Staying Alive is based on a true story of a journalist Aditya (Anant Mahadevan) whose third heart attack sends him to the intensive cardiac care at a hospital. On the neighboring bed is an underworld kingpin, Shaukat Ali (Saurabh Shukla) whose love of kebabs has led him to his first heart attack.

The “seasoned” Aditya scoffs at death whereas newcomer to-heart-ailments Shaukat is petrified. The two unlikely hospital inmates strike a love-hate relationship with Aditya relaying a few truths about life to Shaukat. Shaukat appreciates the joy of staying alive even in a life deprived of kebabs.

All along, the two wives are drawn together by the life threatening state of their respective spouses. On being discharged, Shaukat has a change of heart. He reforms, seeking a decent life.

The climax of the film deals with life as it unfolds for a man from the wrong side of the law trying to set things right…will he or wont he succeed? This black comedy is all about being grateful at the joy of just Staying Alive.