Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Luke Kenny, and Purab Kohli star as members of the Mumbai-based rock band, "Magik" (formed in 1998) who reunited in 2008.

Joseph (Joe) Mascarenhas is the lead guitarist who feels the necessity to prove his worth as a musician.

After a competition is announced by Channel V, they decide to enter, as the winner will be offered an album contract and at least one music video.

Later, when filming the music video, the band are forced to wear clothes they do not like, and the cameramen focus only on Aditya.

Aditya, who failed to notice that anything was amiss, is shocked and as the band loses their contract, he reacts by abandoning music as well his girlfriend Tanya.

Ten years later, Aditya is a wealthy, high-powered investment banker with a beautiful wife, Sakshi, and a luxury home, yet he is constantly unhappy.

Hoping to relieve his habitual sullen mood, Sakshi decides to gift him a gold-chain wristwatch for his birthday.

She takes them to show KD and asks him to come to a birthday party she is planning for Aditya, and to invite the rest of the band.

The family is supported by Debbie, who has a small fishing business but who also holds a grudge against the band for the way it affected Joe.

Meanwhile, Debbie arranges a guitar-playing job for Joe on a cruise ship, which is due to set sail on the same day as the contest.

The contest is aired on the radio, and while Joe is on his way to the airport, he hears Magik perform the song he wrote for Debbie ten years earlier, which they dedicate to him.

"[8] Nikhat Kazmi of the Times of India gave it four stars and argued, "if you really want to see how Bollywood has matured and come of age, then here's the perfect litmus test.

For Rock On is a film that not only breaks new ground in terms of its subject matter – now when has desi movielore ever tackled something akin to Hollywood's That Thing You Do – it creates a whole new EQ (emotional quotient) for mainstream cinema.

"[9] Khalid Mohamed, of the Hindustan Times gave the film three and a half out of four stars and describes it as "hard candy."

"[12] Kaveree Bamzai of India Today called Rock On "refreshing" and "surprisingly quiet and thoughtful.

According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, with around 12,00,000 units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's thirteenth highest-selling.