Part One
The Châtelet Theatre holds a press conference on the occasion of the new operetta, the Bayadere. Philip, the librettist, admits that the story had to take place in India because the director of the theatre found an anonymous genius composer who uses many Eastern motifs. Philip was willing to write the script in order to please Odette Darimonde, the diva of the theatre with an adequate role.
General Parker, the English military attaché of Lahore, found prince Radjami, the heir to the throne of the small Indian country in an opium den in Paris. The young Prince, who had a modern upbringing in the most prestigious London institutes, came here without the British Empire's approval, he is dazzling girls, and spending money on motor racing and his scandals are in every tabloid in Paris. Parker cautions Radjami that his uncle, the King of Lahore, is seriously ill and the prince has to succeed him. Radjami’s only wish though is to stay in Paris, because he is crazy in love with ... his beautiful Bayadere and wishes to marry her.
Marietta, the actress, has a tantrum and calls her husband, Philip to account as to why she cannot be the soubrette in the new work. Szapáry, a Hungarian reporter, starts flirting with Marietta and Philip tells him that he would give his wife to the reporter with her the bills for her hats, jewels and fur coats.
The director greets Radjami, who asks him again not to reveal that he composed the operetta.
The Bayadere is performed on stage; prince Radjami watches the play from the royal box.
After the first act, the audience discusses the play enthusiastically and word had spread that the Indian prince almost fell out of his box when watching Odette.
The director tries to calm the nervous prim donna who thinks she gave a weak performance. The secretary announces that the Hindu prince would like to congratulate the diva. Radjami brings Odette flowers and a golden bracelet with black pearls. Odette accepts the flowers but refuses to take the jewelry: she cannot accept such valuable gifts. However, according to the prince the flowers are worth more because they are from the Taj Mahal's garden. Legend says that if you smell them, your heart shall be full with love. Odette pretends to resist, but smells the roses after all. Radjami invites Odette to a ball that will be held in her honor.
Simone (the daughter of a Hindu doctor and a Parisian chansonette), the governess of the beautiful young girls of the Indian court, tells Parker that a telegram came from Lahore: the Maharajah is very ill and might pass away any time and Radjami must return home to take over the throne, but first he must marry Ramita, who was chosen for him when he was a child.
The second act is over and the audience applauds enthusiastically. Marietta asks Szapáry to introduce her to the prince. He does so and at the end invites her to dance a “barbaric Hungarian dance.”
General Parker tells Radjami that he instructed the court to prepare the wedding with Ramita. Referring to his modern British upbringing, the Prince protests this traditional marriage. Parker cautions the prince that it is for the sake of Lahore, but cannot convince him. Radjami tells Parker unexpectedly that he will follow his uncle's command. He will be married tonight, but in his palace in Paris, and not in Lahore.
Radjami reassures the General that the wedding will be held according to Indian traditions. At the end of the performance, Radjami waits for Odette in front of the theatre and they go to the ball together.
PART TWO
Dewa, the loyal servant of the prince, asks the guests to make themselves at home. Philip is interested in the enchanting, half-Hindu, half-French lady, Simone, who welcomes his advances. Odette accepts Radjami's offer: a battle of the minds. If Odette does not sign the Hindu marriage contract, Radjami will return home and forget her forever. However, if Odette falls in love with the prince and signs the contract, he can do with her whatever he wishes. Szapáry courts Marietta and they kiss. Radjami and Odette tell each other that it was love at the first sight for both of them and he asks Odette to go with him to India.
Philip arrives in order to save Odette from the prince as he thinks the prince kidnapped her. Philip holds a gun to the prince, then grabs Odette and wants to leave with her. However, Radjami silences Philip with a single move. Philip obeys Radjami because of his secret power and leaves in a hypnotic state. Odette finds it inhumane that the prince manipulates people with his special power and even enjoys it. Radjami asks Szapáry to be his witness at his wedding while Parker tells Odette, that Lahore's throne awaits the prince and neither Radjami's uncle nor Lahore's people will accept her as his wife. Parker asks the actress to leave before it is too late and gives Odette a ball that is supposed to help if Radjami tries to hypnotize her. Odette takes Radjami's hand and they leave together. Simone tells Parker that the prince wants to marry Odette instead of Ramita.
Odette wants to leave, but Radjami tries to convince her to stay, as he did everything for her. He was thinking of her when he composed the Bayadere. Odette guessed that Radjami was the composer when she first heard him singing in her dressing room. She asks the prince to stay in Paris and write another operetta or even an opera for her. However, Radjami insists that he must return home and wishes that Odette would go with him. Odette cannot imagine living in a faraway country without the theatre and her fans in Paris. Radjami tries to force Odette to stay, but she grasps the situation and fights him off using the ball she received from Parker. However, in the end she becomes weak and kisses Radjami. The marriage contract is signed and Simone tries to console Ramita.
Philip complains to Simone: his marriage is deteriorating and they have lost Odette as well. Simone suggests that he moves to India as well, as it would be a good investment. Szapáry walks down the aisle majestically in Indian dress. Marietta tells her husband, Philip that she could not help but fall in love with Szapáry, who says that he fell in love with Philip's wife as well. Szapáry admits to Marietta that he is simply a journalist intern with minimum wage, who won some money on horseracing. Marietta slaps him in anger; she does not want to hear any explanations.
During the wedding ceremony, Dewa ties a ribbon around Odette's and Radjami's intertwined hands. They almost kiss, when Odette pulls her hand away and shows Radjami what she wrote in the marriage contract: she will not be won over by force.
The theatre secretary reports a huge scandal: Radjami refused to return home, has abdicated the throne, disappeared and forfeited his inheritance. Philip sits at a table in a bar where a pianist plays with his back to him. To his surprise, he recognizes Simone who tells him, that she was fired, but bought the bar from the money she saved. She called Philip here and the others are coming as well. Marietta enters the bar first followed by Szapáry, dressed as French soda deliveryman. He was fired from the newspaper, so he stayed in Paris. With Philip's help, Marietta forgives Szapáry. The pianist turns around: it is Radjami. Marietta and Szapáry go to the theatre to bring Odette, with force if necessary.
Radjami starts to pack his music sheets. He will leave Paris at dawn, because he does not want to live near Odette anymore. He loves the prima donna as much as a Hindu man can, but does not want her to see him as a pianist in a smoky bar. Odette learns that Radjami gave up the throne and lost all his fortune because of her. She admits to her sufferings because of Radjami. When the lovers see each other, they hug. The director tells everyone that soon Mr. Brown, America's biggest producer will come to Paris to see the Bayadere, as it has garnered huge international interest.
