For the uninitiated, Om Shanti Om is a dramatic reincarnation saga wrapped in a satirical take on the Hindi film industry (Bollywood).

The film, directed by , is a "masala" entertainer that pays tribute to 1970s Bollywood through a story of romance and revenge.

or catching a special fan-club screening, Farah Khan's 2007 magnum opus remains the gold standard for "masala" cinema. A Love Letter to the 70s

The film is famous for the song "Deewangi Deewangi," which features cameos from 31 major Bollywood stars [ 1.5.5 ].

The brilliance of Om Shanti Om lies in its self-awareness. It does not just tell a story; it celebrates and parodies the very industry it belongs to:

Shahrukh Khan plays (Om), a junior artist in 1970s Bollywood. He is hopelessly in love with the reigning superstar Shanti Priya (Deepika Padukone, in her debut). Om is a background dancer who dreams of being a hero. Meanwhile, Shanti is secretly married to a ruthless producer, Mukesh Mehra (excellently played by Arjun Rampal). When Om discovers Mukesh’s plan to burn Shanti alive in a studio fire, he tries to save her but is murdered by Mukesh’s goons.

Om Kapoor decides to produce a film titled Om Shanti Om (a movie within the movie) to trap Mukesh Mehra into confessing his crime. The climax features a twist where Shanti’s ghost appears and helps Om deliver poetic justice.