The film takes its title from the ancient Indian text, the Kama Sutra, but this only serves as a common link between the characters. Kama Sutra During filming in India, the name of the project was not revealed to government officials who would have denied the petition to film in India had it been called "Kama Sutra. Upon completion, authorities screened the film and it was subsequently banned in India because of the erotic scenes that contained heterosexual as well as homosexual elements (the lesbianism was depicted in an explicit scene, whereas the male homosexuality was more implied). Tara (Sarita Choudhury) is an upper-caste princess while Maya (Indira Varma) is her beautiful servant. The two girls are best friends and have lived the same life, until they get old enough to start preparing for marriage. This culminates in an argument where Tara reminds Maya of her lowly position in life. Resentful Maya saw an opportunity to take revenge when she chanced on Raj Singh alone in his chambers, the latter happy to have her there because he is attracted to her, and she slept with him. Tara's brother Biki, having seen Maya sleep with Raj and in order to save her honor, sends a proposal of marriage for Maya. When she refuses him, he brands her as a whore, and she is forced to leave her home. There, she meets a young stone sculptor named Jai Kumar (Ramon Tikaram), who had spotted her at Tara's wedding. Jai, realizing she has no where to stay, takes her to the property of an older woman named Rasa Devi (Rekha) who is a teacher of the Kama Sutra, the ancient art of seduction that takes into account dancing, singing, and costumes, as well as the art of making love. While staying with Rasa, Maya begins a romantic relationship with Jai Kumar that is abruptly halted when he realizes he might not be able to work properly with Maya consuming his thoughts. Jai rejects Maya, and she seeks comfort with Rasa Devi, making the decision to learn the courtesan's art. In the meantime, Raj, now the king, recognizes the visage in one of Jai Kumar's sculptures as Maya's. He dispatches his attendants to find her and succeeds. Maya is then delivered to the King as his new concubine. Soon after, Raj and Jai Kumar have a friendly wrestling competition, in which Jai wins but apologizes for throwing Raj, and thereby wins the king's favor. The King insists that Jai have an audience with his new infatuation, and thus, Jai Kumar learns of Maya's status as favored concubine. As King Raj descends deeper into debauchery and opium delirium, he becomes irresponsible with his kingdom and official duties. The King is advised by his prime minister that the Shah has created an alliance with Queen Tara's brother Biki. Unfortunately the king digs his hole deeper by insulting Biki while visiting King Raj's palace (by ridiculing him sexually and for his hunchback). In retaliation, Biki writes a letter to the Shah, sealing his allegiance and to rid the kingdom of Raj, who has insulted his own wife and taxes the poor to feed his addiction to pleasure. After Maya grows cold towards Raj, the two men have another wrestling match, with the addition of blades. Kumar wounds the King, and has to be carried away by a guard. Afterwards, Raj catches the two lovers together, and sentences Kumar to imprisonment and death. After finding Tara in the midst of a suicide attempt, Maya tells her that she loves Jai Kumar and the two reconcile. However, when Tara does go to her husband (at this point virtually bedridden) she at first uses what Maya taught her to arouse him, then tells him that he is common to many other women and she doesn't love him enough to hate him, before leaving. She cuts her hair, symbolizing the end of their marriage and the start of her widowhood. Maya then tries her best to make the King free Jai by promising him everything. At first he is inclined to agree, but with the knowledge that he can't have her heart, he rejects her plea. Just before the execution, a box arrives from the Shah with the severed head of the grand vizier in it, and we see the King and his kingdom both about to fall apart. Jai Kumar is killed while Maya watches from the crowd, and the King and Queen from above. She wipes the Kunkumam off her forehead and leaves, just as the Shah's army arrives. Biki, riding with the army, sees Maya walking out and calls to her, but either she doesn't hear or doesn't look up. Maya walks away on her own, Jai's widow, with wisdom and strength gained from pain, and a heart 'as open as the sky'.