Widowed Shantidevi lives in a small village in India with her daughter. She would like to see her daughter get married and settled down in a decent family.
However, her headstrong daughter falls in love with a Bombay-based man named Arun, and when met with disapproval, she elopes with him. Shantidevi refuses to do anything with her anymore.
Now about 18 years later a friend of Arun, Dr. Shakti Kapoor comes to meet Shantidevi, informing her that both her daughter and Arun have passed away, leaving behind their daughter, Paayal.