Based on the celebrated playback singer, Lata Mangeshkar, leading 1970s actress Jaya Bachchan plays Uma, wife of popular Bombay singer Subir Kumar (Amitabh Bachchan), who finds his main rival in the world of music is his new bride. Jaya Bachchan excels in the role of the shy but talented singer ready to sacrifice her career to save her marriage.

Abhimaan has wonderful music by S.D.Burman and all the songs in the film remain great favourites. Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, like his other films, this is an intimate drama that looks at India's middle classes as they are forced to deal with modern values. Abhimaan explores how the changing economic status of a wife as equal bread-winner affects a marriage and what happens to a couple who have become professional rivals. The film was made at a time when Jaya Bachchan herself was a much bigger star than her on-screen (and real life) husband, Amitabh Bachchan who, soon after the release of this film, went on to become the most popular Bollywood star ever.