Producer: J P Dutta
Director: J P Dutta
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Arshad Warsi, Shabana Azmi, Sunil Shetty
Music: Anu Malik

Umrao Jaan Ada was a courtesan and a poetess. If Lucknow was the heart of Avadh, Umrao was the heart beat. Umrao came to Lucknow when she was just eight year old. Her name was Amiran and she was the daughter of a lower middle class man, who was a Jamadar at the Babu Begum ka Makhbara in Faizabad. He was a simple man and led a pious life and gave evidence in a case against Dilawar Khan a lawbreaker, who had to serve jail for ten years following this. To revenge this, Dilawar after finishing his sentence kidnapped Amiran and brought her to Lucknow. He sold her in a kotha owned by Khanum Sahib. He took his vengeance and also earned a few rupees by selling her.

Khanum’s kotha was a hub to learn performing arts and art of living. Little Amiran benefited the most out of it. Khanum rechristened her as ‘Umrao’, Bua Hussani groomed her in her style, Maulavi Sahib imparted education, Khan Shahob introduced her to music and Kathak Acharya made learn dance. Umrao also associated herself with poetry in the company of Bismillah, Khurshid, Gauhar and Mirza. 'Ada' was her pet name for her proficiency and skill in writing poetry.

As Umrao grew, she charmed Lucknow with her stunning beauty, enticing manner and skills that made her rise in popularity. As she stepped into youth, her search for love led her to Nawab Sultan. The whole Avadh was in love with her but she seeked Sultan's company. Her inner soul craved for husband, a family and a home. But fulfilling this dream was like chasing the end of the rainbow.