Heroine 2012

The film opens with Mahi Arora (Kareena Kapoor), a celebrated actress, being abruptly ejected from a car one night. She hails a taxi, determined to file a police report, but her secretary, Rashid Bhai (Govind Namdeo), intervenes and takes her away from the station.

The story soon transitions into a flashback, revealing the intricate dynamics of her relationship with the famous actor Aryan (Arjun Rampal), who is embroiled in divorce proceedings with his wife while simultaneously dating Mahi. Deeply infatuated with Aryan, Mahi impulsively records a private moment between them, capturing their affection for each other. Caught in a tug-of-war between his familial responsibilities, career, and the intensity of Mahi’s emotions, Aryan finds himself increasingly conflicted.

When Mahi discovers that Aryan is filming a steamy scene for a movie, she disrupts the set, causing a scene that leaves Aryan infuriated. Tension escalates at a party when Aryan’s wife taunts Mahi, prompting Mahi to retaliate. The explosive conversation culminates in Mahi being unceremoniously tossed out of Aryan’s car during their ride back.

Devastated, Mahi plunges into a state of depression, endangering her thriving career while Aryan, the industry’s golden boy, receives unwavering support from everyone around him. Offers for Mahi begin to dwindle as the industry rallies behind Aryan. One friend encourages Mahi to reclaim her power instead of sulking, motivating her to revive her career.

Mahi takes this advice to heart and enlists Pallavi (Divya Dutta), a public relations officer, who works diligently to reconstruct her public persona, ensuring she regains the spotlight in newspapers and magazines. As she rebuilds her career, Mahi finds comfort in the company of rising cricketer Angad Paul ([Randeep Hooda]), and Pallavi urges her to dive into a faux relationship with him for publicity. Although hesitant, Mahi eventually gives in, and their staged romance suddenly blossoms, thrusting her back into fame’s glaring light.

As Mahi grows more self-assured and vindictive, she begins skillfully maneuvering through the industry, undermining competitors and creating lucrative opportunities for herself. With Pallavi’s relentless encouragement, Mahi’s ambitions soar, ultimately securing a role alongside Angad in his upcoming film. Yet, when Angad proposes, Mahi turns him down, believing their focus should remain on their burgeoning careers, leading to the dissolution of their relationship.

Mahi takes a gamble on an art film directed by an eccentric filmmaker, which shines a light on her acting prowess. However, the situation implodes when the production company pressures the director to cater to commercial sensibilities, causing the film to be shelved. In her quest for happiness, Mahi’s attempt to adopt a child fails when her struggles with alcohol and mental health surface. Heartbroken, she dismisses Pallavi, who insensitively tried to publicize Mahi’s hardships.

The tides of fate bring Mahi face-to-face with Aryan at a friend’s wedding, where he expresses remorse for his past actions. They agree to reignite their affair, igniting hope in Mahi’s heart. Aryan proposes they collaborate on a film together, but the director expresses reluctance in casting Mahi due to her waning popularity.

In her desperation to reclaim her leading lady status, Mahi uses a scandalous sex tape featuring Aryan to thrust herself back into the limelight. The ensuing scandal catapults her next film into success. However, when Rashid Bhai resigns and the revered actress Shagufta Reza (Helen) passes away—someone who had always guided Mahi to prioritize serenity over the chaos of fame—Mahi decides to step away from the spotlight.

In the film’s poignant conclusion, Mahi is depicted wandering in a foreign land. When questioned if she is Mahi Arora, she simply replies, “no,” hinting at her decision to move forward and embrace a new chapter in her life, leaving behind the glimmer and turmoil of her former stardom.