STM is a reputed college where Deepak, played by Saif Ali Khan has completed his MSc and is seeking a job as a teacher at another affluent school. The board of trustees interviews him and later learn, that he comes from a backward caste and dismiss his credentials. Deepak, dejected and shocked at the caste discrimination goes to his mentor, Dr. Anand, the principal of STM College and shares his woes.
Dr. Anand offers him a teaching job at his own college; while Deepak’s girlfriend Poorvi, played by Deepika Padukone and friend Sushant, played by Prateik Babbar, console him. The state minister appoints his ally Mithilesh, played by Manoj Bajpayee among the board of trustees at STM college. Mithulesh is a conniving and sly character who solely thinks of his gains, which is soon discovered by Dr. Anand and he resents it.
Meanwhile the Supreme Court orders reservations for other backward classes and a whole plethora of lower caste students create a ruckus with joy outside the STM college campus while Deepak and Sushant try to control the crowd. At an interview Dr. Anand’s words are twisted and shown like he fully supports the reservations. On learning this fact, he is expelled as the principal and Mithilesh is appointed as the new principal.
Dr Anands guest house which he had given as a bank guarantee to his friend is being used as coaching classes, which disturbs him and he files an FIR but to no avail. He later teaches some poor children in a cowshed and they do much better than the students of the coaching classes. He finally gets his place back as the lifelong principal on STM College.
Aarakshan is directed by Prakash Jha and produced Firoz Nadiadwala and Prakash Jha. The music is composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy.
