Karan Shergill (Hrithik Roshan) is a lazy and aimless young man from Delhi who has no goals for his future. His father (Boman Irani) is a wealthy businessman and his brother is a successful individual living in the United States. His girlfriend, Romila Dutta (Preity Zinta), also known as Romi, a student activist and aspiring journalist, out of well-meaning sincerity tells him he needs to find a goal in life. When his friend Parvesh announces he is going to join the Indian Army, Karan takes the Combined Defence Services Examination as well, despite his parent’s disapproval.Lakshya 2004.
Karan gets selected into the Indian Military Academy, although his friend backs out. However, he’s undisciplined and unused to life there. He keeps receiving punishments from the training team due to his overconfidence and lazy attitude. Upset, he runs away from the academy and is forced to confront his parents’ low opinion of him. His decision also causes Romi to angrily break up with him for not respecting his own decision. Devastated, Karan finally comes to terms with his situation and makes his decision. He returns to the IMA, takes his punishment, becomes a focused, disciplined officer cadet and eventually commissions into the Indian Army as a Lieutenant. Karan is posted to the 3rd battalion of the Punjab Regiment, commanded by Col. Sunil Damle (Amitabh Bachchan). The battalion is stationed in Kargil, Ladakh. Karan comes home on leave and is heartbroken to find out that Romi is getting engaged, but his leave is cut short and he’s recalled to his battalion due to an outbreak of hostilities in Kargil.
He reports back to his battalion, where he is promoted to the rank of acting Captain. Col. Damle briefs the officers on the latest situation and reveals that a number of infiltrators have crossed the Line of Control (LoC) from Pakistan and currently occupy a series of mountain peaks on the Indian side of the border. The battalion has been assigned to secure Point 5179, a crucial vantage point dominating the army’s main supply line, the National Highway 1D. The northern side of the mountain is on the Pakistani side of the LoC, the western side has a 1000-foot vertical rock cliff and the southern side has 3 km of empty ground with no cover.