Shivaji Rao (Anil Kapoor) works as a journalist for a satellite television channel and is in love with Manjari (Rani Mukherjee), a village belle. He volunteers to do a television interview with the Chief Minister (Amrish Puri), which is to be telecast live. At the interview, Rao questions the Chief Minister on various controversial issues like corruption and caste clashes that are prevalent in the state. The Chief Minister, who shows his displeasure on being interrogated, challenges him to act as the Chief Minister of the state for a day. Shivaji accepts the challenge. With the assistance of the Chief Minister's secretary, in a dawn to dusk operation, Shivaji manages to root out corruption and dismiss corrupt officials. This makes him a celebrity overnight. The evil-minded Chief Minister retaliates by making attempts to kill Shivaji but ends up murdering his parents. Pressurized by public opinion, he decides to contest the state elections opposite the evil Chief Minister and comes out successful. Donning the role of a newly appointed honest Chief Minister, how Shivaji settles scores with his predecessor forms rest of the story.