In the film Karthik calling Karthik, Farhan Akhtar suffers from schizophrenia and alter ego.
An introvert Karthik holds himself responsible for his brother’s untimely death due to a childhood incident. He fails to understand reality and exhibits abnormal social behaviour. A person with schizophrenia often mixes reality and fiction.
A delusioned Karthik finds it difficult to distinguish between external reality and internal thoughts. His chaotic work environment worsens his situation and he decides to end up his life.
The Alter Ego:
He starts receiving his own voice messages. He would wake up in the night, leave messages for himself and then receive them at a specific time in the morning.
He gives suggestions to himself and there is a good change in his personal life. His alter ego threatens him not to reveal his calls to anyone and if he does, his life will be ruined.
Here the mystery caller is the manifestation of his own alter ego who offer him advices. In one way a secondary alternative personality that exists within Karthik.
Finally with the help of a psychiatrist he stops engaging with his alter ego (the phone) and confronts the reality that he himself is responsible for his own life.
Image(s) Courtesy: Google