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Plot Summary

Selfie (2019) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 108 mins · French
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Directed by
Tristan Aurouet, Vianney Lebasque
Starring
Alma Jodorowsky, Thomas de Pourquery, Elsa Zylberstein, Michaël Abiteboul, Fadily Camara, Blanche Gardin

This film explores the impact of technology on modern life, depicting individuals struggling with digital dependence and its consequences. It follows a diverse group of people—from students to professionals—as they navigate relationships, family, and work while battling the pressures of constant connectivity. The story humorously portrays the chaotic and unpredictable experiences of people overwhelmed by the digital world, pushing them to the brink.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Selfie
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Selfie: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Selfie (2019) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Om Prakash Aggarwal, a dedicated Motor Vehicle Inspector in Bhopal, is portrayed as a devoted admirer of film star Vijay Kumar. Vijay is preparing to travel to the United States with his wife Naina so they can be present when their surrogate delivers the baby, a plan that puts the completion of his next film, Falak Tak, on hold as its budget has already overrun. The climactic shoot, still pending on an Indian Navy‑leased piece of land, becomes complicated when Vijay discovers his driving licence is missing just as clearance is required. The production team is furious at the impending delay, and the pressure to wrap up the shoot intensifies.

A clerical hiccup during a move between RTO offices prevents Vijay from applying for a duplicate licence, spawning a desperate workaround. A politician friend of Vijay arranges for Om to issue a licence illicitly, with the implicit understanding that Vijay will appear in person to confirm the arrangement when the time comes. In exchange, Om hopes to secure a credible proof of the arrangement by having Vijay attend the RTO for the required checks, though the arrangement hinges on secrecy.

Complicating matters, Vijay’s professional rival Suraj Diwan schemes to undermine him using occult methods to suppress competition. Although Vijay recognizes that visiting the RTO could expose his plan, he agrees to take the risk in the hope that a less conspicuous, unadvertised appearance might reduce scrutiny. As the plan unfolds, the RTO precinct becomes the scene of a media frenzy, with TV crews crowding the area. A local corporator, Vimla Tiwari, feeds misinformation to reporters, claiming Vijay has been driving without a licence. The ensuing news backlash damages Vijay’s reputation, while Om’s family grows increasingly worried about the blurred lines between truth and manipulation.

The tension escalates when Suraj’s fandom community launches a hit‑and‑run attack on Om, and a masked group pelts Om’s home with stones, injuring Om’s son. This sequence deepens Om’s belief that Vijay’s supporters are behind the violence, even as Vijay continues to deny direct involvement. Vijay is forced to postpone his US trip at the producer’s insistence, and a hospital dash to treat his ailing son further compounds the crisis.

In the emotional and legal fallout, Om and his wife Minty present a case to police, but Vijay avoids formal charges as the clues remain inconclusive. Protests outside Vijay’s residence become a public spectacle as Om and his family stage a Satyagraha, while media coverage and fan attention swell around the stand‑off. Vijay ultimately decides to participate in the learner’s test under Om’s supervision, and the live, televised setup is designed to demonstrate transparency. The practical test is briefly replaced by a direct question‑and‑answer session with Om, presenting a pivotal moment where Vijay must prove his knowledge and composure under pressure. He answers the difficult queries and passes the learner stage, even as Suraj’s complicity appears to be revealed through a recording by a fellow actor.

Meanwhile, Om’s son endures bullying from Vijay’s fervent fans at school, prompting Om to shield him by delaying school attendance until Vijay’s standing can be properly verified. Naina’s urgent surgery adds personal stakes to the timing, and a flight is arranged to reach the medical procedure once the test results are finalized. On the scheduled practical assessment day, Vijay navigates the required “H test” with ease, but Om vetoes the result by pointing out minor mistakes. The higher‑ups override Om’s judgement, and Vijay earns pass marks, though Om postpones the crucial road test until noon.

Noon arrives with news that the road test must be delayed by two days—coinciding with the day of Naina’s surgery. Facing this conflict, Vijay publicly declares that he will forfeit driving forever if the situation continues to disrupt his life; he even suggests retiring from both acting and driving to protect those around him. The escalating anger of his fans leads to a lynching attempt on Om, but Vijay intervenes, saving him and fleeing the scene to defuse the confrontation.

As the tensions ease, misunderstandings gradually unravel. Om reveals that Vijay’s licence had actually been placed inside a gift box that Vijay had discarded earlier at the RTO, clearing the air between them. Vijay then brings Om and his family to his home, where he scolds Suraj and Vimla for their mistakes and pressures them to acknowledge responsibility. A couple of days later, just before departing for the airport, Vijay speaks with the press about the reconciliation, confirming that he has finally received his driving licence. With the matter resolved, Vijay drives toward the airport, signaling a quiet, resolved close to a fraught chapter.

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:04

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Plot questions answered

Selfie Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Selfie (2019): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Vijay Kumar need a driving licence so urgently?

Vijay needs the driving licence to complete clearance for the climactic shoot of his film Falak Tak, which is scheduled to take place on Indian Navy-leased land. Without the licence, the production cannot proceed, and the film is already over budget. This urgency is compounded by Vijay's plan to travel to the United States where his surrogate wife is about to deliver their baby.

  • driving licence
  • Falak Tak film
  • Vijay Kumar
  • clearance
  • Navy land
Q2

What happened to Vijay's original driving licence?

Vijay's driving licence went missing due to a clerical error during a move between RTO offices. This bureaucratic mix-up prevented him from applying for a duplicate licence through normal channels and set in motion the chain of events involving Om's illicit arrangement.

  • missing licence
  • RTO
  • clerical error
  • Vijay Kumar
Q3

Why did Om agree to issue an illicit licence to Vijay?

A politician friend of Vijay arranged for Om to issue the licence outside proper procedure. In exchange, Om demanded that Vijay appear at the RTO in person for verification, hoping this would give him credible proof of the arrangement and potentially some influence with the famous actor. However, the arrangement was meant to remain secret.

  • Om Prakash Aggarwal
  • illicit licence
  • politician
  • RTO
  • Vijay Kumar
Q4

Who spread the false news about Vijay driving without a licence?

Local corporator Vimla Tiwari fed misinformation to reporters, claiming Vijay had been driving without a licence. This false story was broadcast during the media frenzy at the RTO, causing significant damage to Vijay's public reputation.

  • Vimla Tiwari
  • false news
  • media
  • Vijay Kumar
  • licence controversy
Q5

Who was really behind the attacks on Om and his family?

The attacks were carried out by Suraj Diwan's fandom community, not Vijay's actual supporters. Suraj, Vijay's professional rival, had been plotting to undermine him and used his fans to orchestrate the hit-and-run attack and stone-throwing at Om's home, which injured Om's son.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Suraj is shown plotting against Vijay using occult methods to suppress his competition.

  • Suraj Diwan
  • attack
  • Om's family
  • fandom
  • Vijay Kumar rival
Q6

Why did Vijay cancel his US trip?

Vijay was forced to cancel his trip to the United States at the producer's insistence. The scandal surrounding the licence controversy and the media backlash made it impossible for him to leave during the crisis, especially as the film shoot was already in jeopardy due to the delayed clearance.

  • US trip
  • surrogate baby
  • Vijay Kumar
  • film production
  • Falak Tak
Q7

Why did Om fail Vijay's driving test even though he passed?

Even though Vijay passed both the learner's test and the practical H-test, Om deliberately marked petty flaws and vetoed the results. This was partly due to Om's anger over the attacks on his son and his belief that Vijay's fans were responsible. The higher-ups eventually overruled Om's decision.

Foreshadowing: Om's son had been bullied by Vijay's fans at school, fueling Om's resentment.

  • driving test
  • Om
  • Vijay Kumar
  • H-test
  • passed test
  • fairness
Q8

Where was Vijay's missing licence actually found?

The licence was found inside a gift box that Vijay had discarded at the RTO earlier. Om discovered it and revealed that the licence had never actually been lost or misplaced, it was simply hidden among the discarded gift items, which cleared up the misunderstanding between them.

  • missing licence
  • gift box
  • RTO
  • Vijay Kumar
  • found
Q9

Why did Vijay threaten to quit driving and acting?

Vijay made this drastic vow when the road test was postponed again, coinciding with his wife Naina's surgery. The continued disruptions to his personal life and family obligations, combined with the escalating conflict with Om and the fan violence, led him to declare he would forfeit driving forever and retire from both acting and driving to protect those around him.

  • Vijay Kumar
  • quit driving
  • retire
  • Naina surgery
  • vow
Q10

How did Vijay and Om reconcile their differences?

After Vijay saved Om from being lynched by his enraged fans, the tensions began to ease. Om revealed that Vijay's licence had been in the discarded gift box all along, clearing Vijay of any wrongdoing in the licence affair. Vijay then brought Om and his family to his home, where he scolded Suraj and Vimla for their manipulations and forced them to take responsibility.

  • reconciliation
  • Vijay Kumar
  • Om Prakash Aggarwal
  • Suraj Diwan
  • resolution
Q11

Why did Suraj Diwan plot against Vijay Kumar?

Suraj was Vijay's professional rival in the film industry and wanted to undermine his competition. He used both occult methods and his fandom community to sabotage Vijay, taking advantage of the licence controversy to fuel the conflict and damage Vijay's reputation further.

  • Suraj Diwan
  • rivalry
  • Vijay Kumar
  • occult
  • competition
Q12

When was Vijay finally able to attend to his wife's surgery?

Vijay was able to attend Naina's surgery only after the licence matter was fully resolved. The road test delays had coincided with the surgery date, creating the conflict that led to Vijay's public vow. Once the licence was officially granted and the reconciliation with Om took place, Vijay was free to leave for the airport and presumably to be with his wife for the medical procedure.

  • Naina
  • surgery
  • Vijay Kumar
  • licence
  • airport

Movie threads

More Movies Like Selfie, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Selfie tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Satirical Tech Comedies like Selfie

Comedies that humorously skewer our modern obsession with technology and image. If you liked the chaotic, tech-focused satire of Selfie, you'll enjoy these movies. This list features comedies that explore the funny side of digital dependence, media manipulation, and the quest for public approval, all with a steady pace and an uplifting resolution.

  • satirical
  • chaotic
  • anxious
  • mischievous
  • uplifting
  • farcical
  • Tone: light, satirical
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically follow ordinary people thrown into absurd, often bureaucratic, situations amplified by technology. The plot escalates through a series of misunderstandings and public exposure, forcing characters to confront the gap between their digital personas and real lives, usually leading to a humorous and positive resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on satirizing contemporary digital culture. They blend lighthearted comedy with medium emotional stakes, creating a relatable and humorous critique of the pressures of constant connectivity and public image.

Uplifting Dramedies with Family Themes like Selfie

Stories where personal crises are balanced with heartfelt family dynamics and humor. For viewers who enjoyed the blend of family pressure and light comedy in Selfie, this list highlights similar movies. These stories feature characters navigating personal and familial challenges with a steady, engaging pace, mixing dramatic moments with humor for an ultimately uplifting experience.

  • dramatic
  • uplifting
  • heartfelt
  • comedic
  • family-centric
  • balanced
  • Tone: light, dramatic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist juggling a central, often external, conflict with complicated family relationships. Subplots intertwine, creating a moderate complexity where humor provides relief from dramatic tension. The journey emphasizes personal growth and reconciliation, culminating in a happy ending that feels earned.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific tonal balance: a light overall tone underpinned by medium emotional weight from realistic family and personal pressures. The steady pacing and happy endings create a coherent viewing experience that is both engaging and reassuring.

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Every angle

Selfie (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Selfie in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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