Film: Pardes (1997)

 

Pardes

Rajiv, the son of wealthy NRI Kishori Lal, arrives in India to meet Ganga Kashyap, for an arranged marriage. Having lived his entire life in the US, he is unaware of Indian traditions but is helped by his foster brother, Arjun Sagar who plays the role of matchmaker for them, helping them fall in love and becoming friends with Ganga.

After a brief courtship, Rajiv and Ganga get engaged and fly off together to the US. There, she faces hostility from the westernized Lals. Isolated, she increasingly seeks out Arjun for support and comfort. At a party, Ganga is shocked to see Rajiv smoking, drinking, flaunting his wealth and being verbally abusive. Later, she finds out about his ex-girlfriends and premarital affairs.

Angry, Ganga confronts Arjun for hiding facts about Rajiv. Arjun talks to him, but his growing closeness with Ganga is noticed by Lals. Instead, he is relocated within the US on excuse of business. Rajiv and Ganga reach Las Vegas. He insists on getting physical with her. She wishes to abstain until marriage, but Rajiv is unwilling to wait and disrespects Ganga. Outraged, Ganga slaps him and subsequently discards her ring indicating a fraud symbol of their relationship. This causes Rajiv to try to rape her, and Ganga fights back and escapes.

The following day, Arjun finds her crying in the train station and escorts her back to India; everyone believes they've an affair. In India, Ganga's father Suraj throws Arjun out of the house when the two arrive, and locks her up in a room. Ganga's friends and grandmother make her realize her friendship with Arjun is indicative of love, and free her so she can find him. Arjun is headed to his village but is intercepted by Rajiv, who wants revenge.

Kishori Lal questions Arjun; he confesses he loves Ganga, but never intentionally acted to separate her and Rajiv. Ganga reveals about the incident in Las Vegas. Furious, Kishori Lal slaps Rajiv and orders him to return to the US. He offers to take Ganga back to the US so she can marry Arjun instead. She marries him and lives a happy life in the US.