My Name Is Khan

In the bustling Borivali neighborhood of Mumbai, Rizwan Khan grows up different from other children. Diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, he navigates life with unique challenges - he cannot interpret emotions easily, speaks with clinical precision, and possesses an extraordinary memory for mechanical patterns. Yet beneath his social limitations lies a profound wisdom instilled by his mother: there are only two kinds of people in this world - good people who do good deeds, and bad people who do bad. Rizwan's journey takes him to San Francisco, where he unexpectedly finds love with Mandira, a spirited Hindu single mother running her own salon. Their courtship unfolds with tender awkwardness as Rizwan's literal-mindedness creates both humorous and heartfelt moments. Against all odds, Mandira sees beyond his condition to the genuinely good man beneath, and they build a beautiful life together with her son Sam. Their multicultural family represents the American dream until September 11, 2001 shatters their world. As anti-Muslim sentiment sweeps across America, tragedy strikes their family in the most personal way, causing Mandira to send Rizwan away with anguished words: "Get out of my life! Only come back when you can tell the President that your name is Khan and you are not a terrorist." Driven by unwavering love and literal interpretation of her words, Rizwan embarks on an extraordinary cross-country journey to meet the President of the United States. His quest takes him through a America grappling with fear and prejudice, where his name and appearance make him a target of suspicion. Along his epic journey, Rizwan encounters both cruelty and kindness - from being detained at LAX airport to finding unexpected allies in diverse communities. As media attention grows around "the Muslim man trying to meet the President," Rizwan's simple message begins to resonate across the nation. His journey becomes more than personal redemption - it transforms into a powerful statement about identity, prejudice, and the universal truth his mother taught him. Through floods, personal sacrifices, and bureaucratic obstacles, Rizwan demonstrates that humanity transcends religion, nationality, and neurological differences, proving that his name might be Khan, but first and foremost, he is a good man doing good deeds in a world that desperately needs reminding of our shared humanity.