Set in 16th century India, this movie depicts the story of two girls who were raised together, though they came from different social classes. Tara (Sarita Choudhury) is an upper-caste princess while Maya (Indira Varma) is her beautiful servant. The two girls are best friends, but an undercurrent of jealousy and resentment is caused by Tara's haughtiness, symbolized by the fact that Maya is given Tara's hand-me-down clothes and never anything new to wear. As the girls approach marriageable age, Tara resents that Maya is a better classical dancer than she is, and that her parents and hunchback brother, Prince Bikram (aka "Biki") show affection for her servant.Tara is prepared to marry Prince Raj Singh (Naveen Andrews), and Maya is forced into the role of the inferior servant at their wedding festival. When the prince comes to view his future wife, he is instantly infatuated with Maya instead. Noticing this, Tara spits in Maya's face, sending her from the wedding in tears. Maya decides to take revenge when she chances on Raj sleeping alone, before he has completed the marriage rites with Tara. Maya has her first sexual experience with Raj, but unknown to both, Tara's brother, Prince "Biki", hides and watches the two of them together. Biki is crushed that his childhood infatuation has slept with his future brother-in-law, but at first keeps the knowledge to himself, and the wedding rites are completed the next day.As Tara is leaving home as a newly-wedded bride to Raj, Maya tells her that just as Maya wore the princess's used clothes all her life, Tara will now have something Maya has used. During her wedding night, Tara, a sheltered virgin full of romantic dreams, is hesitant to consummate their relationship. This angers and sexually frustrates Raj, who rapes his horrified bride, setting a tone of violence and humiliation for the marriage. Despite this, Tara still yearns for a loving relationship with her indifferent husband.To save Maya's honor, Biki sends a marriage proposal for her. When she refuses, he publicly brands her as a whore, and she is forced to leave her home. Wandering on her own, she meets a young stone sculptor, Jai Kumar (Ramon Tikaram) who works for Raj. He reveals that Maya has been the inspiration for his beautiful and highly erotic statues. Realizing she has nowhere to stay, Jai takes her to an older woman named Rasa Devi (Rekha), who is a teacher of the Kama Sutra, the ancient art of seduction and love making. Maya begins an intense romantic and sexual relationship with Jai that is abruptly halted when he fears he might not be able to work properly with Maya consuming his thoughts. Rejected by her first real lover, Maya finds comfort with Rasa Devi, making the decision to learn the courtesan's art.Raj, now the king, recognizes the visage as Maya's in one of Jai's sculptures. He dispatches his attendants to find Maya and she is delivered to the King as his new courtesan. Soon after, Raj and Jai have a "friendly" wrestling competition, in which Jai wins. Jai gets the King's favor, but is also warned that there will be dire consequences if he should ever defeat the King again. Jai then learns of Maya's new status as the favored concubine. Jai understands that his king is a dangerous man and he must keep his former relationship with Maya a secret, for their mutual safety.In the meantime, the threat of an invading Shah inches closer. As Raj descends deeper into opium addiction, sexual cruelty and debauchery, he becomes irresponsible with his duties as King. He insults Biki sexually and for being a hunchback. In retaliation, Biki writes a letter to the Shah to rid the kingdom of Raj, who now taxes the poor for his own perverted pleasure. Jai and Maya rekindle their passion and the two begin meeting in secret. As tensions between Jai and Raj grow, Maya and Jai exchange wedding vows in private. Raj later catches the two lovers together, and sentences Jai to death.After finding Tara in the midst of a suicide attempt, Maya reconciles with her childhood friend. Maya then teaches Tara how to seduce the King, while Tara promises to help Maya escape to visit Jai. However, when Tara goes to her husband, he recognizes Maya's style of seduction and again tries to humiliate his wife. Finally free of her tormentor, Tara tells Raj that she doesn't even love him enough to hate him, and leaves.Maya leaves the castle and visits Jai one last time. Telling Jai she is his forever, Maya hacks off her long hair, symbolizing that she will be his widow. Maya then tries her best to convince Raj to free Jai by promising him her total surrender. But knowing he can't have her heart, Raj rejects her plea. Just before the execution, a box arrives from the Shah, holding the severed head of the grand vizier Raj's brother. Jai is deliberately crushed to death by an elephant while Maya watches from the crowd. Meanwhile, soldiers of the invading Shah take the king's palace. Maya walks away into the distance, meditating on her new spiritual freedom: "My heart is as open as the sky."
Question: Why does Biki propose to Maya?, Answer: To save her honor Question: What was Tara in the midst of?, Answer: a suicide attempt Question: What is Raj addicted to?, Answer: opium Question: Did the girsl come from the same or from different social classes?, Answer: different Question: What is Jai Kumar's occupation?, Answer: Stone scupltor Question: Jai is warned that there will be dire consequences if he should ever do what again?, Answer: Defeat the King Question: What does Rasa Devi teach Maya?, Answer: The Kama Sutra Question: Biki is crushed about what?, Answer: That his childhood infatuation has slept with his future brother-in-law Question: Who is forced into the role of the inferior servant?, Answer: Maya Question: What is Maya better than Tara at?, Answer: Classical Dance Question: What is Kama Sutra?, Answer: The ancient art of seduction and love making. Question: Is Raj sexually cruel?, Answer: yes Question: Who wins the wrestling competition?, Answer: Jai Question: Why was Maya publicly branded a whore by Biki?, Answer: She refused the Biki's marriage proposal. Question: Who spies on Maya and the prince?, Answer: Prince "Biki" Question: Who does the prince become infatuated with?, Answer: Maya. Question: Who does Maya decide to take revenge on?, Answer: Tara Question: What is inching closer in the meantime?, Answer: the threat of an invading Shah Question: What was Jai's punishment?, Answer: Death Question: What did Biki do to save Maya's honor?, Answer: Marriage proposal. Question: Who is Tara's servant?, Answer: Maya Question: Who is now the king?, Answer: Raj Question: How does Maya take revenge?, Answer: By sleeping with Raj Question: What new status of Maya's does Jai discover?, Answer: Favored concubine Question: What is in the box that arrives just before the execution?, Answer: Severed head Question: Who is Maya's childhood friend?, Answer: Tara Question: Who is delivered to the King as his new courtesan?, Answer: Maya Question: Is Maya ugly or beautiful?, Answer: beautiful Question: What does Maya hack off?, Answer: Long hair Question: What kind of relationship does Tara yearn for with her husband?, Answer: Loving Question: What social caste is Tara from?, Answer: the upper-caste Question: During what century is this movie set in?, Answer: the 16th century Question: Who does Raj have a "friendly" wrestling competition with?, Answer: Jai Question: Who is the prince instantly infatuated with?, Answer: Maya Question: Who takes the king's palace?, Answer: Soldiers of the invading Shah Question: What is the relationship between Raj and Tara?, Answer: Husband and wife Question: Who is the king?, Answer: Raj Question: Were the two girls raised separately or together?, Answer: together Question: Is Raj recovering from his opium addiction?, Answer: no Question: What country is this movie set in?, Answer: India Question: Maya hacks off her long hair, symbolizing what?, Answer: She will be his widow Question: Has Raj becom responsible or irresponsible with his duties as King?, Answer: irresponsible Question: Who is delivered to the king as his new courtesan?, Answer: Maya Question: Who does Maya try to convince to free Jai?, Answer: Raj Question: Who is Tara to marry?, Answer: Prince Raj Singh. Question: After being rejected by Jai Kumar, what does Maya decide to do?, Answer: Learn the art of Kama Sutra. Question: What country does the movie take place in?, Answer: India Question: Who catches the lovers together?, Answer: Raj Question: Who did Jai Kumar introduce to Maya after finding out Maya was homeless?, Answer: Rasa Devi, a teacher of Kama Sutra. Question: What is Jai crushed to death by?, Answer: Elephant Question: Who is Tara prepared to marry?, Answer: Prince Raj Singh (Naveen Andrews) Question: Who rekindled their passion and began meeting in secret?, Answer: Jai and Maya Question: What is in the box delivered from the Shah?, Answer: Severed head Question: Raj insults Biki for being a what?, Answer: hunchback Question: Who did Maya meet after she left her home?, Answer: Jai Kumar, a stone sculptor. Question: What does Maya try to convince Raj to do?, Answer: Free Jai Question: What does Maya cut off as a symbol for Jai?, Answer: Hair