VEER-ZAARA is the story of an Indian man, Veer Pratap Singh [Shah Rukh Khan] and a Pakistani woman, Zaara Hayaat Khan [Preity Zinta].

Squadron Leader Veer Pratap Singh is a rescue pilot with the Indian Air Force. A caring person, Veer goes out of his way to help someone in crisis. Whilst on duty, he comes across Zaara, the daughter of an influential Pakistani politician [Boman Irani].

A simple girl by nature, Zaara is happy to marry the man of her parent's choice, Raza [Manoj Bajpai]. She has come to India to fulfil her surrogate Hindu mother's [Zohra Segal] last wish: To immerse her ashes in the holy river.

In a series of flashbacks his story emerges. He is with the Air Force and specialises in rescuing stranded persons from unreachable locales. On one such mission he rescues Preity Zinta. She is an impulsive Pakistani girl who is fulfilling her dead nanny's last wish to have her ashes immersed in India. A series of events leads Shah Rukh to escort her to the place she wants to go. He has fallen in love with her and when she asks how she could thank him he asks her for a day of her life. She goes with him to her village and there they meet his aunt and uncle who he calls mother and father, Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan. The whole family is soon in love with Preity.

When he is escorting her back to the train that will take her to Lahore they meet her fiancé, Manoj Bajpai, who has come to take her back. A disappointed Shah Rukh who had been on the point of revealing his feelings to her is stunned. He tells her nevertheless.

Twenty two years later, Saamiya Siddiqui [Rani Mukerji], a Pakistani lawyer, comes to his rescue. She meets an ageing Veer Pratap Singh for the first time. He has languished in a Pakistan jail cell for 22 years and has spoken to none. Why has Veer been silent for 22 years? Where is Zaara? Saamiya takes it upon herself to find the truth about this man.

A mature love story, with characters standing out more than the opulent sets [unlike most Bollywood productions], VEER-ZAARA narrates a story that's quite novel. Just when you think that the story would turn predictable comes a twist and everything changes.

Director Yash Chopra proves yet again that he's a master storyteller. Aditya Chopra's writing is another exceptional aspect. Madan Mohan's music relies on melody and the tunes fit the story like gloves. Of the songs, 'Main Yahan Hoon', 'Aisa Des Hai Mera', 'Lodi' and 'Aaya Tere Dar Pe' are the pick of the lot. The lyrical value of all songs [Javed Akhtar] is rich. Cinematography [Anil Mehta] is at par with any international product. The sets [Sharmishta Roy], especially the portions depicting Pakistan, are authentic to the core. The visual effects [Tata Elxsi] are too good, especially the morphing. VEER-ZAARA is another feather in SRK's well decorated cap. Preity Zinta enacts the part with complete precision. Amitabh Bachchan is lovable. Kiron Kher is outstanding yet again.

On the whole, VEER-ZAARA is a winner all the way.