On the day of the tour, I was relieved to be dressed in more comfortable attire, such as kurtas, leggings, Punjabi suits, or even anarkalis and chudidars. These outfits made me feel at ease without the added exposure and complexity of a saree. Having my wife Geeta by my side provided me with much-needed support.
The interviews kicked off, and the news hosts were always direct, delving into intricate details of my life. They asked about my new appearance, the reasons behind choosing this movie, and the factors that led to my transition. I tried to answer these questions genuinely and carefully, avoiding any mention of my darker past or the challenging days of my transition.
However, one question always stumped me: "Is this change only for the movie, or do you plan to revert back to being Aryan?" Geeta skillfully intervened with a smile, reassuring the hosts that our journey was a long and entertaining one. She implied that if they stuck around, they might find the answer themselves. This response, though not definitive, was as clear as it could be, and the hosts seemed to understand that.
Live streaming sessions with fans were enjoyable, despite the occasional toxic comments that would disrupt the chat. I chose to focus on the encouraging messages from my loyal fans. Interacting with them was the highlight of my promotional journey.
During one of these sessions, I surprised my fans by doing my makeup on camera. They began speculating if I was dropping hints about the movie, which added to their excitement. They were genuinely fascinated by my transition, and I assured them that watching the film would be a thrilling roller coaster ride. Clips from my live stream spread like wildfire on social media, and segments from my news interviews went viral on YouTube. More and more people were drawn to see the "new me," creating an electrifying buzz around the film.
When the movie trailer finally hit the screens, it was an instant sensation, amassing 10 million views within an hour and a staggering 73 million views in just 24 hours. The level of hype was beyond anything we had imagined, and we felt confident that our promotional efforts were paying off.
Visiting comedy shows was a delightful experience. Unlike the news interviews, these shows didn't delve into the intricacies of my life but provided moments of fun and lightheartedness. The hosts would ask heartfelt yet humorous questions and make witty comments, sometimes with a touch of sarcasm. This approach piqued the audience's curiosity about me, and they could see me publicly enjoying myself as Arya, which added to their excitement.
The film's script remained a well-guarded secret, and there were no leaks. The trailer intentionally revealed very little, leaving fans eager to gather more information from these entertaining shows. It was important to me that I gave them a fun and engaging experience while keeping the movie's details under wraps.
The visit to the dance reality TV show for kids turned out to be one of the most attention-grabbing stunts of our publicity tour. As I was going through the schedule, I decided to make an epic entry. I had a request in mind, and I shared it with the team. I wanted to perform a dance routine as my entry.
During my transition, Anu had insisted on daily Bharatnatyam practice for nearly one and a half years. I had become a perfectionist in this art form and had developed a grace that resembled a swan. I knew that this performance would create a lot of buzz and draw a significant amount of attention.
I deliberately kept it a secret, only informing the studio that I had a surprise performance planned. This created an aura of mystery around my appearance on the show, generating anticipation and excitement among the audience.
YOU ARE READING
Reel To Real
General FictionThis is a story of a budding actor, Aryan who is set on a path of self improvement and exploring himself to find his true form after hitting the lowest of lows in his life. Will he find a new found or will everything remain the same? Read to find ou...
