In 1994 middle-class Bombay, three ordinary youngsters, Karan (Shahid Kapoor), Zing (Meiyang Chаng) and Chandu (Vir Das), graduate from college and start a business together. They meet Bulbul (Anushka Sharma), and she and Karan eventually fall in love.
They name their venture "Friends and Company" and proceed to make a large fortune by smuggling expensive foreign shoes in from Bangkok and avoiding the import duty on them. When Karan is caught by his father putting away the black money, he explains the situation, including the fact that he is doing business with a smuggler. As a result, he is forced to leave the house and starts living with Bulbul and uses her to get contracts. After the government in India decides to reduce the import duty on foreign goods (including shoes) , the friends decide to go to America.
However, Karan becomes too greedy and the group begins to fall apart. Karan and Zing get into an argument about Zing's excessive drinking; Zing leaves and opens his own bar. Bulbul leaves when she finds out that Karan has married another woman for a green card; Chandu gets married and quits the company to start a video store. Alone and heartbroken, Karan visits India and secretly attends a function where his father is being honored for his years of service to his company. Upon seeing this, he realizes his grave mistake. On his return to America, he is arrested and put in jail for 6 months.
He is bailed out after Bulbul comes and gives up Zing's, Chandu's and her share from what they earned in the company. Karan starts working with his uncle. One day, he meets Bulbul, who is revealed to be pregnant with his child. The lovers reconcile, and Karan patches up with Zing, Chandu, and his family, while saving his uncle from a huge financial loss. "Friends and Company" is formed again but is turned into a public limited company. With his wife, son, friends, and having made his father proud, Karan is finally content with his life.