his desires and has not slept with Radha for the past thirteen years. He puts Radha through an excruciating ritual in which they lie motionless next to each other whenever he wants to test his resolve. Radha is racked with guilt over her inability to have children and driven to frustration by the ritual. While the older Radha remains bound by tradition and subdued into silence, the younger Sita refuses to accept her fate. Sita's attitude slowly spills over onto Radha, who becomes slightly more assertive. One evening, shunned by their husbands and driven to desperation by their unfulfilled longings, Radha and Sita seek solace in each other and become lovers. Overjoyed at finding satisfaction in this manner, they continue it in secret. They eventually realise their love for each other and start looking for ways to move out. The pair's daily antics and adventures are witnessed by Biji, who disapproves, but is unable to stop them. After some time, Mundu becomes aware of their relationship, and he causes Ashok to walk in on Radha and Sita. Ashok is horrified. He is also shattered when he finds this incident has stoked his own long-dormant desire. Sita decides to pack her belongings and leave the house immediately, while Radha stays behind in order to talk to her husband. The women promise to meet each other later that night. Ashok confronts Radha, who overcomes her subservience and pours out her emotions. Amid this argument, Radha's sari catches fire, and Ashok angrily watches her burn without helping. Radha puts out the flames and recalls her mother's advice from when she was young – she can finally see her ocean. An injured Radha leaves Ashok, moving out in order to join Sita. Cast Nandita Das as Sita Shabana Azmi as Radha Karishma Jhalani as young Radha Ramanjit Kaur as Young Radha's mother Dilip Mehta as Young Radha's father Javed Jaffrey as Jatin Vinay Pathak as Guide at Taj Mahal Kushal Rekhi as Biji Ranjit Chowdhry as Mundu Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Ashok Alice Poon as Julie Ram Gopal Bajaj as Swamiji Ravinder Happy as Oily man in video shop Devyani Saltzman as Girl in video shop Sunil Chabra as Milkman on bicycle Avijit Dutt as Julie's father Shasea Bahadur as Julie's brother Meher Chand as Goddess Sita Bahadur Chand as God Ram Puran, Sohan Lal, Meher, Amarjit Chand, and Karahm Chand as 'Ramayan' theatrical troupe