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Selfie (2018) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Selfie (2018) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 114 mins · Russian
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Starring
Konstantin Khabenskiy, Mikhail Mukhtasipov, Fyodor Bondarchuk, Roman Radov, Dmitriy Kulichkov, Anna Mikhalkova

A popular and cynical writer finds his life stolen when an exact duplicate appears and assumes his identity. The imposter seamlessly takes over his television show, interacts with fans, and even lives with his friends and partners. Bogdanov watches helplessly as his career and personal life are systematically erased. Recognizing the duplicate’s genuine and superior nature, he understands the battle for his identity is lost, until his daughter seeks to restore the real Bogdanov.

Thriller Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle
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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Selfie Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Selfie (2018), 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 devoted motor vehicle inspector whose obsession with Vijay Kumar blurs professional judgment. He engineers an illicit driving license to speed Vijay's access to the test, driven by a desire to be part of his idol's life. His actions reveal how personal loyalty can blur ethics when power is at stake. The unfolding events show the precarious line between fandom and abuse of authority.

    • 🧭 Ambition
    • 🔒 Bureaucracy

  • Vijay Kumar

    A celebrated actor who becomes entangled in a licensing crisis just as he prepares to travel to the United States. He faces intense media scrutiny and a web of rival schemes that threaten to derail his career and public image. He agrees to complete a high-stakes test under an unconventional supervisor, and ultimately secures his license. The arc shows how fame, public pressure, and personal duty collide in a modern Indian film industry.

    • 🎤 Celebrity
    • 🎭 Fame

  • Suraj Diwan

    A professional rival who plots to undermine Vijay using occult means; he manipulates the fandom to create discord and to undermine Vijay's standing. He also heightens the conflict by orchestrating distractions and capitalizing on the public spotlight. His actions reveal how ambition and fan culture can be weaponized in competitive industries.

    • 🕵️‍♂️ Rivalry
    • 🎭 Obsession

  • Vimla Tiwari

    A local corporator who wields political influence to sway public perception. She spreads misinformation through reporters to smear Vijay and influence the licensing controversy. Her role underscores how political power can shape media narratives and outcomes in urban centers.

    • 🏛️ Politics
    • 📰 Misinformation

  • Naina

    Vijay Kumar's wife who needs medical surgery, creating urgency around travel and personal priorities. Her situation adds emotional stakes to the licensing drama and shapes Vijay's decisions under public scrutiny. Her illness anchors the personal costs of professional turbulence.

    • 💖 Family
    • 🏥 Health

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:15

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Setting

Where and When Does Selfie Take Place?

The setting of Selfie (2018): 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

Present day

The events occur in the contemporary period, reflecting today's urban Indian setting. The licensing process, media attention, and social media-driven public scrutiny anchor the story in a recognizable present. The plot threads around a film shoot and a political-business nexus that feels modern, not historical.

Location

Bhopal, RTO offices, Indian Navy leased land, airport

Set in Bhopal, the film follows a motor vehicle inspector in the city’s bustle and bureaucratic corridors. Key events unfold around government offices like the RTO and the media glare that follows the licensing controversy. The climax is staged on an Indian Navy leased land, with the airport serving as the finale where the protagonist leaves for the US.

  • 🏙️ Bhopal
  • 🚗 RTO offices
  • ⚓ Indian Navy leased land
  • ✈️ Airport

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:15

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3 major themes

Selfie Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Selfie (2018) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Stardom Pressure

    The film delves into the pressures of fame on Vijay Kumar, showing how public adoration can blur moral lines. Om's obsession with the idol drives him to bend rules, illustrating how power and celebrity intersect with everyday life. The clash between fans, media, and the star creates a tense atmosphere where every action is amplified.

  • Media Manipulation

    News channels and social coverage shape public perception, turning a routine licensing issue into a public spectacle. Leaks, rumors, and sensational reporting escalate conflicts and influence authorities' decisions. The story shows how media narratives can pressure individuals and institutions to react, regardless of truth.

  • Power and Corruption

    Bureaucratic authority and political ties enable questionable decisions, like illicit licensing to curry favor. The plot exposes how power can corrupt judgment and weaponize public sentiment. Yet the protagonist's choices also explore integrity, responsibility, and accountability within a fraught system.

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:15

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Character & theme questions

Selfie Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Selfie (2018): 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 primarily in Bhopal, with key scenes unfolding in government offices like the RTO (Regional Transport Office), on Indian Navy leased land during the climax, and at the airport for the finale.

  • bhopal
  • rto office
  • setting
  • indian navy airport
Q2

What time period does the movie take place in?

The story is set in the present day, reflecting a modern urban Indian setting with contemporary issues like social media scrutiny, news channel sensationalism, and current bureaucratic systems.

  • present day
  • contemporary
  • time period
  • modern india
Q3

What is the Stardom Pressure theme about?

The film explores how fame creates moral pressures on celebrities, showing how public adoration can blur ethical lines. The conflict between fans, media, and the star creates antense atmosphere where every action gets amplified.

  • stardom
  • fame
  • celebrity pressure
  • fan culture
Q4

How does media manipulation factor into the story?

News channels and social media shape public perception, turning routine issues into public spectacles. The film shows how leaks, rumors, and sensational reporting can escalate conflicts and pressure authorities to react regardless of truth.

  • media manipulation
  • news channels
  • social media
  • public perception
Q5

What does the Power and Corruption theme explore?

The theme examines how bureaucratic authority and political ties enable questionable decisions. It exposes how power can corrupt judgment and weaponize public sentiment, while also exploring integrity and accountability within fraught systems.

  • power
  • corruption
  • bureaucracy
  • politics
  • integrity
Q6

Who is Om Prakash Aggarwal?

Om Prakash Aggarwal is a motor vehicle inspector whose obsession with celebrity Vijay Kumar blurs his professional judgment. He engineers an illicit driving license to help his idol, revealing how personal loyalty to fandom can abuse authority.

  • om prakash aggarwal
  • inspector
  • fandom
  • celebrity obsession
Q7

Who is Vijay Kumar?

Vijay Kumar is a celebrated actor who becomes entangled in a licensing crisis just as he prepares to travel to the United States. He faces intense media scrutiny and rival schemes that threaten his career and public image.

  • vijay kumar
  • actor
  • fame
  • celebrity
  • license controversy
Q8

Who is Naina in the movie?

Naina is Vijay Kumar's wife, whose need for medical surgery creates urgency around travel and personal priorities. Her illness adds emotional stakes to the licensing drama and shapes Vijay's decisions under public scrutiny.

  • naina
  • vijay kumar wife
  • medical surgery
  • family stakes
Q9

Who is Suraj Diwan?

Suraj Diwan is a professional rival who plots to undermine Vijay Kumar using various schemes, including manipulating fandom to create discord. His actions show how ambition and fan culture can be weaponized in competitive industries.

  • suraj diwan
  • rival
  • antagonist
  • competition
Q10

Who is Vimla Tiwari?

Vimla Tiwari is a local corporator who wields political influence to sway public perception. She spreads misinformation through reporters to impact the licensing controversy, demonstrating how political power shapes media narratives.

  • vimla tiwari
  • corporator
  • politician
  • political power
Q11

What role do the RTO offices play in the story?

The RTO (Regional Transport Office) serves as a central location where the bureaucratic conflict unfolds. The licensing controversy at these government offices drives much of the public spectacle and media attention in the film.

  • rto
  • regional transport office
  • government
  • bureaucracy
  • license

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.

Thrillers about media scandals like Selfie

Stories where public figures see their lives destroyed by media and public opinion. If you liked the media frenzy and high-stakes pressure in Selfie, explore other movies where public figures battle scandal, corruption, and public opinion. These tense dramas and thrillers capture the anxiety of living in the spotlight and the fight to reclaim one's identity.

  • tense
  • high stakes
  • public scrutiny
  • media frenzy
  • anxious
  • dramatic
  • Tone: tense, dramatic, anxious
  • Pacing: steady, building pressure
Why these movies?

The story pattern: This thread gathers stories where a public figure's life is thrown into chaos by a scandal, often amplified by a relentless media and a fickle public. The journey involves navigating a bureaucratic and social nightmare, facing threats to career and family, and culminating in a fight for redemption or truth against overwhelming odds.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on the destructive power of modern media, the theme of personal integrity under public attack, and the tense, high-stakes atmosphere created by the threat of complete social and professional ruin.

Selfie movie poster

Selfie

2018
Cinema Verite movie poster

Cinema Verite

2011
Selfie movie poster

Selfie

2015
Shattered Glass movie poster

Shattered Glass

2003
Personal Affairs movie poster

Personal Affairs

2016
Bad Education movie poster

Bad Education

2020
The Franchise Affair movie poster

The Franchise Affair

1951
The Front Runner movie poster

The Front Runner

2018

Movies about identity theft like Selfie

Tales where a character's life is stolen by an impossibly perfect duplicate. Fans of the doppelgänger plot in Selfie will enjoy these stories of stolen identities. Discover other tense films where a character is replaced by a duplicate, creating a unique blend of psychological unease, personal drama, and a fight to prove who you are.

  • uncanny
  • psychological
  • identity crisis
  • tense
  • existential
  • dramatic
  • Tone: tense, uncanny, dramatic
  • Pacing: steady, psychological build
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist confronting a duplicate who is better at living their life than they are. This creates a specific kind of psychological horror rooted in irrelevance and erasure. The conflict is less about physical danger and more about the existential threat of being replaced and forgotten, often requiring the help of loved ones to reclaim one's place.

Why they belong together: These films share a core premise of identity usurpation by a double, creating a distinct vibe of uncanny anxiety and existential dread. They explore themes of authenticity, self-worth, and the fragile nature of personal identity through a unique and compelling narrative device.

Identity movie poster

Identity

2025
Twin Husbands movie poster

Twin Husbands

1933
Deceived movie poster

Deceived

2011
Battle of Memories movie poster

Battle of Memories

2017
The Dark Mirror movie poster

The Dark Mirror

1946
Possession movie poster

Possession

2008
Double Jeopardy movie poster

Double Jeopardy

1999
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde movie poster

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

2003

Every angle

Selfie (2018) 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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