When the Camera Stopped Rolling

Chapter 1

"Cut!" The director screams for the 5th time and I stop at my position. "Mira what is wrong with you today? You look distracted, what's wrong huh? Tell me." The director places his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I'm currently working for 5 movies together. It's really hard to switch from one character to another in such a short time. Give me another shot, please." I pleaded. The director nods and gets back to his chair.

I take my position and try to concentrate on the scene. She's a girl who just lost her husband now she is singing her melancholic song, it's not hard!
".....Scene 20. Take 6. And action!" The director yells. I start my lip syncing along with the playback. "Cut!" The director yells again, this time he was visibly annoyed. I shiver a bit as the director approaches me. "Mira..." He sighs, "I get that you are under a lot of pressure right now. How about you take a break for 20 mins ?"he asks. This was never a good sign.

"Sir please give me another shot, I'll do it properly." I pleaded as my voice starts to break. "Please. I'm sorry for getting distracted." Tears fell from my eyes.

"Mira you will get another shot, I promise. You just need to get yourself together alright?" He assured me, and I nodded. "Good girl, now go back to your vanity van and get yourself together." I nodded again and walked towards my vanity van with shaking legs.

"It's just her third year in the industry and she's already losing it. Not everyone's cut for it." A literal no-one comments as I reached my van. Am I really losing it? I get inside my van and start crying out my eyes hoping that it'll help. Suddenly my manager, Shalini ,barges inside my van and locks the door behind.

"Mira what is this nonsense going on!" She yells and I shrink more in my seat. "Do you know how much I have to lick the producers ass to get you this movie?" She sneers. And I nod in tears. It was true, if Shalini hadn't requested the manager for giving me this role it would have ended up as a celebrity kid's debut. "Then get the fuck back to the set and do your job!" She says.

"Just give me some time, I haven't been getting much sleep recently. I can't function properly. Give me a moment." I requested softly. Shalini looks at me intently as she taps her feet on the floor then reaches for her bag and takes out a joint. She lights it up and hands it to me.

"It'll calm your nerves down." She says. I hesitated at first, smoking and drinking was something I hated. "Listen girl, no matter how much the director trusts you, if the producer runs out of his patience then he'll replace you. So better choose your priorities right." She hurries me as she pushes the joint in my hand. I looked at her for a while. My dreams or my morals?

"Fuck it." With that I took a drag from the joint. At first I coughed out the smoke. Second time through Shalini's guidance I succeeded. Soon I started to feel light headed, my life flashed in front of my eyes. All the beautiful memories of my mother. I close my eyes trying to stop the time.

"Let's go Mira, it's time."Shalini's voice rang through my ears. All of a sudden I felt like I could do it. I walked out of my vanity and made my way to the set. The director looks at me and realises that I am high but he says nothing.

The moment the camera starts rolling I give my shot of a heartbroken girl from the demise of her husband. And now she is singing her melancholic song in the rain. "And cut it! Excellent Mira! You nailed it!" The director exclaimed. I nod in appreciation and walk towards my vanity as the director packs up for the day. Once I reach my vanity van I fall asleep. I have never slept like this  in a long time.

After a couple of hours, Shalini wakes me up and hurries me to get ready for a party, that I didn't know about. Apparently there will be a lot of people, and she got me an invitation. Well let's say it was to increase my connection in the industry, because I'd need it at some point of time.

.........

I stepped out of my car, I was wearing a black satin dress. My hair fell on my shoulder. My neck and ear were decorated with beautiful pearls. And my eyes were covered with my sunglasses. As I walked inside the club, the paparazzi screamed my name. I struck a confident pose with a beautiful but fake smile. Once they were done taking my picture I walked inside the club with my head held high.

I went to the bar and ordered a glass of water and took a sip. The bartender passed me a pen and tissue for my autograph. I smiled and signed it for him. "Well well well if it isn't the talk of B-town herself." I turned around to see Vijay Patel, he owns the V.P production house. One of the most powerful names in Bollywood.

I smiled, "Hello to you Mr. Patel. Never thought I'd run to you here." I said. Vijay just laughed at my statement and ordered himself a drink.

"Well can't really miss my friend's party, now can I." He replies cocking his brows upwards. One thing about Vijay that annoys me is his cockiness. It's not the first time I'm facing this, and I can guarantee it won't be the last time. "Let me introduce you to him, he really likes your work." He says as he chugs down his drink. He places a hand on the small of my back and guides me towards an office.

As the door opened up, I saw a few men sitting on the couch, a woman pouring herself a drink. And behind the desk was sitting probably the most dangerous man in the country. The Devil of the West, Ravi Rawal. A business tycoon, he had many legal businesses running along with many illegal ones. But no one could do anything, even ministers feared him. His eyes lands on me and he motions us to come inside.

"Ravi, let me introduce you to the beautiful Mira Singh." Vijay introduces me. Ravi stretches out his hands for a handshake, and I take it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Rawal." I say as we shook our hand. Ravi's lips curls up in a smirk as he brings my hand to his lips and kisses it.

"The pleasure is all mine Ms. Singh." He says in his deep voice he stared at my soul. I blush a little.
"I must say the photos of yours don't do justice to your beauty." With that he let's go of my hand.

Vijay pushes me a little towards Ravi, but I balance myself before falling into his arms. "Ravi never says that to anyone, Mira. I'd advise you to make the most of it." Vijay joked, earning a death glare from Ravi. Vijay smirks at him and signals the others to leave us alone in the office. What is going on?

Ravi leads me to a chair and he takes his seat behind the desk. "Don't worry,  Ms. Singh. I've been wanting to meet you for a while now. I really like your work." He says.

"Thank you. I never thought you'd watch my work." I say trying to sound humble and hide my nervousness. "And please call me Mira." He smiles.

"Mira, let me tell you something, I'm not your fan. If that's what you think. But I do appreciate talent and beauty. Both of which, you have a lot." He says, and I nod. "After I saw your debut movie, Geet, I knew you had potential. I mean you got a Filmfare that year while competing with star kids." He states. For the first time someone said it and wasn't afraid of saying it.

"Thank you." I whispered. He gets up from his seat and pours a drink for me. "I don't drink." I said.

"You look stiff, it'll help you loosen up." He says. I didn't argue further and took the glass from him then took a sip. Yuck. But I hide the discomfort from the burning in my throat very well. Well at least that's what I thought. Ravi chuckles and caresses my cheeks, "You are too innocent for the industry. No scandals, no bad habits, no dirty laundry. You need protection, dear." He says, looking into my eyes. Whatever he said was true, I had no scandals, not any dirty laundry in the industry. Heck I just had my first drink today.

I knew what I was lacking. But what is considered to be lavish in the industry is the exact same thing that is considered as degeneration from where I belonged. "I know." I confessed.

Ravi smiled, "Don't worry Mira, now that you are inside this room with me, people outside will be careful before messing with you." He says as gently grips my chin and leans forward. My lips quiver in nervousness. He looks into my eyes for one last time and says, "You should leave before I take away your innocence that I adore about you." He says in a husky voice holding up his card. I took it from his hand and quickly grabbed my purse then rushed out of the office, the club and got in my car.

"Home now." I said to my driver as he looked at me in concern due to my breathlessness.