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Selfie (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Selfie (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes 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 (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (7)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Selfie
  8. 8 Every angle
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7 main characters · contains spoilers

Selfie Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Selfie (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Om Prakash Aggarwal

    A veteran Motor Vehicle Inspector in Bhopal who idolizes Vijay Kumar. He leverages behind-the-scenes access to push a driving license through illicitly, aiming to boost his own status. His zealous fixation spirals into moral gray areas, triggering a chain of consequences for himself and others.

    • 🎭 Obsession
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Bureaucratic manipulation
  • Vijay Kumar

    A celebrated film actor whose US trip to support a surrogate birth becomes central to the plot. He grapples with public scrutiny, personal commitments, and the pressure to follow or bend the rules. His decisions test his integrity and resilience under media glare.

    • 🎬 Celebrity
    • 🧭 Public pressure
  • Naina

    Vijay’s wife, waiting with him for the surrogate delivery and facing a medical procedure herself. Her presence anchors the stakes of the story and adds emotional urgency to the decisions around the trip and test.

    • ❤️ Family
    • 🏥 Medical concern
  • Suraj Diwan

    Vijay’s professional rival who exploits occult schemes to suppress competition. He uses fan influence to destabilize Vijay, contributing to the film’s tension and drive for dominance.

    • 🏁 Rivalry
    • 🪄 Scheming
  • Vimla Tiwari

    A local corporator who spreads misinformation to the media, inflaming public opinion and complicating Vijay’s standing. Her actions illustrate how politics intersects with entertainment in the city.

    • 🏛️ Politics
    • 🗞️ Media manipulation
  • Minty Aggarwal

    Om Prakash’s wife who witnesses the fallout of the licensure controversy and supports her family through the upheaval. Her perspective reflects the personal cost of public scandal.

    • 👪 Family
    • 🧩 Personal cost
  • Om's Son

    The child of Om and Minty who endures bullying from Vijay’s fans and is involved in the broader emotional stakes of the conflict.

    • 👶 Family
    • 🛡️ Protection

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:21

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Setting

Where and When Does Selfie Take Place?

The setting of Selfie (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Location

Bhopal, India

Set in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, the story unfolds in a busy Indian city where governance, entertainment, and public scrutiny intersect. The plot navigates urban spaces like the RTO and public squares, reflecting a metropolis under constant observation. The backdrop emphasizes crowded streets, local politics, and the pressure of reputation on celebrities and officials alike.

  • 🏙️ Indian city
  • 🚦 Traffic hub

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:21

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3 major themes

Selfie Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Selfie (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Fame & Media

    The film examines how fame invites intense public scrutiny and how media narratives can distort a star’s image. A devoted fanbase, rivalries, and media leaks collide with personal lives, pushing characters to bend rules and face consequences. The story reveals how quickly adoration can turn into backlash, shaping the actions of both fans and celebrities.

  • Power & Ethics

    The plot centers on the abuse and manipulation of power by individuals who can bend rules to their advantage. Illicit licensing, political influence, and media pressure create a gray zone where right and wrong blur. Characters navigate competing loyalties as institutional authority is contested by personal agendas.

  • Reconciliation & Responsibility

    Despite conflict, the narrative moves toward accountability and closure. A test of integrity leads to a public display of reconciliation, showing how humility and responsibility can repair reputations. The resolution suggests that genuine leadership involves balancing ambition with ethical conduct and care for others.

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:21

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Character & theme questions

Selfie Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Selfie (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The film takes place in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, India. The story unfolds across various urban spaces including the RTO (Regional Transport Office), public squares, and crowded streets, showcasing a metropolis where governance, entertainment, and public scrutiny intersect.

  • bhopal
  • madhya pradesh
  • setting
  • indian city
  • location
Q2

Who is Om Prakash Aggarwal?

Om Prakash Aggarwal is a veteran Motor Vehicle Inspector working at the RTO in Bhopal. He is a devoted fan of film actor Vijay Kumar and uses his behind-the-scenes access to push through a driving license illicitly, hoping to boost his own status. His zealous fixation on helping his idol leads him into moral gray areas.

  • om prakash aggarwal
  • motor vehicle inspector
  • rto
  • character role
Q3

Who is Vijay Kumar?

Vijay Kumar is the celebrated film actor at the center of the story. He is preparing for a trip to the US to support a surrogate birth while grappling with intense public scrutiny, personal commitments, and pressure from fans and rivals. His decisions throughout the film test his integrity under the media glare.

  • vijay kumar
  • actor
  • film star
  • celebrity
  • protagonist
Q4

What is the Fame and Media theme about?

The Fame & Media theme explores how public attention distorts a celebrity's image. The film shows how a devoted fanbase, professional rivalries, and media leaks collide with personal lives, pushing characters to bend rules and face consequences. It illustrates how quickly adoration can turn into backlash.

  • fame
  • media
  • public scrutiny
  • celebrity
  • fanbase
Q5

What is the Power and Ethics theme in the movie?

The Power & Ethics theme centers on the abuse and manipulation of authority by individuals who can bend rules to their advantage. Illicit licensing, political influence, and media pressure create a gray zone where right and wrong blur. Characters navigate competing loyalties as institutional authority is contested by personal agendas.

  • power
  • ethics
  • corruption
  • authority
  • moral dilemma
Q6

Who is Naina in the film?

Naina is Vijay Kumar's wife who accompanies him during the surrogate delivery process. She is also facing a medical procedure herself, which adds emotional urgency to the story and heightens the stakes around the couple's decisions regarding the trip.

  • naina
  • vijay's wife
  • surrogate
  • character role
Q7

Who is Suraj Diwan?

Suraj Diwan is Vijay Kumar's professional rival in the film. He employs occult schemes and manipulates fan influence to suppress the competition and destabilize Vijay's career, contributing to the film's tension and the ongoing battle for dominance in the entertainment industry.

  • suraj diwan
  • rival
  • antagonist
  • occult
  • competition
Q8

What is the Reconciliation and Responsibility theme about?

The Reconciliation & Responsibility theme shows how the narrative moves toward accountability and closure. A test of integrity leads to public reconciliation, demonstrating how humility and responsibility can repair damaged reputations. The resolution suggests genuine leadership requires balancing ambition with ethical conduct.

  • reconciliation
  • responsibility
  • accountability
  • redemption
  • resolution
Q9

Who is Vimla Tiwari?

Vimla Tiwari is a local corporator (politician) in Bhopal who spreads misinformation to the media. Her actions inflame public opinion against Vijay Kumar and complicate his standing in the city, illustrating how politics intersects with entertainment and media manipulation.

  • vimla tiwari
  • corporator
  • politician
  • media
  • misinformation
Q10

What is the RTO in the movie?

The RTO (Regional Transport Office) in Bhopal is a key location in the film, representing the bureaucratic center where the central conflict originates. It is where Om Prakash Aggarwal works and where the illicit licensure controversy unfolds, serving as a symbol of institutional authority caught up in the chaos.

  • rto
  • regional transport office
  • bhopal
  • government
  • setting

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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Movies Like Selfie

Similar movies to Selfie: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

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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