The shrill ring of Priya's phone cut through the morning calm in Rajveer's small apartment. He picked up, putting down the pen with which he was writing something.
"Rajveer! Good news!" Priya's voice crackled with an uncharacteristic excitement. "Remember those photos Rohan took? Well, he didn't just keep them for your portfolio. Smart man, that photographer."
Rajveer's interest piqued. "What happened?"
"He sent them around. Discreetly, to a few directors and producers he knows. And guess what? We've got a bite! A small one, admittedly, but a foot in the door nonetheless."
"A role?" Rajveer asked, trying to keep his expectations in check.
"Not exactly a speaking role, sweetheart," Priya clarified. "But a chance. Falguni Pathak is launching her debut music video, 'Chudi Jo Chhanke'. Huge project for her, and the directors, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, are quite well-known for their music video work. They saw your photos and want you to be part of it. They actually changed the initial story after seeing your photos. But there's a catch in this."
Rajveer processed this information. Falguni Pathak… he vaguely recalled hearing the name. A music video. It wasn't the grand cinematic debut he might have envisioned, but Priya was right – it was a chance.
"What's the catch?" he inquired.
"Before it was background mostly, part of the college crowd setting. But they changed the story in the hopes to feature you. Now you are the male lead. But the thing is that there will be a shirtless scene of yours. If you don't have any problems with it, you can give it a go. Negligible money, I won't lie. But exposure, Rajveer! Millions will watch this video. It's a good opportunity to be seen, to network, to get a feel for a real film set."
'Looks like my luck came in handy. It is one of the best traits I have.' he thought gleefully.
"Shirtless scene," Rajveer repeated, a chuckle escaping his lips. He replied a bit cheekily, "Priya, I built this physique so I could flaunt it. Alright, I'm in. When and where?"
"Excellent!" Priya's enthusiasm returned. "Shooting is today. They need you at a college in South Mumbai – Hinduja College, I believe – by eleven am. I'll send you the exact address. Just be professional, punctual, and soak it all in. This is how it starts."
True to her word, Priya arrived at his doorstep an hour later, a whirlwind of energy and instructions. By ten forty-five, they were navigating the bustling streets of South Mumbai, Priya pointing out landmarks and offering last-minute advice.
As they approached Hinduja College, the atmosphere was buzzing. Bright lights illuminated the campus grounds, cables snaked across pathways, and a flurry of activity – crew members rushing around, makeup artists touching up faces, and a small crowd of onlookers – indicated a film shoot in progress.
Priya navigated through the organized chaos with practiced ease, flashing her manager's ID. She led Rajveer towards a holding area where a few other young men and women were waiting, presumably the other background actors.
"Look there! So handsome! I am sure he must be the hero of this film." a girl, likely a student in this college, shouted to her group of friends.
"Whoa!" other girls also cheered.
"Do you think he will give me his email if I ask him?" a girl asked her friend loudly, trying to make Rajveer listen to her words.
Rajveer just smiled at the antics of the audience.
Wherever Rajveer was going, heads were turning towards him naturally. His presence alone attracted the attention. Priya just smirked seeing this, already getting used to it.
"Just stay professional, Rajveer," she reiterated, her eyes scanning the scene. "Observe everything. See how a set works. And most importantly… be patient. There will be a lot of waiting around."
Suddenly, a girl came forward towards Rajveer with a pen and a notebook in her hands. She asked shyly, "Hello, can you give me your autograph?"
"But I am not some star or known personality. This is actually the first time I am acting in front of a camera. Are you sure about this?" he replied gently, touched by her appreciation.
"That's even better. I'll be your first fan. I am sure you will be famous in the future." said the girl with a smile.
Rajveer chuckled, sensing her enthusiasm. "Fine. Here, give me your notebook."
She immediately gave her notebook and pen to Rajveer.
"What's your name?" Rajveer asked her.
"Aparna!" she replied in giddiness.
APARNA, MY FIRST FAN – He wrote in her notebook.
Suddenly it's like a dam has broken. All the other girls and boys started surrounding him for an autograph. He felt a few overly enthusiastic hands brush against him — likely over excited fans girls, he hoped.
'Whoa! The youth of this country really need some civic sense and sex education. These guys are looking sexually frustrated.'
He looked towards Priya for some help, but she was nowhere to be seen. Only after giving autographs to all these students that he was freed.
He stood there for a few moments before Priya came with two cups of coffee in her hands. She gave one to him, a smirk on her face. He eyed her with some dissatisfaction.
"What?" she asked, still with that smirk on her face.
"I think you do know." he quipped, annoyed at her.
"Come on! You need to get used to this. There will be a bigger crowd in the future. You should learn how to handle the crowd otherwise you'll get drowned in it." she replied with a smile.
"And what's wrong with the people of our country? Seriously, no civic sense. And the youngsters of this country are sexually repressed." Rajveer said in an annoyed tone.
"Well… I can't deny that. Seeing a couple hugging in the open is as rare as haley's comet. Although, Bombay is still better than the other metropolitan cities. As for civic sense, the less you say about it, the better." she said, looking ahead at the horizon.
"You should go and meet the directors, the singer and the other technicians working on this project, while we are waiting for the female lead." said Priya after a few moments.
"I also have the same thoughts. First, let me throw this cup in a dustbin." replied Rajveer, finishing his coffee. He searched for the dustbin nearby, nowhere to be seen. He enquired about it to some students standing nearby. A student was generous enough to do that for him. Rajveer thanked the girl and went on his way.
Rajveer, guided by Priya, was soon introduced to the singer herself, Falguni Pathak. She was a short and bubbly woman with a warm smile and an approachable demeanor.
"Namaste, Rajveer," she said, her voice surprisingly deep and resonant. "The directors have been raving about you. Welcome aboard."
"Namaste, Falguni ji," Rajveer replied with genuine respect. "I've heard your Gujarati folk songs. It's an honor to be a part of your debut video."
Next, they met the director duo, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru. They were both enthusiastic and full of energy.
"Rajveer, it's great to finally meet you in person," Radhika said, her eyes sparkling.
"Your photos were quite striking," Vinay added, nodding in agreement. "Very aesthetically pleasing. You have a very expressive face."
"Falguni also gave you a big thumbs-up," Radhika chuckled. "So, here you are."
"Thank you for this opportunity," Rajveer said sincerely. "I'm eager to work with you all."
Suddenly, a collective murmur rippled through the waiting area. Heads turned towards a nearby gazebo, where a striking young woman with luminous eyes and an ethereal beauty was being attended to by a small entourage.
"That's Riya Sen," Priya whispered, looking at the eighteen year old girl. "She has been in the industry since she was child. Her mother and grandmother, both were actors in Hindi and Bengali cinema. She is also related to some royalty."
Rajveer watched her, absorbing the atmosphere of the set, the energy, the anticipation. It was a far cry from the grand stages of his past lives, but there was a certain raw energy here, a sense of creation in motion. This was a new world, a new stage, and he was finally stepping onto it.
"Ready for your debut, even if it's a small role in a music video?" Priya asked, a wry smile on her face.
Rajveer met her gaze, a spark of determination in his eyes. "Every stage is a stage, Priya. And every role… a chance to learn."
Then came the moment to meet Riya Sen. She was even more captivating in person, but it was her eyes, holding a mischievous quality, that took the cake. She has an air of arrogance, appearing to be aloof. He introduced himself to her.
"Hello, Miss Riya, my name is Rajveer. It's my first time performing in front of a camera. I hope you can guide me." he said, his tone polite and respectful.
She turned towards the voice, instantly captivated by Rajveer's appearance and charm. She was staring at him, without saying any word. Her manager gently nudged her, to wake her up from her daydreaming.
"Hello, Mr… " she trailed off, offering a small, flirtatious smile. Her voice was soft and melodious.
"Rajveer." he repeated, his voice calm and steady.
"Rajveer! I hope you can give me some time after the shoot, if you don't mind?" she said, stretching her hand towards him for a handshake.
He looked towards her hand, then towards his manager. Priya just raised her eyebrows. He too then went ahead for a handshake.
The directors then gathered Rajveer and Riya to explain the scene. As they had mentioned to Priya, there were no dialogues. The entire narrative relied on their expressions and on-screen chemistry. They were to portray young college students falling in love, their emotions conveyed through glances, smiles, and subtle gestures.
"The focus is on capturing the innocent romance, the budding feelings," Radhika explained. "Your eyes need to tell the story."
"Just feel the emotion and let it show," Vinay added. "You both have very expressive faces, so we're confident it will translate beautifully on screen."
'Looks like it's time to use my trump trait, Resonance.'
After a brief session with the makeup artist and a quick wardrobe check, the shooting commenced.
Rajveer found himself surprisingly comfortable in front of the camera. The chaos around him faded as he focused on Riya, trying to convey the shyness and excitement of first love through his eyes and expressions.
Riya's acting, even with her years of experience, was paling in comparison to Rajveer. So he used his trait Resonance to alleviate his co-actor's acting skill, making their chemistry natural in front of the camera.
This trait makes it easier for him to emote and share his emotions with the selected living or non-living things, which helps him create a resonance of emotions and build a connection to others. It's because of this trait, that he was so confident in becoming a film star in a short span of time.
Time flew by, and within four hours, Rajveer had completed his scenes. The directors seemed very pleased with his performance, often praising his natural ease and expressive eyes.
Then came the moment for the shirtless scene. A hush fell over the small crowd of onlookers and crew members. As Rajveer removed his shirt, a few genuine gasps were audible. His physique, honed by his early morning exercise, his inherent physical prowess and because of his shapeshifting skills, was undeniably impressive. The camera lingered on him for a few moments, capturing his confident stance and sculpted form.
After the final shot, Rajveer made sure to thank Falguni, Radhika, and Vinay for the opportunity. As he was packing up, Riya approached him with a genuine smile.
"Rajveer, you did a great job today," she said softly. "Some of us are going out for dinner. Would you like to join us?"
Rajveer, feeling a sense of where it was going and wanting to experience more of this new world, readily agreed. "I'd love to, Riya. Thank you for the invitation."
At the dinner, it was quite clear that Riya was giving special attention to Rajveer. He asked her a bit about her personal life which she gladly answered. She was constantly flirting with him and being touchy. When it was clear that she was single, he reciprocated the flirting. After the dinner, Riya asked Rajveer to send her to her house. It became quite clear to Rajveer where all this was going. He hesitated briefly, thinking for a moment about his unbearable increasing libido, agreeing in the end.
******