Leela is a film based on the South Asian-American experience. By providing a dynamic expression of the struggles and celebrations of the expatriate lifestyle, Leela has the potential to be a crossover film – popular among expatriate South Asians and mainstream English speaking audiences the world over. After the death of her mother, Leela (Dimple Kapadia), a Professor at Bombay University, loses purpose. She welcomes the opportunity to teach in the U.S., leaving her "perfect" life in India behind.

A product of a single parent environment, Kris ,born Krishna, (Amol Mahtre), an eighteen-year old Indian American, is uncomfortable in his own skin. With a hovering mother, Chaitali (Deepti Naval) and a father-of-convenience Jai (Gulshan Grover), Kris turns away from his milieu.

Kris takes Leela's South Asian history class. On learning of dark secrets his mother has kept from him, Kris finds comfort in his friendship with Leela. They develop a strong bond as Leela opens Kris to a world beyond black and white. In turn, Krishna pushes Leela to crystallize the grays in her own life. She begins to scrutinize afresh her crumbling marriage to world-renowned poet, Nashaad (Vinod Khanna). Nashaad's philandering ways have slowly worn down Leela's love for him.

Things come to a head when Nashaad suddenly flies in from India. Nashaad and Krishna realize that they are essentially battling for the same love. In the final showdown, both Kris and Leela learn lessons of life.