Life can be incredibly challenging for Santosh Duggal, a dedicated teacher working in a school in Delhi. His life is overshadowed by financial struggles, as he lives in a modest DDA flat, battling double-digit inflation and meager salary increments. Despite his hard work, he struggles to provide a comfortable life for his family, which includes his wife Kusum, a stay-at-home mother, and their children Payal and Sandeep, who both have their own dreams and aspirations.
Rishi Kapoor portrays Santosh Duggal, a man committed to his teaching duties but frustrated by his financial limitations. His wife, Kusum Duggal, played by Neetu Singh, has given up her job at her husband's insistence, choosing to stay at home and manage the household. Their daughter Payal, a lively and fashion-conscious teenager, yearns for modern gadgets like an iPod but can't afford them, while their son Sandeep is a typical high school student who tries to earn extra money through cricket betting, often risking more than he realizes.
The Duggal family's everyday life revolves around penny-pinching and accommodating each other’s desires within their means. Santosh's income is supplemented through a part-time coaching job at Chatwal Coaching Class, owned by Bittu. Despite his efforts, the family’s financial situation remains tight, and their hopes are often dashed. One key moment occurs when they receive a tax refund of Rs 7600, spurring thoughts of small luxuries. However, their sister Urmi, played by Supriya Shukla, visits from Meerut with a special request—she wants the family to attend her wedding in style, preferably by car, to avoid embarrassment from relatives at her event. The family, especially Kusum, promises to make this happen, even if it means taking significant financial risks.
To fulfill Urmi’s wish, they initially consider renting a taxi at Rs 5000, along with a gift for the groom costing another Rs 5000. Santosh borrows a car from his neighbor, Farooqui, an honest man played by Akhilendra Mishra, who generously offers them his old Maruti Esteem. Unfortunately, during the wedding, the car is stolen, but the alert Deepak Ochchaney as an inspector recovers it. Still, the incident leaves the family in financial trouble, especially when Farooqui’s wife, Salma (Natasha Rastogi), challenges Santosh to buy a new car. Motivated by this challenge, Santosh is determined to buy a vehicle within fifteen days.
The family faces several hurdles on their journey. Santosh visits a car dealership and considers purchasing an affordable Maruti Alto, which fits his limited budget. However, his daughter Payal, wanting a more modern vehicle like her boyfriend’s Hyundai i10, is disappointed with the choice, leading her to seek employment in a call center to afford an upgrade. Meanwhile, Sandeep confesses to gambling and destroys his mobile after getting caught, highlighting the ongoing financial and moral struggles within the family.
Despite repeated setbacks, Santosh refuses to compromise his integrity. He declines a student’s offer of Rs 1000 per mark for passing grades, knowing that dishonesty would tarnish his reputation. The family’s desperation grows as Santosh exhausts all options to gather funds for the car down payment, even contemplating accepting bribes from students, risking exposure on live TV. His commitment to integrity remains strong, and he emphasizes that "an aging teacher deserves at least a matchbox-sized car", representing his modest aspirations.
A pivotal moment occurs when Santosh stumbles upon an answer paper from a bright student, Aryan, who requests passing marks in exchange for money—each mark worth Rs 1000. Santosh, moved by the student's honesty and reminded of his own principles, considers whether to accept this offer but ultimately refuses. He believes that allowing greed to dictate his actions would ruin both his integrity and the student’s future. His wife Kusum, initially hesitant, supports this stance, and they both decide that honesty is more important than fleeting financial gains.
The story reaches a comedic and chaotic climax when Aryan, the student, spray-paints lewd messages on Santosh’s scooter, leading to a burst of chaos involving Payal, Deepu, and Aryan's relatives. A humorous chase ensues through the busy streets of Delhi, with the family trying to contain the situation. Their troubles temporarily escalate when relatives arrive at their home, and the situation becomes tense. However, it’s soon revealed that the family’s intentions were misunderstood; the relatives are actually generous, offering to pay twelve months’ tuition fees to help support the Duggal family’s modest income. The grandfather, Popley, encourages Santosh to teach Aryan values, emphasizing the importance of both education and morals.
The film concludes on a hopeful note, with the Duggals finally able to purchase a Maruti Alto. The family, feeling proud and renewed, enjoys driving their new car together. Payal, eager to learn, teaches her father to drive the vehicle, and despite their new car bringing them closer, they humorously lament that now they are stuck in traffic jams—something they would have easily avoided with their old scooter. The story emphasizes themes of honesty, perseverance, family bonds, and the importance of integrity in the face of adversity, illustrating that even amidst hardships, genuine values and togetherness can lead to happiness and success.
