However, when Kishorilal calls to ask for his help, his loyalty to his uncle is so strong that he cuts the interview short. Arjun, who has been working in Kishorilal's personal garage and making music with his band, is being interviewed as the composer of the new musical hit 'I Love My India'. Back in America, asks his foster son, Arjun (Shahrukh Khan) to help his plan along. Kishorilal knows he will have a tough time trying to convince his son to marry or even meet Ganga. He is convinced that Ganga will be not only a perfect bride but the way treasured Indian values are revived and passed on in his Americanized family and large circle of Indian friends and business acquaintances. Kishorilal asks Suraj to promise Ganga as a bride for his westernized son, Rajiv (Apoorva Agnihotri). The song emphasizes the movie's theme in key moments. Unimpressed, he sings back a hymn-like song in a more traditional Indian style, 'I love my India.' Ganga joins in this song, expressing her equal love for India. Ganga's younger siblings are enchanted by the uncle from America, and because they perceive Western culture and values to be so desirable, they cook up a plan to impress him with a Westernized song. During his stay at the conservative, traditional Indian household, he gets to know Suraj's eldest daughter, Ganga, who shares his love for India and Indian culture. Kishorilal (Amrish Puri), a wealthy Indian businessman living in America, visits his old friend Suraj Dev (Alok Nath) in India. A running theme throughout the film is also the beauty and worthiness of Indian culture and values, which are often overwhelmed by the perceived desirability of Western culture and values.

Pardes is a story that revolves around Arjun (Shah Rukh Khan) and Ganga (Mahima Chaudhary).

The synopsis below may give away important plot points. It is just the beginning as Arjun falls in love with his would-have-been bhabhi while playing Cupid and leads to a love triangle. Don't conclude that it is the end of the Bollywood fairy tale. So, the heartbroken Kusum returns to India. Arjun is portrayed as an Indian at heart and the hero of the film! All is hunky-dory till the true Bharatiya Nari finds out that her future husband is not a teetotaler. The reverse does not fit into this movie. Arjun comes into the movie to get the American-boy to accept Indian values, and support the Indian-girl to accept American vices. Arjun plays Cupid and returns to America with Kusum and Rajiv. To finalize the marriage he sends his son along with his foster son Arjun to India. Mahima Chaudhary makes her debut as Ganga. He finds his daughter in law in Kusum Ganga (a pet Subhash Ghai name just as Chandni was Yash Chopra's favorite for a long time) in the house of his childhood friend Suraj Dev. Kishorilal hopes his soon-to-be daughter in law will instill some Indian values in his extremely westernized son. So the pardesi comes to India with his 'American' son Rajiv to find a suitable ''Indian' girl for him. Kishorilal is a successful businessman settled in America but still emotionally attached to his motherland - India.

This film takes a serious look at the lives of Westernized Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in North America (Whereas Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was about NRIs with Indian hearts, Pardes is about Westernized NRIs.) and hence the meaning of the title - 'foreign land'. But she shares a deeper bond with Arjun, Kishorilal's foster son. He gets him engaged to Ganga, his friend's daughter, and brings her to USA. Kishorilal wants an Indian bride for his westernised son.

Pardes movie songs