Parineeta

Parineeta

Year: 2005

Runtime: 124 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Pradeep Sarkar

DramaRomanceMoving relationship storiesBollywood emotional dramasDazzling vocal performances and musicals

Lalita and Shekhar, childhood sweethearts, dream of marriage, but Shekhar's growing suspicion of Lalita and his father's manipulative schemes drive a wedge between them, threatening their future. Their love faces mistrust and family interference, creating a poignant struggle to preserve their bond.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Parineeta (2005)

Trace every key event in Parineeta (2005) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Opening credits establish 1962 Kolkata

The film opens with scenes from erstwhile Calcutta and a narrator (Amitabh Bachchan) introducing the era. The setting places Shekhar in 1962 Kolkata, framing a world of tradition, music, and family duty. This opening sets the mood for a story of love, ambition, and social expectations.

1962 Kolkata
2

Night of the arranged marriage and Lalita’s memory

On the night of Shekhar’s arranged marriage to Gayatri, Lalita’s presence and Shekhar’s memories of her flash through his mind. The family celebrations go on downstairs while Shekhar wrestles with memory, longing, and duty. The tension hints at a deeper, unresolved bond with Lalita.

Night of the wedding Navinchandra Rai's house
3

Flashback to Lalita’s world and Shekhar’s early bond

A flashback reveals Lalita living with Gurcharan’s family after her parents’ death, with Koel as her cousin and Charu as a neighbor. Young Shekhar grows close to Lalita through music, resisting his father’s business ambitions. Their friendship is tempered by loss and growing artistic passions.

Childhood to adolescence Lalita's home / Gurcharan’s household
4

Rebellion and music take over

Shekhar devotes himself to Rabindranath Tagore and Elvis Presley tunes, choosing art over his father’s business plans. He rejects the idea of marrying Gayatri and pursues a freer path with Lalita by his side. The conflict between family duty and personal passion intensifies.

Late adolescence Shekhar's home
5

Girish enters; love triangle forms

Girish, a steel tycoon from London, enters Charu’s world and is drawn to Lalita while Koel also shows interest. Shekhar grows jealous of Lalita’s closeness with Girish. The stage is set for a complicated triangle that could alter everyone’s fate.

Early 1960s Charu’s house / neighborhood
6

Haveli project surfaces; debt and authority

Lalita uncovers a plan to refurbish Gurcharan’s haveli as a hotel, a scheme that could lead to Rai seizing the property if debts aren’t repaid. Lalita seeks help from Shekhar, but circumstances push Girish to step in and become a partner with Gurcharan. The deal resolves the money problem and deepens the mystery surrounding Lalita’s loyalties.

Before the marriage Rai's office / haveli project site
7

Auspicious night: garlands and a secret union

On an auspicious night, Shekhar and Lalita exchange garlands and consummate their marriage in secret. Their private bond contrasts with the formal arrangements surrounding Gayatri. The moment binds them emotionally, even as the world remains unaware.

Auspicious night before official wedding Lalita's home
8

Darjeeling trip and the wall goes up

While Shekhar is away in Darjeeling on a business trip, Rai humiliates Lalita over the hotel affair. He erects a wall between his house and Gurcharan’s, symbolizing a severed alliance. Gurcharan falls ill and Rajeshwari’s health also deteriorates, signaling a crumbling family balance.

During the business trip Darjeeling; Rai's house; Gurcharan's house
9

Rai’s manipulation and a family fracture

Back home, Rai feeds Shekhar falsehoods about Lalita while hinting she married Girish for money. Enraged, Shekhar confronts Lalita and vents his anger, echoing the cruelty of his father. Girish steps in to support the ailing family and helps relocate them to London for care.

Post-Darjeeling trip Rai's home; hospital; London
10

London distance and misread loyalties

Girish aids the Gurcharan family in London, and Gurcharan dies during or after the trip. Upon returning, Shekhar mistakes Lalita and Girish as married and prepares to marry Gayatri. The emotional fallout reshapes loyalties and the path to his own marriage.

After Gurcharan's death London; returning to home
11

The wedding-night reveal and truth erupts

At the wedding night, Girish reveals he married Koel only because Lalita rejected him, and hands Shekhar the ownership papers of Gurcharan’s haveli. Rai is exposed for poisoning Shekhar’s mind, and Shekhar admits he is already married to Lalita. He breaks down the wall between the two families and brings Lalita home as his wife.

Night of Shekhar's marriage Shekhar's home
12

Resolution: a united family and a shared future

The literal and symbolic walls are removed, and Rajeshwari welcomes Lalita as Shekhar’s wife. The film closes on a note of renewal, with the couple beginning a life together and the Haveli finding a future aligned with their union.

Post-climax Shekhar's home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:13

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