AllMovie

Sahabuddin, a prince, marries a courtesan and together they have a daughter, Sahebjaan. His father, however, is displeased with his choice of bride and kicks her out. Sahabuddin searches everywhere for his wife, but she dies living on the streets. The child is taken in by her sister, Nawabjaan, who trains her to become a courtesan. Sahebjaan grows into a beautiful young woman who's haunted by the memory of a man she once met on a train. The mysterious man returns one day and professes his love for her. They elope but Sahebjaan runs away at the wedding, not wanting to condemn her lover to a life of shame for having married a courtesan. Apart they both pine for each other and waste away. In the climatic finale, Sahebjaan is revealed not to be a courtesan, but the daughter of Sahabuddin right before she dies. Her distraught lover marries her in her coffin.