Laapataa Ladies

The film was screened at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on 8 September 2023, and was theatrically released on 1 March 2024. The film opened to positive reviews from critics and audience and was praised for its story, screenplay and cast performances.

Plot

In 2001 in the fictional Nirmal Pradesh, Deepak, a farmer, is travelling back to his village with his new bride, Phool Kumari. They get into a crowded passenger train along with many other newlywed couples. The brides all wear the same-coloured bridal attire with their faces completely covered with a ghoonghat (veil), as is the tradition. Deepak dozes off and wakes up in the night to realise that he has arrived at his destination. In the darkness and confusion from the rush to leave, he disembarks with the wrong bride and Phool is left behind on the train with the other groom, Pradeep.

The couple is welcomed by his family only to be shocked when they realise it is the wrong bride. She gives them a false name Pushpa and lies about where she is from. Meanwhile, at a different station, Phool realises the mixup but the station master is unable to help her due to her not knowing the name of Deepak’s village. She also refuses to go back home, not wanting to bring shame to her family. She decides to stay at the station in case Deepak comes looking, and is helped by Manju Mai, who runs a tea stall on the platform.

Laapataa Ladies | Official Trailer | Ravi Kishan, Sparsh Srivastava, Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goel

Deepak, frantically looking for Phool, files a report with SI Shyam Manohar. Manohar surmises that Pushpa may be a thief. He follows her and sees her sell jewellery, use a mobile phone, and buy bus tickets. Pushpa becomes friendly with Deepak’s family. Phool meanwhile works at the tea stand, helping Manju Mai, makes kalakand and learns to be independent.

Thinking that Pushpa belongs to a gang of thieves, Manohar arrests her when he learn her real name is Jaya. Jaya reveals that she wanted to do a course on organic farming in Dehradun, but was forcefully married off to Pradeep by her family, and also that Pradeep was abusive towards her so she does not want to return.

Pradeep arrives at the police station for Jaya. He slaps her in front of the cops and threatens to recover the full dowry from her mother. Manohar states that his actions constitute an offence, and since Jaya is an adult, she cannot be forced to go with anyone. He frees Jaya, warning Pradeep that if he ever lays his hands on Jaya, he would arrest him for domestic violence and also for burning his previous wife to death.

Jaya had asked Deepak’s sister-in-law Poonam to make a sketch of Phool and had made posters out of it, sticking them around public places mentioning that she is lost, along with contact details in case she is found. With the help of this, Phool is finally able to find her way back and reunite with Deepak, while Jaya leaves for Dehradun.

Cast

• Nitanshi Goel as Phool Kumari
• Pratibha Ranta as Jaya Singh / Pushpa Rani
• Sparsh Shrivastav as Deepak Kumar
• Chhaya Kadam as Manju Maai
• Ravi Kishan as Sub-Inspector Shyam Manohar
• Geeta Agrawal Sharma as Yashoda, Deepak’s mother
• Satendra Soni as Chhotu
• Abeer Jain as Bablu, Deepak’s nephew
• Bhaskar Jha as Pradeep Singh
• Daood Hussain as Gunjan
• Durgesh Kumar as Dubey Ji
• Pankaj Sharma as Deepak’s father
• Kanupriya Rishimum as Bela
• Sanjay Dogra as Murti
• Shad Mohamad as Hanif
• Ravi Kapadiya as Abdul
• Vivek Sawrikar as Station Master
• Rachna Gupta as Poonam Kumari
• Pranjal Pateriya as Raghu
• Samarth Mayor as Bilas
• Abhay Dubey as Prisoner