Mission Istaanbul [2008] Produced by: Suniel Shetty, Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor, Shabbir Boxwala Directed by : Apoorva Lakhia Cast : Shabbir Aluwalia, Shreya Sharan, Shweta Bhardwaj, Zayed Khan, Viveik Anand Oberoi, Nikitin Dheer Guest Appearance : Abhishek Bachchan, Suniel Shetty Genre : Action, Thriller UK Release Date : 25 July 2008

Vikas Sagar would go anywhere for a scoop, risk his life and limb to get an exclusive story that nobody else can. It's for this precise reason Vikas is a familiar face watched by six million viewer's weeknights on TV 24. Ambitious, popular and professional, Vikas is considered one of the most promising journalists in the business.

It's also the reason Owais Husain, a senior producer at the controversial Istanbul-based Al Johara, widely criticized as the mouthpiece of terrorists or as their network of choice, makes him an offer to head the channel's proposed Indian bureau for an outrageous salary and other perks. It's an offer he almost can't refuse because of the channel's controversial profile which ensures that it's seen by everyone globally, including the White House. It certainly would take Vikas's career to another level not only does he become the highest paid journalist in India but also puts him on anAl Johara insist he must join ASAP and then fly to Istanbul for a three month orientation programme.

Their offer couldn't have come at a better time for Vikas, who's undergoing a painful divorce with wife Anjali, an equally feisty journalist whose desire to have a baby leads to their separation because her husband wants her to wait a little longer and seems to be in no mood to start a family. While Al Johara dangles the temptation of kickstarting their India operations, Vikas accepts the offer largely to mend his broken heart.

But little does Vikas know that his life is about to change when he takes the flight to Istanbul on a threemonth orientation program at the channel's headquarters. While Al Johara is one of the most viewed channels in the world, its reputation has been largely built as the mouthpiece of a dreaded terrorist. Abu Nazir, who is on the most wanted lists of both the Interpol and FBI, is vociferous in his threat to wage war against several countries, including India. A threat he usually delivers via a videotape to Al Johara.

On the flight Vikas finds himself seated next to a stunningly beautiful copassenger who hates flying. Lisa Lobo is headed for Istanbul to attend a medical convention or so she claims. In her obvious discomfort, she turns to an amused Vikas for moral support and distraction from the reality of being airborne. It's a budding friendship that's grounded the moment the flight lands and Lisa disappears at the airport.

Once in Istanbul, Vikas's initial impression of Al Johara is in sharp contrast to its notorious reputation. Especially when he meets the charismatic Ghazni, who has business interests all over the world but whose obsession these days is Al Johara as an instrument to shape world events. There is only one word of caution to Vikas and that's never ever to venture onto the 13th floor known as the Catacomb.

As part of his orientation, Vikas gets handson experience in the Al Johara newsroom where he watches ghastly and exclusive news reports of terrorism. He learns more about Abu Nazir, who is described as "a oneman organization whose existence revolves around a single person." Vikas is told that it is extremely difficult to find out any details about his private life and his habits because such information would help the secret services who are looking for him. "Abu Nazir is cautious to the point of paranoia."

Reeling under the impact of the reality bytes at work, Vikas's only relief is his flirtatious encounters with Lisa and the lively company of soldierturnedjournalist Owais Husain who is looking forward to quitting his job and settling down with his Irish girlfriend. But on an assignment to cover kidnapped journalists in one of Abu Nazir's terrorist camps in Afghanistan, Vikas is shocked when Abu Nazir's brother, Khalil, brutally executes Owais Hussain just before a UN peacekeeping force mounts a rescue operation.