Om Prakash Makhija is a Junior Artist in the 1970s Hindi film industry and in love with actress Shantipriya. Om rescues Shanti from an out-of-control fire scene and they become friends. His hopes seem to be coming true--until he finds out that she's married to film producer Mukesh Mehra and expecting his child. He then watches in horror as Mukesh, after luring her into an abandoned studio, sets it afire to prevent a financial loss and protect his career. Om attempts--unsuccessfully--to rescue her and eventually dies himself. 30 years later, Om has been reincarnated as the only son of Bollywood actor Rajesh Kapoor, and is himself an actor. His memories start to return when he meets his widowed mother Bela, from his previous life. He also meets Mukesh and they decide to make a movie, 'Om Shanti Om'. Om hires a look-alike of Shantipriya and hopes to force a confession from Mukesh, but things go awry and Om finds his life endangered once again.