The film begins with the birth of Manikarnika in the ghats of Varanasi. She is raised by the Bajirao in Bithoor and her father, Moropant. A young blossoming Manu is spotted by Jhansi’s minister, Dixit-Ji, slaying a tiger. Impressed by her feat, he proposes marriage between her and the King of Maratha ruled princely state of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao. The marriage is celebrated and addended by the Jhansi residents among whom a loud, spunky woman named Jhalkarbai makes her way to the front along with her husband Puran Singh to take a peek at their new queen. Manikarnika’s name is officially changed to “Lakshmi bai”
The newly wed king and queen spend time together and develop a strong bond. Queen Lakshmi Bai learns and refutes the traditional womanly duties and takes a keen interest in learning about the political atmosphere of Jhansi and the state of the country instead. She is outraged as she discovers that her husband, the king of Jhansi, has to bow his head to a British officer, Gordon. She does not bow her head enraging Gordon.
Jhalkaribai’s calf ‘Nandu’ is abducted by some British officers prompting her to go after them only to get badly beaten up. When Lakshmi bai learns about this cruelty, she confronts the officers speaking to them in fluent English to their surprise and announcing that all the livestock in Jhansi is the property of the king and will not be taken by the East India Company without permission. Lakshmi bai returns Nandu and the two women develop a friendship. Amidst celebrations, Lakshmi bai learns she is pregnant and is overjoyed. She gives birth to a boy, Damodar Rao.
