Finding Fanny tells the story of five rather dysfunctional characters residing in the sleepy village of Pocolim, located deep within Goa, India. In this quaint village, where seemingly meaningless conversations dominate, life plods along without significant events, leaving its residents in a state of mere existence.
One fateful night, the aging postman Ferdie (Naseeruddin Shah) receives a long-lost letter that he had slipped under his door—a letter he wrote 46 years ago to the love of his life, Stefanie Fernandes (Anjali Patil), proposing marriage. To his astonishment, he discovers it was never delivered, and he has spent decades enveloped in melancholy, convinced that Stefanie had turned him down. Fueled by a renewed sense of purpose, Ferdie embarks on a quest to locate his beloved Fanny and share the truth about their past. After such a long separation, one has to wonder: Where could she be in these 46 years? Is she alive? Happily married? Could she even recall their shared moments, or has she become just a memory, an elusive figment of his imagination?
Joined by four colorful companions from the village—all seeking an escape from their monotonous lives—Ferdie sets off on this unexpected adventure. Among them is Angelina "Angie" (Deepika Padukone), a young widow grappling with her late husband's recent death; Savio Gama (Arjun Kapoor), a bitter mechanic nursing unreciprocated feelings for Angie; Don Pedro Cleto Colaco (Pankaj Kapur), a flamboyant artist; and Mrs. Rosalina "Rosie" Eucharistica (Dimple Kapadia), Angie's mother-in-law and the self-appointed "Lady" of Pocolim. Each character joins the journey under various pretexts, but in reality, they all crave a distraction from their bland daily routines.
Angie, keen to aid Ferdie in the search for his long-lost love, orchestrates a plan to secure a car for their trip. She entices Pedro with the promise of spending time with Rosie, while simultaneously luring Savio back into the fold, capitalizing on his lingering feelings for her. In an amusing twist, she subtly pressures Rosie into joining them, spinning a tale of uncontrollable lust when Savio is around.
During their travels, hilarity ensues as Ferdie accidentally throws Rosie's cat out of the window while sneezing, leading to a series of comical attempts to conceal the mishap. Upon reaching Fanny's last known address, they discover she has long moved, having sold her house two decades prior to a Russian and relocated within Goa.
As the trip progresses, Ferdie reveals long-buried secrets; for example, he discloses that Rosie's husband, Albert, is not deceased but left her pregnant for another woman. The emotional tension rises, culminating in a series of confrontations among the characters. Eventually, their adventures lead them astray into Karnataka, where they must spend a night in an unfamiliar and desolate field after running out of petrol.
Under the stars, romances bloom. Savio reveals to Angie that his life is not as glamorous as she believes; he was only a waiter in Mumbai. The pair finally confront their feelings for one another, leading to a passionate encounter. However, the bliss is short-lived, as tensions rise with the arrival of artistic envy. Pedro's derogatory portrayal of Rosie in a completed portrait stirs conflict within the group.
As the story progresses, Ferdie seeks to obtain petrol but ends up leaving behind a heartfelt note thanking everyone for their companionship in the search for Fanny. However, Rosie experiences a breakdown and unleashes a torrent of emotions, blaming Savio for her late husband's choices while he retaliates, exposing long-held resentments.
In a shocking turn of events, Rosie accidentally discovers Savio's father's antique revolver, leading to a chaotic struggle in the car that results in a shooting, unnoticed by the others. After a series of bizarre occurrences—including a presumed death that the group misinterprets—they soldier on to their ultimate destination: Tivoli, where Ferdie's hopes of reuniting with Fanny crash when confronted with the painful truth about her past.
The film concludes six months later, showcasing a wedding that surprises viewers, revealing Ferdie and Rosie as the happy couple. The two drive away into the sunset, leaving behind a newly rekindled connection between Savio and Angie, who share a kiss near the church, hinting at a hope for their own future.
