Sadhna

Mohan is a morally upright literature teacher living with his mother, who is single minded in her pursuit of his marriage. He leads a quiet, dutiful life while his mother relentlessly pressures him to settle down.

When Mohan's mother falls ill, the family doctor predicts a recovery with rest, but the moment seems to push the marriage plan forward. The neighbors gossip as the household grapples with the pressure, yet Mohan remains calm and dutiful.

Jeevan suggests that he knows a girl who could pose as Mohan's fiancée for a few days to appease his mother. Mohan agrees to the ruse, hoping to spare his mother heartbreak while keeping his conscience intact.

Jeevan visits Champabai, a local prostitute, and negotiates a price for posing as Mohan's fiancée for the evening. Champabai agrees reluctantly, and Jeevan brings her to Mohan and his mother under the pretense of a respectable engagement.

Rajni, introduced as a distant relative's daughter, meets Mohan and his mother in Mohan's home. The first encounter is awkward as Champabai's streetwise manner clashes with the household's expectations.

Champabai is charmed by the jewels and the pretend status of a bride, and she resolves to forgo her fee to pretend to have real feelings for Mohan. She pursues the masquerade while keeping her eye on the escape from the brothel.

The family gifts her bridal sari and jewelry as part of the pretence. That evening in the bazaar, she is forced to perform as a bride and is humiliated by customers who demand a different act, which unsettles her.

A transformation begins as Champabai experiences the respect and attention a bride can command, and both she and Mohan feel a real pull toward each other. They start to see beyond the deception and imagine a future together.

Mohan wants to speak to Champabai's father, but Jeevan stalls him and he returns home to find Rajni there. She tells him that she is unworthy of his feelings, and she leaves in sadness.

The next evening Mohan sees Rajni on the street and calls her name, but she flees. He follows her to the Kotha, and the people reveal that she is Champabai, a prostitute, leaving Mohan horrified and vowing he will never see Rajni again.

Champa writes a letter to Mohan asking to meet him at midnight outside his house. He tears up the letter but still goes out to meet her, seeking closure and a chance for honesty.

At the midnight meeting, Champa confesses the truth and asks for forgiveness. Mohan responds that he will marry her, but as Champa, not as Rajni, deepening their bond beyond deception.

Lallu informs Mohan's mother that Rajni is Champabai, a prostitute, shocking her. Mohan confirms the truth, and her initial reaction is one of anger and disbelief, challenging the fragile arrangement.

Champa arrives to seek the blessings of Mohan's mother, who initially seems to reject the union. In a pivotal moment, she declares that Champa is no longer a prostitute once she enters a respectable household and promises to welcome her into the family.

The film ends on a hopeful note as Champa and Mohan reunite, supported by a transformed household and a genuine bond that has emerged from hardship. They look forward to a future built on respect, love, and acceptance.