AstitvaEk Prem Kahani

Synopsis

Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani is the story of Dr. Simran Mathur, a renowned gynecologist. Simran is the eldest daughter of senior government officer Saurabh and homemaker Padma. Simran has two younger sisters, Kavita and Rashmi. Simran’s parents worry that their eldest daughter is unmarried and in her mid-thirties. The story begins at Rashmi’s wedding. Simran is unable to attend the wedding because she has to operate on a critically ill patient Anandi. Simran saves Anandi and her baby. Anandi’s brother, Abhimanyu Saxena (a.k.a. Abhi) is smitten by Dr. Simran. Abhi, a photographer, woos Simran, who resists his advances because he is ten years younger than her.

Eventually, Simran falls in love with Abhi and, when Abhi proposes to her, she agrees. Simran's and Abhi’s parents are against this match because of the age difference. Abhi and Simran elope and get married with the help of Simran’s good friend Dr. Manas. Urmila, Dr. Manas’s wife, is against her husband’s involvement in the marriage. She is jealous of her husband's friendship with Simran. Because of the marriage, Saurabh renounces his daughter and resigns from his job. He is depressed and angry because he believes his favorite daughter ruined her life, and he finds solace in the arms of his mistress Anjali. Kavita, who lives at her parents' home with her husband Rohit, reveals that she has always been jealous of her elder sister Simran, for monopolising their father’s attention. Kavita takes this opportunity to get back at Simran by fueling fights with Saurabh.

Simran and Abhi start their life living in his studio. Abhi’s parents believe Simran seduced their young son and so they want to get him out of her clutches. They invite the couple to live with them but though Simran is mistreated at Abhi’s house she doesn't complain and tries to win them over with her love. Anandi helps Simran in this endeavor. Abhi's immaturity causes some friction in their relationship, but the couple is able to work things out. Due to the mistreatment of Simran at Abhi’s house they move out and start afresh in a new place. Abhi tastes success at work and dreams of expanding his business. He employs a new assistant, Kiran, a girl who changes his life forever. Simran is thrilled to learn that she is pregnant but Abhi gets nervous about impending parenthood. He gets into an extramarital affair with Kiran. One night, Saurabh takes his mistress Anjali to a pub and sees Abhi with Kiran. Saurabh and Abhi have an ugly confrontation. Abhi abandons Simran emotionally while she goes through a complicated pregnancy. Simran gives birth to a girl, whom she names Aastha. Abhi wins accolades for his work and rises in his career. He hurts Simran by giving credit to Kiran for all his success and introduces Kiran to his mother. Abhi’s mother is impressed by Kiran, who is much younger than Simran. Eventually, by Rohit's efforts, Saurabh breaks up with Anjali, and Kavita changes her attitude towards Simran. Soon they learn that Kavita has cancer which she has kept from every one and she leaves for Switzerland for her treatment. Abhi marries Kiran after divorcing Simran. Then a businessman named Anil Shourie comes and tries to interfere in Kiran and Abhi's lives. Kiran is pregnant with Abhi's child and aborts it on Shourie's saying so. Kiran leaves Abhi and goes to Live with Anil Shourie.

Abhi gets married for the third time to Neha and soon she gets pregnant. Simran helps Neha to give birth to a daughter. But shortly after Neha dies. Simran takes a trip to London with Abhi where someone kidnaps Aastha. Simran comes back home in shock. Abhi's family want Simran to look after Neha's daughter. Simran looks at the little girl and sees her own daughter. She hugs her and agrees to raise her as her own naming her Aastha while Abhi disappears. 18 Years later Abhi is a famous writer using the pen name Anand. A girl named Sia meets him and after some misunderstandings between them it is revealed that she is actually Abhi and Simran's daughter Astha. Sia was raised by the childless and mentally disturbed woman who had kidnapped her. Sia and Abhi reunite and he takes her with him to where Simran is. Simran and Neha's daughter Aastha are living as mother and daughter. At first Sia's true identity is hidden. Aastha grows increasing jealous as her best friend Dr. Siddhant starts to take an interest in Sia. Aastha herself has feelings for Siddhant, who is Manas and Urmila's son. Kiran tries to influence Aastha and take her away from her family. But eventually Aastha comes to know about the real intentions of Kiran and reunites with Simran. Sia and siddhant get engaged. However, the bus in which Simran and Astha are traveling becomes the target of a bomb blast. Aastha is killed and Simran loses her eyesight. In the end, Simran gets her eyesight back through surgery. She and Abhi get back together and continue to face life as it comes.

Writers

It is written by Purnendu Shekhar and Gajra Kottary and Nirmal Chawla.

Cast

Awards

2005 2nd Apsara Awards

Best Drama Series - Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani

Best Actress - Niki Aneja Walia as Dr. Simran

Best Actor - Varun Badola as Abhimanyu

2005 Indian Television Academy Awards

Best Actor (Drama) - Varun Badola as Abhimanyu

Best Teleplay - Astitva - Ek Prem Kahani - Gajra Kottary & Purnendu Shekhar