Raj and Basanti are college mates who clash when she complains to the college principal about a love letter he sent her. Later on, realizing her mistake, Basanti apologizes to him and the two fall in love. Basanti's elder sister, Geeta, supports the family by stitching clothes. Raj rents the room upstairs in their house. He falls ill and in nursing him, Geeta falls in love with him. She confides her love to Basanti, who decides to sacrifice her love for the sake of her sister and convinces Raj to marry Geeta. Raj initially neglects Geeta. On finding out, Basanti writes to him that their sacrifice, made for Geeta's happiness, would mean nothing unless he is a good husband to Geeta. Raj relents and marries Geeta and they have a son. Basanti joins them and Geeta suspects that there is something on between Raj and Basanti and makes Basanti leave the house. A few years later, Geeta, having found out that Raj and Basanti loved each other, dies in guilt leaving Raj alone to bring up their child, making him promise that he will make Basanti the child's mother. Raj learns of Basanti's impending marriage to her former boss Shyam. By the time he reaches there, Basanti is already married. He hands over his child to Basanti as a wedding gift and walks away.
Initially the shooting of the film was started with actress B. Saroja Devi, who acted in the Tamil original Kalyana Parisu and its Telugu remake Pelli Kanuka. During the filming process, she fell out with the director C. V. Sridhar and was replaced by actress Usha Kiran.[3][4]
The film soundtrack was composed by Ravi, with lyrics by Rajendra Krishan.[5] The songs "Baazi Kisi Ne Pyar Ki Jeeti Ya Haar Di", "Bikhrake Zulfen Chaman Mein Na Jana" and "Ek Woh Bhi Diwali Thi" became popular.[6]
At the end of its theatrical run, Nazrana grossed around ₹90,00,000 with net of ₹45,00,000 and was an average success at box office, thus becoming 12th highest-grossing film of 1961.[7]
