Sakina's father's career in politics. Ashraf Ali agrees for their marriage under two conditions: they should live in Pakistan and Tara should adopt Islam.

These conditions are accepted by Tara in public the next day which was against Ashraf Ali's plans. He makes Tara insult his country India and to accept that he is a true Pakistani, which enrages him, and this makes him kill the mob that was hired by Ashraf to kill him. Tara, Sakina, their son, and a friend manage to escape.

Tara, Sakina, Jeete, and Darmiyaan escape, seeking refuge in a cottage near the border. The cottage owner's greedy wife (Pratima Kazmi) betrays their location to Ashraf Ali, who pursues them. They board a train bound for India, but Ashraf Ali intercepts them. In the ensuing conflict, Sakina is shot and falls into a coma. Upon regaining consciousness, she reunites with Tara and Jeete. Ashraf Ali, witnessing their enduring love, finally accepts Tara as his son-in-law. They return to India, their family reunited.