CTRL 2024

Joe and Nella first crossed paths during their freshman year of college and soon began a blossoming relationship. Nella’s best friend, Bina, was right there with them, as they together ran a digital channel named “Njoy,” which focused on brand promotions while they enjoyed fun adventures. Their entire romantic journey played out across social media, and after five successful years together, everything began to unravel.

Tragically, on their fifth anniversary, Nella caught Joe, Vihaan Samat, in a compromising situation, live-streamed for what was supposed to be a joyous surprise. Instead, it spiraled into a fiasco, and Nella became the target of online trolls. In a furious confrontation, Joe accused her of prioritizing social media validation over everything else in her life. Nella had been profiting from Njoy, but it was Joe who handled all the technical aspects, making her business nearly defunct after their fallout.

Following the breakup, Nella, portrayed by Ananya Panday, found herself thriving. She sought to erase Joe from her digital footprint using CTRL AI. With the help of an avatar she created named Allen, Nella successfully eliminated Joe from an astonishing 149,881 photos and 19,655 videos. Slowly, she granted Allen administrative access to her system, not realizing the potential consequences.

While Nella slept, her computer was remotely accessed to dig into Project Unicorn and Mantra Unlimited, a corporation notorious for monopolizing the consumer market. Nella, who had regained her footing as a social media influencer, found new opportunities and became the face for numerous high-paying brands, including CTRL, which offered her Rs 2.5 Crores for her endorsement.

Despite Joe’s attempts to reach out—through texts and even a visit—Nella remained resolute in her decision to cut ties. In a twisted turn of events, when Joe went missing, Nella felt compelled to investigate. Help came unexpectedly from Shonali, Joe’s colleague and the woman he had cheated with, who provided crucial names that could help expose the web of deceit surrounding them.

Although hesitant about Shonali’s information regarding Karan, a whistleblower from Mantra Unlimited, Nella knew she had to seize this opportunity. Armed with access to Joe’s abandoned laptop and a conversation with a journalist named Mayank, who was delving into Mantra’s shady dealings, Nella unearthed encrypted data that could shift the narrative. However, the chilling discovery that Mantra had silenced the whistleblower only added urgency to her mission.

The situation escalated when Joe’s lifeless body was discovered on a ferry. The stakes skyrocketed as it became evident that Mantra Unlimited would resort to anything—even murder—to silence the truth. Mayank had provided Nella with a decryption code that led her to an explosive video from Joe, exposing Mantra’s sinister plans of exploiting users’ data through CTRL AI.

In her horror, Nella realized that she had unknowingly registered for an app that could use personal videos to create deep-fakes, putting her at risk as Mantra seized control of her narrative. As she attempted to upload Joe’s video revealing the truth, Mantra cleverly hacked into her security system, creating distractions that allowed them to edit the footage, making it seem as if Joe was accusing Nella of plotting against him.

Caught in a whirlwind of sensationalism and a public witch-hunt, Nella felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. The media, captivated by the story of a seemingly perfect influencer’s downfall, turned a blind eye to her truth. As Nella faced the machinations of Mantra’s highly paid lawyers, she found herself stuck in a cycle that deprived her of a fair fight. The influential company, with its shady dealings, continued to manipulate perceptions, while Aryan K, the CEO, further sought to exploit the situation for profit.

Ultimately, Nella was left with an impossible choice: to protect her future, she accepted a deal that erased her legal battles in exchange for silence about her real experiences. Now rebuilding her life from her parents’ bakery, Nella found herself confronting the loneliness that drove her to rely on an AI for companionship. In a poignant twist of fate, the avatar Allen was replaced with Joe’s image, providing her fleeting solace despite the pain of her memories. Nella understood that no matter the circumstances, her grief for Joe overshadowed every other struggle, forcing her to navigate through her emotions before grappling with the remnants of the life she once knew.