After a series of broken relationships and a professional breakdown, Kaira reluctantly visits Jehangir "Jug" Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), a free-spirited, unconventional psychologist. Unlike typical Bollywood romances, Dear Zindagi does not turn their relationship into a love story. Instead, Jug becomes a "life coach" who teaches Kaira a radical lesson: It is okay to be a work in progress. It is okay to have bad days. And most importantly, it is okay to love yourself before you try to love others.
Jug’s character diverges from the conventional “psychiatrist” trope. He adopts a reminiscent of Carl Rogers, emphasizing unconditional positive regard and empathy. His playful use of analogies (“life is a camera; focus on what matters”) functions both as a narrative hook and as an accessible method to convey complex psychological concepts to a mainstream audience.