12 September 2016 (2016-09-12) – 2 June 2018 (2018-06-02)[2]
Naamkarann (transl. Naming ceremony) is an Indian drama television series which premiered 12 September 2016 on Star Plus. Inspired by the 1998 Bollywood film Zakhm, it was based on the life of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.[3]
The show initially starred child actor Arsheen Naamdaar as Avni Mehta, besides Viraf Patel, Barkha Sengupta and Reema Lagoo from September 2016 to March 2017.[4] It then took a fifteen year-leap and focused on Avni Mehta (Aditi Rathore) and Neil Khanna (Zain Imam).[5][6] In May 2017, Ragini Shah replaced Reema Lagoo due to the latter's death. The show ended on 2 June 2018 completing 536 episodes.
Plot
9 year-old Avni Mehta lives with her mother, Ayesha Haider. Avni's father, famous filmmaker Ashish Mehta, meets them in secret because of his mother, Dayawanti, a religious yet corrupt Hindu woman. She hates Ayesha as she is a Muslim and rejects Avni at every step. Ashish is forced to marry Neela Parikh, who befriends with Avni and stands up against Dayawanti.
Later, Ayesha gives birth to a son, Aman. Dayawanti kills Ayesha and takes Aman, framing Avni for Ayesha's death. Believing her, Ashish gets Avni arrested. Neela bails her out and leaves with her, divorcing Ashish. Dayawanti tricks Avni and shoots her, who is later saved by Neela. Avni is presumed to be dead.
15 years later
Avni is now grown up and lives with Neela as Ananya Verma. She steals money from the rich and donates to the poor, Robinhood style. She still holds grudges against Dayavanti and wants to reconcile with her brother Aman.
ACP Neil Khanna is recruited to find out the belongings of the case 123 (which is Avni). His marriage is fixed with Avni's cousin, Riya. Avni's childhood friend, Ali finds out that Ananya is Avni and helps her. Avni's brother, Aman is grown into a spoiled brat and troubles Avni and Neela.
Neil finds that Ananya is in fact Avni. Avni marries Neil to save him from Mehtas' and their trap to take money from the Khannas. Eventually, Neil develops a soft corner for Avni and learns about her childhood from Neela. It's revealed that Ashish has found truth about Ayesha's death, but is killed by his brother, Ketan while confronting Dayawanti. Avni, Neil and Neela expose Dayawanti and Ketan, who are arrested. Seeing Dayawanti's truth, Aman reforms himself. He kills Dayawanti when she tries to kill Avni and is arrested. Avni forgives Aman.
Neil's ex-fiancée, Juhi informs him about their illegitimate daughter, Mishti; who is being held captive by Vidyut. Avni rescues Mishti and bonds with her. Mishti turns out to be Vidyut's daughter. Juhi is shot to death. Later, Neela is shot to death saving Neil from his father, Prakash who was intoxicated by Vidyut. Avni is heartbroken over Neela's death. Later, Avni and Neil consummate their marriage. Vidyut threatens Avni to marry him to save Prakash. Avni burns Vidyut's house and escapes with Mishti, making everyone believe that they are dead.
10 years later
Neil has quits his job as a police inspector and becomes a radio jockey. Avni has changed her name to Nilanjana and dedicates her life to the well-being of illegitimate children in an orphanage, named Sukoon house. She takes care of Mishti and her son, Mowgli with other orphaned children. Mishti is an aspiring singer and an ardent fan of actor Karan Kapoor. Mishti and Karan eventually fall in love and they get married.
Avni decides to leave the city with Mowgli so that Neil can start a new life with Mitali. Neil and Khannas find about Mowgli's truth. Mitali advices Neil to live with Avni and Mowgli. Finally, Avni and Neil reunite and they live happily.
Zain Imam as Neil Khanna – Former ACP turned radio jockey; Shweta and Prakash's son; Riya and Mitali's ex-fiancé; Avni's husband; Mowgli's father; Mishti's adoptive father (2017–2018)
Sayantani Ghosh as Neela Parikh – Ashish's ex-wife; Avni's adoptive mother; Mishti and Mowgli's adoptive grandmother (2016–2018) (Dead)
Reema Lagoo / Ragini Shah as Dayawanti Mehta – Ashish, Ketan and Diksha's mother; Avni, Riya and Aman's grandmother (2016–2017) [7][8] (Dead)
Barkha Sengupta as Ayesha Haider Mehta – Fatima's daughter; Ashish's wife; Avni and Aman's mother; Mowgli's grandmother (2016–2017) (Dead)
Viraf Patel as Ashish Mehta – Dayawanti's elder son; Ketan and Diksha's brother; Neela's ex-husband; Ayesha's widower; Avni and Aman's father; Mowgli's grandfather (2016–2017)[9](Dead)
Recurring
Gulfam Khan as Fatima Banu – Ayesha's mother; Avni and Aman's grandmother (2016–2017)
Jahaan Arora as Police officer Dakhal "DD" Dayal – Neil's friend; Sunheri's love interest (2017–2018)
Gautam Vig as Ali Khan – Avni's childhood friend; Neil's best friend (2017–2018)
The show initially starred child actor Arsheen Naamdaar as Avni Ayesha, besides Viraf Patel, Barkha Sengupta and Reema Lagoo from September 2016 to March 2017.[4] It then took a fifteen year-leap and focused on Avni Ayesha (Aditi Rathore) and Neil Khanna (Zain Imam).[5] In May 2017, Ragini Shah replaced Reema Lagoo due to the latter's demise. The show ended on 18 May 2018 completing 463 episodes and its slot was taken by Krishna Chali London.[6]
