Fox 2009

Arjun Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, is a highly successful criminal defense lawyer who prides himself on winning high-profile cases for the wealthy. The film opens with him defending his friend Raj Thakur Vipul Gupta, who has been accused of rape and murder. Arjun’s defense leans on painting the victim’s morals as questionable, a strategy that stirs anger in the victim’s set of parents outside the courthouse who curse him for lacking conscience. Later, Raj confesses his guilt; Arjun is shaken by his friend’s brazenness, yet Raj points out that Arjun’s career flourishes precisely because he defends such clients.

At home, Arjun calls his girlfriend and fellow lawyer Urvashi Sagarika Ghatge. A shadowy figure with a gun approaches, but the moment ends when Arjun reveals on the phone that he wants to change. The next morning in court, Arjun publicly accuses Raj of guilt. The judge orders him to step down and revokes his license, prompting him to take a break from Mumbai and leave behind his girlfriend.

In Goa, he meets Vivian McNamara, a retired lawyer who claims to understand his predicament. They talk; McNamara has written a crime thriller, “Fix the Fox,” about the murder of five lawyers, and hopes to publish a story that leaves a positive mark. He gives Arjun the manuscript, which Arjun devours in a single night. The next morning, a police officer named Gaitonde informs him that McNamara has died.

With no obvious heir to take the manuscript, Arjun opts to publish it in memory of McNamara. He approaches Sophia Udita Goswami, a publishing house editor who recognizes the manuscript’s potential. The pages are watermarked with “McNamara,” leading Sophie to assume a pen name, but her policy is to publish under real names. Arjun’s fame greatly helps the deal, and he signs on as the author.

The novel becomes a national bestseller and quickly lands on the desk of Yashwant Deshmukh [Sunny Deol], a local crime branch officer who reads it and suspects something amiss. When Arjun confirms he wrote it, Yashwant has him arrested. The book’s five murders align with five unsolved cases on file, including confidential details that only the killer would know. Urvashi intervenes, negotiating bail and a remand so they can investigate the case themselves.

Arjun and Urvashi share the full story with Yashwant, but no proof exists that “Vivian McNamara” or “Gaitonde” ever existed. Arjun recalls the watermark and believes it could plant reasonable doubt. They retrieve the manuscript from the publisher, only to learn that Gaitonde has already taken it; Arjun pursues him to Yashwant’s residence and uncovers clues: photographs of Yashwant with “Gaitonde” and a hidden room filled with memorabilia about the five lawyer-victims, including Arjun. The realization hits: Yashwant is the Fox behind the murders and the frame-up.

A tense confrontation follows at a secluded location. Arjun asks why Yashwant framed him. Yashwant explains his motive: his wife and son were murdered, and a defense lawyer like Arjun got the killer acquitted. That failure fuels his vow to eradicate lawyers like him. He had almost killed Arjun earlier but was swayed when he heard Arjun’s confession to Urvashi; instead, he orchestrated a setup with Vivian McNamara (who was really Yashwant’s brother posing as Gaitonde). When Arjun claimed authorship of the novel, Yashwant took it as proof that Arjun hadn’t changed.

Arjun reveals he was wired, and the entire exchange was recorded. As police officers emerge from their hiding spots, Yashwant closes in, but the officers shoot him dead, ending the conspiracy.