Ayub Khan Din (Prince Myshkin), Shah Rukh Khan (Pawan Raghujan), Zul Vellani (Mr. Mehta) Mita Vasisht (Nastasia), Navjot Haansra, Minaxi Goswami, Vasudeo Bhatt, Babulal Bora, Deepak Mahan, Amrit Nath, Thulal Parveen, Dastur Navneet Virk
Synopsis:
Based on Dostoevsky's novel by the same name, Mani Kaul's film begins with the
return of Prince Myshkin having spent many years in London undergoing treatment
for epilepsy. On the train to Bombay he encounters the beautiful femme fatale Nastasia
who is being pursued by the rich Pawan Raghujan (Shah Rukh Khan) and the ambitious
Ganesh (Mahan).
On his arrival in Bombay Myshkin calls on Mr. Mehta, a highly placed government
official whose wife is distantly related to him. He spends a pleasant afternoon
with Mrs. Mehta and her three daughters - Ambalika, Ambika and Amba. That evening
Myshkin lands up uninvited at Nastasia's chaotic party. And by the end of his first
day in Bombay he finds himself proposing marriage to Nastasia. She almost accepts,
but then runs away with Raghujan after he throws a bundle of banknotes at her, which
she proceeds to burn. Another surprising disclosure of the evening is that Myshkin
is to inherit a sizeable fortune from a distant relative and benefactor.
Some months later Myshkin returns to Bombay. He calls on the Mehtas but finds
them away holidaying in Goa. On the way back to his hotel he is attacked with a
knife on the staircase. He is saved by an epileptic fit that comes over him at the
same time, and his attacker is Raghujan!
Myshkin's friendship with the Mehtas is revived. But certain strange and mysterious
events instigated by Nastasia point to an intrigue to blacken the reputation of
one of Amba's suitors, Ravi. It also turns out that Nastasia has been writing deranged
letters to Amba urging her to marry Myshkin.
Amba's engagement to Myshkin is announced and the Mehtas throw a grand party
where Myshkin embarrasses everyone by giving a hysterical speech, breaking a valuable
Chinese vase and finally having an epileptic fit.
The next day Amba asks Myshkin to accompany her to meet Nastasia. Reluctantly
he agrees, but as the two women verbally attack each other, Myshkin finds himself
in sympathy with Nastasia. Hurt beyond endurance, Amba walks out of Myshkin's life
forever.
Nastasia now accepts Myshkin's proposal but on the wedding day, minutes before
the ceremony she runs away with Raghujan. Myshkin follows them to Raghujan's house,
where Raghujan himself leads Myshkin to the room where Nastasia lies dead - stabbed
by Raghujan. The two friends decide to await the police together.
EPILOGUE
The Mehtas are on holiday in London. Myshkin, who has gone mad, has been admitted
to the same hospital where he was before. He recognises no one. Amba has run away
with an NRI of dubious reputation and alienated herself from her entire family.
