In 2000, Ishaan “Ish” Bhatt (Sushant Singh Rajput) is an ex-district level cricketer who is a victim of politics in the cricketing selection fraternity, Omi is the nephew of a Hindu politician, Bittu, who funds his father’s temple and Govind is a geek with a penchant for business and numbers. Together they open a sports shop and an academy to train and promote talented budding cricketers. After toiling hard, they succeed in establishing it as a center for cricket among the local youth and start to incur profits. Kai Po Che 2013
Ishaan requests Govind to teach his sister Vidya “V” Bhatt (Amrita Puri) mathematics for her upcoming exams. Govind is reluctant at first but agrees eventually. Vidya and Govind gradually fall in love with each other. Omi discovers the same and warns Govind of the consequences, as Ishaan is very protective of his sister.
The three friends spot a budding cricketing talent in a local boy, Ali Hashmi (Digvijay Deshmukh), who has a rare talent, and Ishaan starts training him vigorously. Govind is ambitious and wants to expand the budding business by opening a shop in a mall being constructed in Navrangpura, an upcoming part of the city. With financial help coming from Omi’s maternal uncle, Bishakh “Bittu” Joshi (Manav Kaul), the trio secure the deal and set up shop in the mall. On 26 January 2001, disaster strikes when a destructive earthquake hits Gujarat and the mall is destroyed. Govind is shattered as the amount of money they invested was very large and they are now loaded with a huge debt. Omi is reluctantly forced to work for Bittu’s right-wing party due to the money they owe him.
When relief camps of Bittu’s party declines to give Muslims shelter in troubled times, Ishaan and Omi quarrel over their politico-religious outlook and temporarily break off their friendship. They again reunite after India’s surprise win in the test match against Australia on 15 March 2001. Omi gets busy with religious politics and joins Bittu’s party. Ishaan and Govind, meanwhile, are busy with Ali and Vidya respectively.