Plot

Delving into the limitless world of creative endeavors, and vicissitudes in the way of such endeavors, this tale of an artist and his muse, like a painting, leaves itself open to interpretations and readings by every viewer...

A well-known Nawab, who is an author as well as a poet in Hyderabad, India, is approached by a beautiful young woman, with a heavy Hyderabadi accent named Meenaxi, to write a story on her, which the Nawab agrees to do so. When the Nawab's antique car breaks down, he takes it to a motor mechanic, and thus a story is formed in the Nawab's mind. The story takes place in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, where his lead actress is the maternal niece of the local Raja Bijendra Singh, and the motor mechanic is Kameshwar Mathur, the only son of a multi-millionaire. Kameshwar and Meenaxi meet and are instantly attracted to each other. The second scenario the Nawab creates takes place in Prague, the Czech republic, where Meenaxi is portrayed as a young woman living in a Nunnery by the name of Maria Gulcova, who has been assigned to do some research on India and it's culture. In order to do this, she meets with a young man from India, Kameshwar, and both are attracted to each other. The Nawab takes both these scenarios into consideration, and often gets so involved that it is difficult for him to distinguish fiction from reality. Watch how the Nawab and Meenaxi handle this matter, and how an ending is set for this story.—rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)

Nawab, a popular Hyderabadi novelist, is suffering from a classic case of writer's block. Five years have passed, and stories of substance seem to have dried up. Then, almost providentially, Nawab comes across a young woman named Meenaxi. She's enigmatic and individualistic - and not quite willing to perform the part of a passive muse. But that doesn't deter a rejuvenated Nawab from giving her different personae - she can be the mysterious perfume trader of Hyderabad, the exotic desert bloom of Jaisalmer, the orphaned Maria of Prague. Inexorably, she consolidates her command over the novelist. She dismisses his renewed attempts at writing as insubstantial and hackneyed, plunging him into a state of deeper despair. She is scathingly critical about his story and is amused by one of his characters, the lovelorn and awkward Kaameshwar. Finally, as Nawab strives on a new page all over again, Meenaxi comments that perhaps the book is in vain. In any case, it is much too late. The writer must survive and live, if he can, without her support, inspiration and criticism.—Q. Leo Rahman

Nawab (Raghubir Yadav), a popular Hyderabadi novelist, is suffering from a classic case of writer's block. Five years have passed, and stories of substance seem to have dried up. Nawab lives in a run-down mansion with his sister Nagma (Sadiya Turabi).

The publishers and the press are eagerly waiting for Nawab next installment of writing, but Nawab has not even been able to start as he has no inspiration or topic on which to write. Nawab says that he is writing about a woman, but the more he wrote, the more questions he had in his mind regarding the character. So, now he is waiting to meet the woman from his novel, who can provide him some clarity and direction regarding the story. Nawab says that the name of the character is Meenaxi.

Nagma is getting married and will soon depart for her own home. Then, almost providentially, Nawab comes across a young woman named Meenaxi (Tabu) at Nagma's wedding. She's enigmatic and individualistic, and not quite willing to perform the part of a passive muse. Meenaxi is a big fan of Nawab and has read all of his literary work. Meenaxi reaches to Nawab the next day.

But that doesn't deter a rejuvenated Nawab from giving her different personae - she can be the mysterious perfume trader of Hyderabad, the exotic desert bloom of Jaisalmer or the orphaned Maria of Prague. Inexorably, she consolidates her command over the novelist.

Meenaxi says that she wants the Nawab to write a novel on her. She says that a novel can be started with just a face and an idea. Nawab is smitten with Meenaxi. Nawab goes to give his car for repair to a garage and encounters an angry Kameshwar. Kameshwar likes to sing as a hobby and plays the flute.

Nawab starts to narrate a story to Meenaxi about Kameshwar as his central character. Kameshwar travels to Jaisalmer, to the cloth dying units of the desert. There he finds Meenaxi among the clothes dancing and is smitten. Kameshwar belongs to the royal family of Jaisalmer. The next day Kameshwar runs into Meenaxi at the local market and follows her. Karanveer (Sagar Ishan Arya) is the collector of the area, while Maharawal / Maharaja Vijendra Singh (Sharat Saxena) is the bigger ruler of the region.

Kameshwar and his parents are invited to Maharaja's place for a party, where he again finds Meenaxi. Turns out Meenaxi is the Maharaj's niece. Karanveer is Maya's boyfriend but is also friends with Meenaxi.

Back in the present, Meenaxi dismisses his renewed attempts at writing as insubstantial and hackneyed, plunging him into a state of deeper despair. She is scathingly critical about his story and is amused by one of his characters, the lovelorn and awkward Kameshwar (Kunal Kapoor). Nawab's elder sister is Khala (Nadira Babbar). Nawab goes to meet her and takes Meenaxi along, but to his surprise, Meenaxi is nowhere to be seen. Nawab later finds Meenaxi completing her shopping at the local markets. Meenaxi tells Nawab that she is looking to live her life through his novel and is expecting a different kind of relationship in the story.

Back in Jaisalmer, Kameshwar is now in love with Meenaxi. Meenaxi is now flirtatious with Kameshwar. Karanveer is transferred to Hyderabad and wants Meenaxi to come with him. Meenaxi is livid at Karanveer's behavior and leaves. Meenaxi gets closer to Kameshwar. She takes Kameshwar on a tour of Rajasthan and shares its secrets and rich cultural history with him. Soon, Meenaxi is also in love with Kameshwar.

Meenaxi goes to her uncle to talk about her marriage, and he says that he has already seen a guy for her. That night Meenaxi goes to meet Kameshwar at his place, but when Kameshwar comes in front of her, she changes her mind and returns.

Back in the present, Meenaxi does not like the direction of the story and burns the manuscript. Meanwhile, Kameshwar still hasn't been able to fix the car in 6 months.

Finally, as Nawab strives on a new page all over again, Meenaxi comments that perhaps the book is in vain. In any case, it is much too late. The writer must survive and live, if he can, without her support, inspiration and criticism.

Nawab sets his next story in Prague. The character of Meenaxi exists as a woman named Maria. Maria works as a waiter and lives at a convent. Maria is all alone in Prague, and her parents died in a car accident. Maria doesn't know how to ride a bike but walks with a bike to work every day. Maria performs on stage to give some meaning to her life.

Kameshwar arrives in Prague by train and Maria is sent by Dr Krasa to receive him at the station. Krasa is a professor of Indology and even Maria is very interested in the topic, and she is a keen student of Indian culture and history. Slowly Kameshwar and Maria get close as they spend time with each other. Slowly the two fall in love with each other. Maria keeps repeating the phrase "Czech Slovensko Narodni Podnik", where "Narodni Podnik" translates to "national enterprise" or "state enterprise" in Czech. It refers to a type of state-owned business, particularly those established during the communist era in Czechoslovakia.

Back in the present, Kameshwar comes to meet Nawab, but instead finds Meenaxi. Kamheswar wanted to thank Nawab for his counsel which led to him giving up all his bad habits and adapting a life of honest hard work. Meanwhile, Nawab is deathly sick and Meenaxi does not allow him to meet anyone. Nawab passes away on his bed, and turns out Meenaxi was only a figment of his writing whom he gave life to with his writing.

The next day Nagma and Khala arrive to find him dead.