Badrinath Ki Dulhania 2017

In the affluent Uttar Pradesh family of Badrinath Bansal (Varun Dhawan), patriarch Amarnath (Rituraj Singh) holds sway, dictating every aspect of his children’s lives. His well-educated daughter-in-law, Urmila (Shweta Basu Prasad), is relegated to a life of domesticity, her professional aspirations stifled by her husband’s narrow-mindedness. Meanwhile, Badri’s brother, Alok (Yash Sinha), had once been in love with Sakshi, but was forced into a loveless marriage with Urmila by their father, who feigned a heart attack to get his way. Since then, Amarnath has relied on an oxygen cylinder as a prop to justify his continued control.

As Badri navigates the treacherous waters of matchmaking, he meets Vaidehi Tridevi (Alia Bhatt), a fiery feminist who despises the institution of dowry. Her own experience with duplicitous Sagar (Atul Narang) has left her wary of love and commitment. However, when Badri pursues her, she rebuffs his advances, having been burned once before.

In an attempt to win Vaidehi over, Badri enlists the help of his brother Alok, who presents their proposal to Amarnath. The patriarch agrees to the union only if Vaidehi’s family can provide a suitable dowry. Initially resistant, Vaidehi eventually relents under pressure from her father and makes a deal with Badri: she will marry him if he can find a suitable groom for her elder sister, Kritika.

After an exhaustive search, Badri finally discovers Bhushan (Aparshakti Khurana), the son of a revered religious leader who conducts “Mata Ki Choki” ceremonies worldwide. Just as everything seems to be falling into place, Bhushan’s father demands a staggering dowry of Rs 25 Lakhs, threatening to upend the carefully constructed arrangement and sending the entire family into chaos.

As the wedding plans finally take shape, Urmila’s clever machinations enable Alok to secretly transfer funds from the showroom accounts to cover the dowry costs for both Badri and Bhushan. With Amarnath none the wiser, everything appears to be falling into place. However, on the night of the dual wedding ceremony, Vaidehi makes a shocking decision - she abandons her vows and flees to Mumbai, where she lands a job as an air hostess. This sudden turn of events leaves Badri devastated and Kritika’s wedding on the brink of collapse.

Amarnath, determined to reassert his authority, tasks Badri with retrieving Vaidehi and bringing her back under their control. But when Badri reaches Mumbai, he discovers that Vaidehi has already moved to Singapore for air hostess training. The two engage in a heated argument, only to be interrupted by the local police, who arrest them and assign Sergeant Laxmi Shankar (Gauahar Khan) to investigate. Laxmi ultimately lets Badri off with a warning, but not before Vaidehi is reprimanded at work for her association with him.

Undeterred, Badri continues to pursue Vaidehi, his relentless efforts finally provoking her into confessing that she fled India due to the pervasive regressive thinking prevalent in their society. As they argue, the Singaporean authorities intervene once more, this time warning Vaidehi about the consequences of her actions and hinting at a potential job opportunity for her in the city-state.

Meanwhile, Badri’s determination to win Vaidehi back only leads to further trouble. After a night of heavy drinking, he creates a scene that results in his arrest. Vaidehi is forced to bail him out, paying SGD 1500 to secure his release. As part of his probation, Badri’s passport is confiscated, leaving him no choice but to live with Vaidehi.

As time passes, however, Badri gradually becomes integrated into Vaidehi’s life, taking on domestic responsibilities and earning gifts from her salary. Their living arrangement eventually gives rise to a sense of comfort and acceptance between the two, as Vaidehi realizes that Badri genuinely accepts her for who she is and is willing to support her. Just as they begin to open up to each other, Badri’s father calls, prompting him to lie about his whereabouts. Amarnath demands that Badri return to India, leaving both him and Vaidehi heartbroken but too afraid to declare their love for one another.

As Amarnath proudly proclaims the resolution of Badri’s wedding, the latter becomes increasingly agitated, fueled by a growing sense of resentment. Unbeknownst to his father, Badri’s anger simmers just beneath the surface, waiting to boil over into a fiery confrontation. And so, with unbridled passion, he bursts forth at a public gathering, shattering the façade of familial harmony and revealing the deep-seated truth that has been brewing within him.

In a shocking display of emotional candor, Badri confesses his all-consuming love for Vaidehi, mere moments before her unexpected arrival at the event. The air is electric as the couple publicly declares their devotion to one another, leaving Amarnath stunned and speechless in their wake.

Fast-forward a year, and Urmila is blessed with twin bundles of joy, a poignant reminder that even the most rigid of hearts can soften with time. Meanwhile, Amarnath undergoes a transformative journey, learning valuable lessons about acceptance and equality as he comes to terms with his own biases.

As Vaidehi returns to Jhansi after two years in Singapore, she brings with her a newfound sense of purpose, establishing an air-hostess training academy that serves as a testament to her growth and determination. And so, Badri and Vaidehi live out their happily-ever-after, basking in the warm glow of a love that has stood the test of time.