The film stars Dilip Kumar, Sharmila Tagore, Bindu, Prem Chopra, Iftekhar, I. S. Johar and Madan Puri.

Dastaan was a commercial failure and Dilip Kumar's first outright flop in 6 years since Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966).

[1] This movie is based on director's own 1951 film named Afsana, starring Ashok Kumar in leading role.

Sunil has lost his memory, found by a man named Sahay, who renames him Vishnu.

However, he is blissfully unaware that Mala and his best friend Rajan (Prem Chopra) are having an affair behind his back.

If Vishnu's facial hair and spectacles are removed, even the police will have a hard time distinguishing between him and Anil.

However, his plan turns out to be disastrous as Vishnu's car suffers an accident, killing Anil on the spot.

Mala goes with Meena to watch the play where Rajan arrives at Anil's place to kill him for ruining his business.

He asks her to choose between death and the ignominy of living the rest of her life as an unfaithful wife.