A young couple’s romance blossoms into marriage, only to collide with family tensions and societal expectations. Jeewan Jyoti introduces Shammi Kapoor and Chand Usmani in a heartfelt story of love, duty, and resilience.

Indira (Suraiya) is an orphan brought up the strict and uprighteous Rani (Veena). Indira grows up to be a beauty and is sought by three suitors Raj (Raj Kapoor), Kundan (Al Nasir), and Ramesh (Suresh). Rani does not like Indira to marry into her family as both Raj and Kundan are her brothers, and she wants Indira to marry Ramesh, and as such arranges a meeting with Ramesh's mom (Pratima Devi) and finalizes the marriage. Indira does not appreciate this and refuses to marry Ramesh. Raj speaks of his love with Rani, and Rani warns him that Indira is to marry Ramesh, but also has an on-going affair with his brother Kundan. Who does Indira really love? Will she ever marry her dream man?

Sundari is a stage dancer and singer, a flirt, quarrelsome, and generally up to no good. She meets with Havaldar Pritam, and both are attracted to each other. Circumstances force Pritam to arrest Sundari for viciously assaulting another woman, but he lets her escape, and is severely reprimanded by the Kotwal. Sundari feels sorry for him. She meets with the Kotwal and pleads with him to forgive Pritam, which he does. Pritam is grateful to Sundari for saving his career, and both continue to romance each other. What Pritam does not know that Sundari belongs to a gang of thieves, the leader of which is her long-time boyfriend, currently in prison, a notorious gangster by the name of Rahu.