Vijay Harshvardhan Malik, played by Amitabh Bachchan, is the principled CEO of the struggling television channel India 24/7. Known for his integrity, Vijay refuses to sensationalize news, focusing instead on facts, communal harmony, and truthful reporting. His commitment to ethical journalism puts him in direct conflict with his competitors, particularly Amrish Kakkar, played by Mohnish Behl, who has built his channel's success by prioritizing aesthetic and sensationalized content.
The story explores the intense rivalry between Vijay's channel and Amrish's, revealing how inner struggles within India 24/7 threaten its survival. Nalini Kashyap, portrayed by Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, serves as the COO but secretly leaks sensitive information to Amrish, aiding his dominance in the media industry. Meanwhile, Vijay's son, Jay Malik, played by Sudeep, faces increasing pressure as he tries to adapt the channel for mass appeal to keep it afloat amid financial hardships. Jay's ambition to launch new channels is met with skepticism from his father, leading to internal family conflict and difficult decisions.
The channel's dire financial situation worsens when Jay, overwhelmed by debts he took from the market, makes dangerous political deals. He conspires with a corrupt opposition leader, Mohan Pandey, played by Paresh Rawal, to frame the Prime Minister, Digvijay Hooda, as part of a nefarious plan to take power. Pandey, seeking to become the country's biggest industrialist, manipulates the situation by fabricating a conspiracy involving the Prime Minister's supposed involvement in a terror attack, thus attempting to justify the political upheaval.
Jay's scheme involves staging a meeting with an alleged terrorist Khanna, played by Anuj Tikku, and a close associate of the Prime Minister, Atul Kumar Dubey. Under duress, Atul Kumar falsely confesses to plotting a bomb blast. Jay then broadcasts this fabricated story, which sparks nationwide outrage and leads to the Prime Minister's downfall in the subsequent elections, with Pandey taking office as the new Prime Minister.
Amidst these developments, Purab Shastri, played by [Ritesh Deshmukh], who admires Vijay's ethical stance, begins to suspect foul play. His suspicions grow when he notices the inexplicable rise in benefits for the channel despite its financial decline. During an interview with Pandey, Purab questions his integrity, but Jay intervenes, threatening his job. Disillusioned, Purab goes undercover as Khanna to uncover the truth and discovers that Jay is secretly working with Pandey and that Khanna was a close friend from college.
Purab's investigation deepens as he uncovers evidence of the conspiracy and the involvement of Jay and Naveen Shankalya, played by [Rajat Kapoor], an influential businessman supporting Pandey's corrupt plans. When Purab shares his findings with Vijay, the shock prompts Vijay to take drastic action — he goes on air to expose the widespread corruption, implicating everyone involved, including his own son. The scandal erupts during the election period, causing public outrage and political upheaval.
Tragedy strikes as Jay, overwhelmed by guilt and facing the collapse of his ambitions and family, commits suicide. Meanwhile, Vijays's daughter Priya, played by [Simone Singh], leaves her husband Naveen and takes their son with her. Amrish Kakkar, attempting to protect himself, hires a lawyer but fails to avoid legal consequences. Ultimately, Vijay resigns as CEO of India 24/7, entrusting the channel’s leadership to Purab, who alone has the courage to bring truth to light and combat corruption.
This gripping tale delves into themes of integrity, corruption, family, and the power of truthful journalism, illustrating the tough choices and moral dilemmas faced by those in the media and political landscapes.
