Dil Chahta Hai

At the college graduation party, Akash flirts with Shalini, who is engaged, drawing the ire of her fiancé Rohit. Rohit punches Akash in front of friends, signaling the fragile boundaries of loyalty and attraction. The incident foreshadows the romantic and friendship tensions to come.

The day after the party, Sameer ends his relationship with Priya and searches for a fresh start with his friends. He joins Akash and Sid on an impromptu trip to Goa, hoping to escape and redefine their bond. The Goa trip sets the stage for new love interests and conflicts.

In Goa, Akash encounters his persistent ex Deepa, whom Sid advises to move on. Meanwhile, Sameer is drawn to Christine, a Swiss tourist who turns out to be a con artist and robs him. The vacation becomes a mix of romance and risk.

Back in Mumbai, Sid grows close to Tara, a middle-aged alcoholic divorcee and art enthusiast. He admires her maturity and compassion and develops feelings for her. The evolving bond introduces Sid to love outside his age and expectations.

Sameer deals with pressure from his parents toward an arranged marriage, but he unexpectedly falls for Pooja, the first woman he meets. The new relationship challenges his friends' lives and the expectations around love. This marks a pivotal turn in Sameer's romantic journey.

On Tara's birthday, her ex-husband keeps their daughter away, triggering an emotional breakdown. Sid comforts her and later confesses his love, prompting Akash to mock him for pursuing an older woman. Sid slaps Akash, severing a piece of their friendship and revealing a growing cynicism between them.

Akash departs for Sydney to run his family's business, where he reconnects with Shalini, who is visiting her uncle. The two bond and fall in love, even as Shalini remains in a complicated engagement. The romance challenges Akash's cynicism and sets up a dramatic confrontation with Rohit.

Rohit arrives to take Shalini back to India for their wedding, leaving Akash devastated. Mahesh reveals that Shalini agreed to the marriage out of obligation to her adoptive parents, not love. Akash's resolve strengthens as he learns the truth behind the engagement.

On the eve of Shalini's wedding, Akash proposes to her, sparking a tense confrontation with Rohit. Shalini admits she loves Akash and chooses him, and Rohit's parents give their blessing. The moment seals the couple's future against the odds.

Sid leaves for a painting workshop but returns when he learns Tara is hospitalized with liver cirrhosis. He rushes back to be with her as her health deteriorates and the future of his friendship becomes uncertain. This turn deepens the emotional stakes for Sid.

At the hospital, Sameer reflects on his relationship with Pooja, who chose him over her ex, and he acknowledges Akash's reconciliation with Shalini. The trio's dynamics expand as love and gratitude earn space beside loss. The hospital scenes heighten the emotional resonance of their journeys.

Akash visits Sid at the hospital and apologizes for his earlier cynicism and the rift between them. The gesture marks a soft reconciliation, though the wounds from their breakup linger as they face Tara's health crisis. The moment underscores the fragility of friendship amid love's turmoil.

Tara fades on her deathbed before she can finish expressing what Sid meant to her, leaving him distraught and guilt-ridden. Her departure closes a painful chapter and abruptly shifts Sid's emotional focus. The loss deepens the sense of responsibility he feels toward his friends.

Six months later, the three friends reunite in Goa. Sameer and Akash arrive with Pooja and Shalini, and Sid meets a young woman on the beach, joining them for a celebratory dinner. The scene caps the journey with renewed friendship and quiet optimism for the future.