In 1995, Ayushmann Khurrana stars as Prem Prakash Tiwari, a young owner of a video cassette shop in Haridwar who becomes entangled with a nationalist organization that preaches abstinence as a core value. The group’s信 ethos is strict about serving the nation, but it also places pressure on its members’ personal lives, including marriages. Prem’s father, Sanjay Mishra wants him to marry an educated but financially modest girl, Bhumi Pednekar as Sandhya Verma, a school dropout intent on becoming a teacher. Despite his initial reluctance and discomfort with the match, Prem agrees to the arranged alliance, and the families organize an elaborate community wedding.
From the start, Prem’s affection for Sandhya remains tepid. On the wedding night he does not consummate the marriage, and at home he avoids affectionate gestures, keeping his distance on the streets and in their daily life. Sandhya, earnest and hopeful, tries to bridge the gap, while Prem’s embarrassment and adherence to his oath of abstinence frustrate them both. Their relationship stays strained even as they share a quick kiss and a furtive moment of intimacy on their second night. The family’s expectations and Prem’s vow clash with his growing sense that he should invest in his marriage, a tension that the branch manager tries to help him navigate, urging him to focus on building a life with Sandhya rather than simply upholding a pledge.
A turning point comes with Prem’s close friend, Chandrachoor Rai as Nirmal, who marries soon after Prem and Sandhya. At Nirmal’s wedding, Prem’s jealousy and excessive drinking surface, and he disparages Sandhya in front of everyone, claiming that sleeping with her felt like hell. Sandhya is stunned by the cruel remark and slaps him, and he returns the slap. The next morning, Sandhya contemplates leaving the marriage, feeling worn down by the hostility and pretense. In response, Prem resolves to focus on his studies and re-take his English exam, attempting to prove his commitment to both self-improvement and their future.
As Prem and Sandhya attempt to salvage their bond, Prem’s circle of friends withdraw, and he finds himself increasingly isolated. His devotion is put to the test when Nirmal’s family expands their business into the Haridwar market, threatening Prem’s family’s livelihood with a new music CD shop. The tug-of-war between competing family loyalties and economic pressures intensifies the strain on Prem and Sandhya. Their marriage is formally placed under a crisis when Sandhya and Prem file for divorce in court. The judge orders a six-month reconciliation period, urging them to live together and try to rediscover compatibility, a mandate greeted with mixed emotions by both spouses.
During their trial period, Prem and Sandhya begin to understand one another more deeply. They move past pretense, and Sandhya’s hope for a better life starts to rekindle Prem’s own feelings. Yet Sandhya’s courage is tested again when she is coerced into participating in a local competition called the “Dum Lagao” contest, which requires a husband to carry his wife on his shoulders through an obstacle course. Meanwhile, Prem’s aunt Seema Pahwa begins urging him toward participation, presenting this competition as a test of teamwork and trust rather than mere spectacle. As days pass, the couple’s closeness grows, but Prem remains unsure about their capacity to synchronize their efforts.
A pivotal moment arrives when Prem discovers that his family members have been feigning admiration for Sandhya’s cooking, prompting a fierce confrontation at home. Overcome by anger and feeling alienated, he contemplates suicide, expressing his pain through a dramatic English exam letter that reaches a police constable, who intervenes and helps Sandhya see the depth of her husband’s vulnerability. This exchange becomes a catalyst for renewed empathy between them, and Sandhya secures a teaching job in Meerut, a prospect that She fears might pull them apart but also signals a chance for her own independence. She shares the news with Prem, and in that moment he realizes he is falling in love with her.
On the day of the Dum Lagao contest, Prem’s aunt once again motivates him to participate, and the couple seizes the opportunity to salvage their relationship in a tangible way. Prem carries Sandhya forward with determination, and as they move through the course, they begin to harmonize in a way they hadn’t before. The race culminates with Prem pushing himself to the limit, determined to win for the sake of their future together. Sandhya, in a moment of honesty, reveals she does not want to leave for Meerut if it means losing him, which steels Prem’s resolve to persevere. He drives forward to finish first, not only to win the contest but to reaffirm their commitment to one another.
In the final stretch, Prem and Sandhya’s bond becomes unmistakably clear. Prem shoulders the weight of his wife and crosses the finish line, not merely as a winner but as a partner who has chosen to stand by Sandhya. They return to Prem’s home and seal their renewed love with a quiet, intimate kiss, signaling a new chapter built on mutual respect, shared dreams, and a willingness to grow together beyond vows and expectations.
