Shyam Benegal’s attempt at commercial cinema ‘Zubeidaa’ is a sensitively narrated tale of a young man’s quest to uncover the life and times of his mother Zubeidaa (Karishma Kapoor) who is a mysterious stranger to him.
Zubeida’s story is set in the early 50’s, when princely states had just merged into the new Republic of India. Zubeida is the only daughter of filmmaker Suleman Seth (Amrish Puri). Against her father’s wishes, she acts in a film and to forbid her career as an actress, she is married off to Mehbood Alam. But misunderstanding leads to a divorce between them and Zubieda retreats into her shell with her son Riyaz.
A chance encounter with Maharaja Vijayendra Singh (Manoj Bajpai) at a polo match, leads to a blossoming romance between them. And Zubieda entrusting her son under her mother’s care, accompanies the Maharaja to his state Fatehpur as his second wife.
But Mandira (Rekha) Maharaja’s first wife confronts her and upsets her. In addition to that, Maharaja’s busy schedules and attention to Mandira makes Zubieda feel lonely and unwanted.
Zubieda’s life soon becomes a sage of trials and tribulations but she dares to live life on her own terms. The fragility of the film’s mood is further enhanced as it culminates in a breath-takingly tragic note.