"ARPAN" means an offering made with love. There is in it an element of sacrifice, for it is only when you are prepared to sacrifice that you are prepared to love.
"ARPAN" is the story of Shobha, the working girl who is in love with millionaire young Anil. When Anil goes to Germany for a few years, he gives Shobha the responsibility of looking after his aged mother and his teenage sister Vini.
Vini becomes pregnant before marriage and her lover Raakesh is prepared to own the child and marry her. But coming to know of the details of the scandal, a top industrialist J.K. arranges for Raakesh to disappear, then calls in his ex employee Shobha and blackmails her, telling her that he can save the honour of Anil's family and arrange for Vini's marriage with Raakesh - if Shobha surrenders and agrees to marry him! Shobha knows J.K. is a debauch and she hates him, but for the sake of Vini and honour of Anil's family, she accepts the terms. The arrangement is known only to Raakesh and Vini who give Shobha their word that they would never let out the terrible compulsion behind Shobha's desertion of Anil in his absence.
Raakesh and Vini are married and the very next day the J.K. - Shobha marriage makes headline news. Anil returns home, to believe that Shobha has married J.K. because he is a multi millionaire and can provide her all comforts and luxuries. Little does he realize and know that J.K. is a monster who tortures, ill treats and insults Shobha on every occasion. As a true Indian woman, she bears her life with dignity and as part of destiny. Her patience and perseverance, her tolerance and sacrifice finally win over her husband J.K. whose physical condition begins to deteriorate due to excessive drinking and ailments of his liver and kidneys. He is now repentant and apologises to Shobha and begs of God to grant him a few more days of life to make amends to her and give some happiness to Shobha before his death.
When Anil discovers Shobha to be dutiful wife, he finally reconciles to her marriage, tears off her photograph and decides to marry Sona, a vivacious singer and dancer member of a cultural troupe whom he had met at a hill station. His mother is happy with her new daughter in law, but continues to abuse Shobha, the girl who betrayed her son.
J.K. dies in a hospital. Shobha is now pregnant, but she hands over all her husband's assets to his brother and goes back to her own mother. Meanwhile, Anil comes to know the truth about Shobha form Raakesh and Vini suddenly he understands that the girl whom he had hated as a devil and a heartless gold-digging vamp was in fact an angel who had sacrificed everything for the sake of his family's honour. He goes to Shobha to apologise and to make up, but Shobha tell him to forget the past and to take care of his wife.
Shobha becomes a mother. Now she has a new life to live again. But Anil is not so lucky. His wife Sona is filled with suspicion and hatred towards Shobha, believing that her husband still carries the old flame in his heart. And then Sona has an accident. She has a miscarriage and the doctor declares that she will never be able to have a child again.
On a rainy day, when Anil's mother abuses Shobha for the family's misfortunes and for Sona losing her child, Anil comes out with the truth. His mother too is shocked to discover how she had failed to recognise the contribution and sacrifice of an angel for the happiness of their family. Just then, the door swings open and Shobha staggers into the room.
Everyone is stunned.
This is the moment of supreme sacrifice, the moment of the greatest offering of love of which a woman is capable.
"ARPAN" is the motion picture experience that carries with it the promise better appreciation of the nobility of which human heart is capable.
(From the official press booklet)