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Plot Summary

Selfie (2019) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 76 mins · Italian
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Directed by
Agostino Ferrente
Starring
Pietro Orlando, Alessandro Antonelli

Set in a housing project in Naples, the film follows Alessandro and Pietro, two teenagers who use an iPhone to document their lives and the challenges of their neighborhood. Initially built to provide housing for those displaced by the war, the area has become a struggling community. Through their lens, the film explores their daily experiences, the realities of poverty, and the powerful friendship that connects them.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 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 Motor Vehicle Inspector in Bhopal, is a devoted admirer of film star Vijay Kumar. Vijay is gearing up for a trip to the United States with his wife Naina, intended to be by their side when the surrogate delivers their baby, a plan that delays the making of his next film, Falak Tak, which has already run over budget. The climactic shoot is still to be completed on a leased Indian Navy land, and the team discovers that Vijay’s driving licence—needed for clearance—has vanished. The producer is furious because the shoot must wrap quickly, and time is not on anyone’s side.

A clerical stumble during a move between RTO buildings blocks Vijay from applying for a duplicate licence, and a politician friend steps in to speed things up. Om Prakash Aggarwal agrees to issue the licence illicitly, provided Vijay comes to the RTO in person as a kind of proof for any potential inquiry. In the meantime, Suraj Diwan, Vijay’s professional rival, resorts to occult methods to blunt Vijay’s momentum, hoping to curb his rival’s rise without drawing too much attention. Vijay, wary of exposing his visit, agrees to the open test plan with the hope that a public, low-key appearance will minimize scrutiny.

When Vijay arrives at the RTO, cameras and reporters swarm the place. Vimla Tiwari, a local corporator, feeds a reporter misinformation that Vijay has been driving without a licence. The news explodes across the media, and Vijay loses his temper in front of Om, his family, and the staff, forcing him to depart. Om broadcasts to the press that Vijay was arrogant and sought preferential treatment. The damage to Vijay’s reputation deepens as Suraj’s fandom network orchestrates scenes of confrontation—an ominous hit-and-run on Om and a stone-throwing attack on Om’s house, injuring his son and making Om suspect that Vijay’s men are involved.

With mounting pressure, Vijay cancels his US trip at the producer’s insistence. While rushing his son to the hospital, he phones Om and makes a violent threat, a moment that seals Om’s conviction about the rivalry’s intensity. In the ensuing police inquiry, Om and his wife Minty accuse Vijay, but the investigation finds no conclusive involvement by Vijay. This spurs Om and Minty to stage a Satyagraha outside Vijay’s residence, drawing media attention and fans. In a bold move, Vijay announces that he will attend the licence test under Om’s supervision, opening it to live media coverage. What follows is a high-stakes, twist-filled sequence: the computer-based learner’s test is swapped for a live Q&A session with Om, who poses unusual and difficult questions. Vijay perseveres and passes the learner’s test, while Suraj’s role becomes known to Vijay’s circle when a fellow actress secretly records his confession for Vijay.

Meanwhile, Om’s son is teased by Vijay’s fans at school, prompting Om to shield him by keeping him at home until Vijay’s own credibility is challenged. Naina’s need for surgery adds another layer of urgency, and a flight is arranged so she can reach treatment as soon as the test is done. On the practical “H test” day, Vijay clears the exam with flying colors, but Om intentionally marks petty mistakes. A superior administrator overturns this, and Vijay is cleared to proceed. Om then delays the road test until noon, pushing the timeline into a delicate balance with Naina’s surgery. On the afternoon that marks the surgery, Vijay publicly declares he will forfeit driving forever if this disruption continues, even hinting at retirement from both acting and driving if necessary. The crowd grows irate and violent toward Om, but Vijay intervenes to save him, and both escape.

In a tense moment of truth, misunderstandings begin to unravel. Om reveals that Vijay’s licence was kept inside a gift box tossed into the RTO office earlier, restoring a crucial piece of the puzzle. Back at Vijay’s home, he confronts Suraj and Vimla, demanding accountability for their mistakes. A couple of days later, as Vijay prepares to leave for the airport, he speaks to the press about reconciliation and confirms that he has finally received his driving licence. He then drives off toward the airport, the tension resolving into a truce.

The film also features real-life appearances by Pietro Orlando and Alessandro Antonelli playing themselves, adding a meta touch to the unfolding drama.

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 was Vijay Kumar's driving licence missing?

Vijay Kumar's driving licence vanished during a clerical move between RTO buildings in Bhopal. This seemingly simple administrative error created a major problem because the licence was required for clearance to complete the final shoot of his film Falak Tak on Indian Navy land. Without the licence, the production was blocked, forcing Vijay to navigate a complex process to obtain a duplicate.

  • driving licence
  • Vijay Kumar
  • RTO
  • Bhopal
  • Falak Tak
Q2

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

Om Prakash Aggarwal agreed to issue the licence illegally because a politician friend intervened to speed up the process for the film star. Om agreed to issue the illicit licence on the condition that Vijay would come to the RTO in person, providing visible proof that could be used if any official inquiry later investigated the matter.

  • Om Prakash Aggarwal
  • RTO
  • illicit licence
  • politician
Q3

What caused the media frenzy at the RTO when Vijay arrived?

The media frenzy erupted when Vijay arrived at the RTO and Vimla Tiwari, a local corporator, leaked false information to a reporter claiming Vijay had been driving without a licence. This misinformation spread rapidly across media channels, creating a scandal that damaged Vijay's public reputation and forced him to confront Om Prakash publicly.

  • media
  • RTO
  • Vimla Tiwari
  • Vijay
  • licence scandal
Q4

Who really orchestrated the attacks on Om Prakash's family?

The attacks on Om's family were actually orchestrated by Suraj Diwan's fandom network, not by Vijay himself. Suraj, who was Vijay's professional rival, had been using various methods to undermine Vijay's career. The hit-and-run on Om and the stone-throwing attack that injured his son were carried out by Suraj's supporters to create conflict and make Vijay look guilty.

Foreshadowing: Suraj's occult plot to suppress Vijay was established earlier as part of his scheme to undermine his rival.

  • Suraj Diwan
  • Om's family
  • attack
  • fandom
Q5

Why did Vijay cancel his US trip to be with his surrogate baby?

Vijay cancelled his US trip at the producer's insistence because the film Falak Tak was already over budget and the climactic shoot on Navy land could not proceed without obtaining the driving licence clearance. The production pressure was so intense that Vijay had to sacrifice his personal plans to ensure the film could be completed, even though the trip was meant to be by his wife Naina's side during the surrogate delivery.

  • Vijay
  • US trip
  • surrogate
  • Falak Tak
  • producer
Q6

Why was Om Prakash so determined to fail Vijay's driving test?

Om Prakash became increasingly hostile toward Vijay after the media scandal, the attack on his family, and Vijay's threatening phone call while rushing his son to the hospital. These events convinced Om that Vijay was responsible for orchestrating the violence against his family. This personal vendetta drove Om to mark Vijay's H test with petty mistakes and delay the road test, despite Vijay performing well on the actual examination.

  • Om Prakash
  • Vijay
  • driving test
  • failure
Q7

What was Suraj Diwan's plan against Vijay Kumar?

Suraj Diwan, Vijay's professional rival, resorted to occult methods to blunt Vijay's momentum and curb his rise without drawing attention. He also orchestrated the attacks on Om's family through his fandom network to create conflict and incriminate Vijay. His schemes were eventually exposed when a fellow actress secretly recorded his confession and planned to share it with Vijay.

  • Suraj Diwan
  • occult
  • rival
  • Vijay
Q8

How was Vijay's lost driving licence finally found?

The licence was found inside a gift box that had been tossed into the RTO office earlier. Om Prakash revealed this crucial piece of information during the final confrontation, explaining that the licence had been mistakenly placed inside the gift box during the administrative混乱 and sat there unnoticed throughout the entire controversy.

  • licence found
  • gift box
  • RTO
  • Om Prakash
Q9

Why did Vijay announce he would quit driving forever?

Vijay made this dramatic declaration when Om deliberately postponed the road test until noon, creating a conflict with the timing of his wife Naina's surgery. Frustrated by the continued abuse of power and the disruption to his personal life, Vijay proclaimed he would forfeit driving forever if the harassment continued, even hinting at retirement from acting. This moment caused the crowd to turn violent against Om, forcing Vijay to intervene and save him.

  • Vijay
  • quit driving
  • announcement
  • Naina surgery
Q10

How did Vijay and Om Prakash reconcile their differences?

The reconciliation began when Vijay publicly saved Om from the angry mob that was trying to lynch him, demonstrating that Vijay was not the vengeful person Om believed him to be. Later, Om revealed that Vijay's licence had been in the gift box all along, clearing Vijay's name. Vijay then brought Om and his family to his home, confronted Suraj and Vimla for their mistakes, and finally received his licence, driving off toward the airport in a gesture of peace.

  • Vijay
  • Om Prakash
  • reconciliation
  • licence

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.

Urgent Documentaries like Selfie

Fast-paced, immersive documentaries told through the subjects' own lens. Movies like Selfie that drop you into the heart of a story through the eyes of those living it. If you liked the fast-paced, authentic feel of Selfie, you'll find similar immersive documentaries here that capture life in real-time.

  • urgent
  • immersive
  • authentic
  • raw
  • first-person
  • tense
  • Tone: tense, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, immersive
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories unfold in real-time, often eschewing traditional narration for a more direct, observational approach. The narrative is driven by the daily lives, challenges, and triumphs of the subjects, creating an organic and compelling journey.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a commitment to on-the-ground authenticity and a fast-paced, urgent feel. They connect through a first-person perspective that creates a powerful sense of immediacy and emotional investment in the subjects' stories.

Tense Redemption Stories like Selfie

Stories where high-stakes pressure leads to a hopeful, satisfying conclusion. If you enjoyed the high-stakes tension and ultimately happy ending of Selfie, explore these movies. They feature similar journeys through stressful circumstances that build towards a hopeful and redemptive finale.

  • tense
  • high-stakes
  • anxious
  • redemptive
  • hopeful
  • cathartic
  • Tone: tense, redemptive
  • Pacing: fast, building
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves an escalating series of obstacles and conflicts that create sustained tension. The core of the story is the protagonist's struggle against these pressures, which ultimately resolves in a way that renews hope and provides a sense of closure.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared emotional arc: they begin with high-tension scenarios but guide the viewer toward a cathartic and happy ending. The mix of stressful buildup and redemptive payoff creates a specific and satisfying viewing experience.

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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