Aarakshan

As the year 2008 unfolded, Deepak Kumar (Saif Ali Khan) found himself at a crossroads, seeking to fill the role of teacher at an esteemed institution. However, his low-caste roots became the Achilles' heel that ultimately led to his rejection by the interview panel. Seeking solace in his trusted mentor, Dr. Prabhakar Anand (Amitabh Bachchan), Deepak shared his tale of woe with the legendary principal of STM college, renowned for its commitment to uplifting the underprivileged. Dr. Anand's empathetic ear and generous spirit led him to offer Deepak an interim teaching position at STM, a gesture that would prove pivotal in the young man's journey.

Meanwhile, the state minister, Baburam, harbored grand ambitions to establish a multi-billion educational empire, driven by a desire to empower his own nephew through strategic placement on the STM college board. Mithilesh Singh (Manoj Bajpayee), a cunning and opportunistic individual, became the instrument of the minister's plans, using his coaching class as a means to further their shared interests.

As the landscape shifted, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling granting reservations for Other Backward Classes, sparking jubilation among students from these marginalized communities. At STM, however, a different narrative unfolded as upper-caste students like Sushant (an affluent boy) rallied against the new policies, resentful of the perceived unfairness that had denied them admission to their favored institutions.

Dr. Anand's unwavering commitment to social justice was put to the test as tensions simmered between rival factions. The rift between Deepak and his mentor grew wider, ultimately leading to a heart-wrenching split from Poorbi (Deepika Padukone), Dr. Anand's daughter. As the debate raged on, moderates at STM worried that college-level reservations would create conflicts among students, threatening the institution's harmonious atmosphere.

Despite these challenges, the backward classes saw reservations as a beacon of hope, providing long-overdue opportunities for education and social mobility. The upper classes, however, remained staunchly opposed to these measures, arguing that they undermined fair competition. Amidst this backdrop of division and discord, Dr. Anand's personal conviction shone through: a form of reservation, untainted by politics or economics, could be a force for good in society.

As the fallout from Dr. Anand's resignation from STM continues to unfold, the headlines become increasingly scathing, with many perceiving his stance on reservations as a betrayal of his institutional values. The STM board, now in an uproar, warns Dr. Anand that Mithilesh will likely exploit this perceived shift in official policy to secure his own ascent to the top spot, effectively ousting the departing principal. With no choice but to resign and clear the way for Mithilesh's appointment as the new principal, Dr. Anand's tenure at STM comes to a sudden close.

In a shocking turn of events, it is revealed that Dr. Anand had previously shown compassion by allowing his deceased ex-vice principal's sons to occupy their family home until they could get back on their feet. Unbeknownst to Dr. Anand, these sons had secretly signed a two-year contract with Mithilesh to operate coaching classes from the property. When Dr. Anand returns to the house after surrendering his official residence as principal, he is met with resistance and ultimately forced to accept the new reality.

As tensions between Dr. Anand and Mithilesh escalate, Deepak, who had been pursuing a PhD in the US, attempts to leverage his Dalit political connections to evict Mithilesh from the property. However, Mithilesh proves to be equally well-connected, thwarting Deepak's efforts at every turn. Desperate to take down his adversary, Deepak resorts to violence, attacking Mithilesh's coaching center and capturing the attention of live television. The authorities swiftly respond, arresting both Dr. Anand and Deepak for hooliganism.

With his options exhausted, Dr. Anand resolves to wage a new battle against Mithilesh – one fought with nothing but the power of education. He finds refuge at the humble abode of Shambhu, a cowherd, where he begins teaching small groups of underprivileged students from the nearby poor neighborhood. His first major success comes in the form of Muniya (Aanchal Munjal), Shambhu's daughter, who achieves an impressive board exam score. As word of Dr. Anand's unorthodox educational endeavor spreads, principals from neighboring schools begin to send students to his makeshift cowshed school. Soon, Deepak and Sushant return to Dr. Anand's side, joining forces to teach at the cowshed school. The results are astounding – the cowshed students far surpass their classmates in academic performance. As the reputation of Dr. Anand's cowshed school grows, it begins to draw away students from Mithilesh's coaching center, sowing the seeds for a long and intense rivalry between the two former adversaries.

As tensions reached a boiling point, Mithilesh took drastic measures to quell the growing unrest by procuring an official permit to raze the contentious cowshed. However, just as all seemed lost for the beleaguered structure, the enigmatic and reclusive Shakuntala Tai, patron saint of the STM institutions, burst onto the scene like a benevolent storm cloud. With her legendary influence, she managed to conjure forth the chief minister himself, who swiftly intervened to halt the destruction of the cowshed and restore balance to the chaotic situation. In the aftermath of this dramatic turn of events, Mithilesh was unceremoniously ousted from his position, and Dr. Anand (actor's name) took up the mantle as the newly appointed chief trustee of the STM, tasked with guiding the newly minted STM Remedial Center as its principal for the duration of eternity.