Apathetic TV journalist Shivaji (Anil Kapoor) isn't much for politics, until he covers a riot in Maharashtra, India, and is vaulted into that world. There, devious Chief Minister Balraj Chauhan (Amrish Puri) challenges Shivaji to serve in his position for a day. And Shivaji does, instantly curing all that ails the state while romancing local Manjari (Rani Mukerji). Unfortunately, things get ugly since Chauhan would like nothing more than to maintain his corrupt ways and vanquish his new rival.