Karan Shergill is an irresponsible young man from
Delhi who has no plans for his future. His girlfriend Romila Dutta, an aspiring
journalist, tells him to have an aim in his life. Eventually, he contemplates joining the Indian Army at the urging of a friend. He takes the
Combined Defence Services Examination, and to his surprise, gets selected for the
Indian Military Academy (IMA), despite his parents' disapproval. Karan's initial days at the IMA are a disaster, as his lack of discipline makes him unsuitable for a military life. Upset, he escapes from the academy and returns home. His parents are disappointed and tell him to join the family business. Romila angrily breaks up with him due to his lack of conviction. Devastated, Karan decides to get serious and returns to the IMA. He takes the punishment, becomes a focused cadet, excels in training, and finally graduates and is commissioned as a
lieutenant. Karan is posted to the 3rd
battalion of the
Punjab Regiment, commanded by
Colonel Sunil Damle, stationed in
Kargil,
Ladakh. He returns home on leave and learns that Romila is getting engaged. The leave is cut short due to the outbreak of hostilities in Kargil, and he is promoted to acting
Captain. Colonel Damle briefs the officers, revealing that infiltrators crossed the
Line of Control (LoC) from
Pakistan and occupied a series of mountain peaks on the Indian side. The battalion is assigned to secure
Point 5179, a crucial vantage point dominating the army's main supply line, the
National Highway 1D. Since the other sides of the mountain are perilous to cross, the battalion decides to attack from the eastern side. The first part of the assault is successful in destroying the enemy's screening units, with Karan cited for his bravery. Meanwhile, Romila goes to Kargil as a
war correspondent, where she meets a changed Karan and falls in love with him again. In the second phase, the battalion fails to capture the peak and suffers heavy casualties. Colonel Damle is given 48 hours, and he orders a group of twelve officers and soldiers (including Karan) to scale a 1000-foot rock cliff on the western side to flank the enemy. Karan finally finds his aim in capturing the peak and rekindles his relationship with Romila as well, after finding out she broke her engagement. The unit sets off on its mission but loses its commanding officer and many soldiers to enemy fire. The remaining six men push forward and scale the cliff, attacking the Pakistani position during the night. Their assault is successful, although Karan is injured. The next morning, he spots the remaining Pakistani intruders and kills them. He then limps to the peak and plants the Indian flag, capturing it at last, while signalling Colonel Damle. A few days later, Karan is discharged from a military hospital and reunites with his parents and Romila. In the midst of credits, Colonel Damle,
Lieutenant Colonel Pradeep, and
Subedar Major Pritam Singh pay their respects to all the
martyrs of
Operation Vijay. == Cast ==