Youngistaan 2014

Youngistaan is a love story woven into the fabric of Indian politics, following Abhimanyu Kaul [Jacky Bhagnani] and Anwita Chauhan [Neha Sharma], a couple who have built a carefree life together in Japan through a three-year live-in relationship, away from the glare of the media.

In Japan, Abhi works as a video game designer at Akira Games, alongside his colleague Zaffar [Kayoze Irani]. Their project is sabotaged when a rival, Stan, steals their game and presents it as his own to their boss. Abhi initially stays quiet and publicly deflects blame when his supervisor scolds him, arguing that he has the game’s codes and the bugs, which should force Stan to come clean. The tension in the studio exposes Abhi’s quieter, more introspective nature, even as Zaffar persists in believing in his friend’s talent.

The drama intensifies when Abhi’s life is upended by the sudden illness and death of his father, Dashrath Kaul [Boman Irani], who serves as Prime Minister of India. Dashrath has been undergoing cancer treatment in the United States, and in his final days he asks Abhi to trust his secretary Akbar Uncle [Farooq Shaikh]. Shortly after, Dashrath passes away, pulling Abhi into a political maelstrom he never sought.

Anvita travels with Abhi to the United States for the dramatic moment, but is kept apart from Dashrath and isolated in her hotel room due to concerns over press conferences and media questions. Abhi travels back to India for the funeral and the subsequent handling of his father’s legacy, a transition that thrusts him into the political arena before he is ready.

The Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Party (ABKP) moves quickly to fill the vacancy, appointing Shubo Da [Dipankar Dey] as Interim Prime Minister. Recognizing the unpopularity of the government in an election year, Shubo Da convinces senior party leaders, including Murli Mukundan [Prakash Belawadi], to elevate Abhi as the interim PM until polls decide the country’s fate. Because Abhi is only 28, he is not yet eligible for the Rajya Sabha, so the party plans to push him into the Lok Sabha through by-polls in three months. Abhi reveals to Anvita that his father’s dying wish was for him to accept the chance to lead the country, a decision that strains their relationship even as he accepts it.

Anvita, feeling the loss of personal freedom as Abhi steps into the duties of the office, becomes increasingly resistant. The new role requires tight security and constant media scrutiny, with SPG protectors following them and little privacy. Abhi’s reputation as the “good boy” of politics tests him as he encounters a cabinet that questions his readiness, except for Akbar Patel, his loyal secretary. The cabinet introduces him to the full machinery of power, including encounters with the armed forces, RAW, NSA, and the Nuclear Command Authority, and Abhi is handed a briefcase containing the capability to order a nuclear strike—an enormous responsibility that underscores the weight of the job.

In trying to chart a path forward, Abhi pushes for reforms that echo the concerns of young voters, proposing targeted tax cuts for the youth and a more direct line of contact between citizens and the PM by setting up a grievance cell for direct outreach. The political chessboard grows more complex as Murli resists Abhi’s proposals, arguing the treasury cannot bear the costs of the youth-focused policies, while Abhi pushes ahead with a stakeholder-friendly approach.

A media storm erupts when Abhi requests a private bungalow to live with Anwita, turning their personal life into a national issue. He responds to criticism in his own unvarnished style, publicly rebuking Murli and suspending him as finance minister after pressing his tax plan. Abhi also makes a bold public stand by declaring that his personal life is his own business, a statement that broadens his appeal with many voters even as it irks his opponents.

As Abhi’s public profile rises, Anwita discovers she is pregnant and expresses a strong desire to become a mother. In a pivotal late-night moment, Abhi accompanies Anwita to a small, beloved Kulfi/Alcohol Vendor shop run by Kulfi [Brijendra Kala]. The vendor, stunned to see the Prime Minister at his shop, jokes about needing a five-star liquor license, a detail that humanizes the leader and adds a touch of humor to a tense chapter of his tenure.

With his popularity surging, Abhi orchestrates a dramatic political reshuffle to sideline Shubo Da by elevating him to the presidency, a move that consolidates Abhi’s grip on power while reshaping the government’s balance. The remaining rival, Ajay Thakur, seizes on the pregnancy news surrounding Anwita to launch a challenge, attempting to destabilize Abhi’s coalition.

In response, Abhi resigns his post and calls for snap elections, leveraging a high-profile CBI probe initiated by his father into kickbacks linked to Ajay Thakur in a jet fighter deal. The exposure of the alleged graft is played out in the media, weakening Ajay’s position and clearing a path for Abhi to push for a peak-level, solo contest in the elections. Abhi also unveils a practical tool to mobilize the youth—the accessibility of a mobile voting app designed to simplify casting ballots.

As the results begin to come in, Abhi’s party rides a wave of support and wins a decisive majority, enabling him to assume a second term as prime minister. The victory marks a striking transformation from a reluctant, media-shy technocrat to a leader who channels the energy and demands of a new generation, championing direct citizen involvement and digital-age governance.

Throughout, the film threads together themes of love, duty, and the personal costs of public life, inviting viewers to consider how a young leader balances intimate relationships with the vast responsibilities of governing a nation.