Prem Kahaniyaan

5.

The next morning, Zara arrived at the studio with a fresh sense of curiosity. Yesterday's conversation with Arjun had opened a door she hadn't expected—one that led to a man far more layered than the glossy image he projected. She was eager to explore that vulnerability further.

When Arjun arrived, Zara was already sitting at the table, notes spread out in front of her. Today, she planned to focus on his career highs and lows, particularly his controversial choices in films. But something about the way Arjun had opened up yesterday made her want to take a slightly different approach.

"Morning," Zara greeted, glancing up from her notes as Arjun walked in.

"Morning," he replied, his expression more neutral than usual. He took his seat across from her and leaned back, crossing his arms. "What's on the agenda today?"

Zara smiled, sensing his apprehension. "Today, I want to dive into your career—specifically, the choices you've made, the roles you’ve taken. And more importantly, why you've taken them."

Arjun raised an eyebrow, already feeling the tension creep in. "What do you mean by 'why'? Isn't it obvious? It’s my job. I pick roles that resonate with me."

Zara leaned forward, her eyes sharp. "Is that really true, though? Because from what I can tell, some of your choices seem... well, let’s just say they’ve caused quite a stir. The critics have been pretty harsh on a few of them."

Arjun smirked, a flicker of his usual guardedness returning. "Critics love to hate, don’t they? You should know."

Zara didn’t flinch. "I’m not talking about the critics, Arjun. I’m talking about you. What drives you to take on roles that you know will cause controversy? What are you trying to prove?"

Arjun sighed, his posture stiffening. "I don’t need to prove anything. I’m an actor. I take on roles that challenge me."

Zara wasn’t convinced. "Really? What about that film last year? The one where you played a corrupt politician? That was a massive risk, and it didn’t exactly pay off, did it?"

Arjun’s jaw tightened. "That role was important to me. It was about more than just box office numbers."

"Important how?" Zara pressed, leaning in. "What was the message you were trying to send?"

Arjun hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with where this was going. He shifted in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck before answering. "It wasn’t about a message. It was about telling a story. A story that needed to be told."

Zara tapped her pen against her notebook, her gaze unwavering. "But that story didn’t exactly paint you in a positive light. You were criticized for glorifying corruption. A lot of people wondered why you’d choose a role like that. Were you trying to change your image?"

Arjun’s eyes flashed with frustration. "No. I wasn’t trying to change anything. I just wanted to do something different. Something real."

Zara nodded slowly, her tone softening. "Okay, I get that. But do you ever think about how these roles affect your reputation? I mean, you’re not just any actor, Arjun. You’re seen as a role model."

Arjun laughed bitterly. "A role model? Please. I never asked to be a role model. I’m just trying to be an actor. People put me on a pedestal, but that’s not my problem."

Zara leaned back, observing him carefully. "But it is your problem, isn’t it? Because no matter how much you try to separate yourself from your public image, people will always see you as more than just an actor. They’ll see you as a symbol."

Arjun clenched his fists, his voice lowering. "I never wanted that. I never wanted to be someone’s symbol."

Zara’s eyes softened. "But you are. Whether you like it or not, you’ve become that person. So how do you deal with it?"

Arjun exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I don’t know. I guess... I try not to think about it. I just focus on the work."

Zara tilted her head, sensing an opening. "But it’s not that easy, is it? You’re constantly under the spotlight. Every choice you make is scrutinized."

Arjun’s gaze darkened. "Yeah. And it sucks. But that’s the price of fame, right?"

Zara nodded. "It is. But you’ve got to admit, sometimes it feels like you’re purposely taking on roles that challenge the image people have of you. Like you’re trying to push back against the box they’re putting you in."

Arjun stared at her for a long moment before responding. "Maybe I am. Maybe I’m tired of being the guy everyone expects me to be."

Zara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And who is that guy? The one they expect you to be?"

Arjun’s voice was heavy with bitterness. "The perfect son. A flawless actor. The hero. The one who never makes mistakes."

Zara’s gaze softened even more. "That’s a lot of pressure."

Arjun scoffed. "You think?"

There was a pause as Zara absorbed his words. She could feel the tension in the air, the weight of Arjun’s frustration, and the vulnerability he was trying so hard to conceal.

"Do you ever feel like you’re losing yourself in all of this?" Zara asked quietly.

Arjun’s eyes flickered with something—pain, maybe. "Sometimes."

Zara leaned forward, her voice gentle. "What do you want, Arjun? What do you really want from all of this? The fame, the roles, the career... what’s the endgame?"

Arjun stared at her, clearly caught off guard by the question. For a moment, he looked like he didn’t know how to answer.

"I don’t know," he admitted finally. "I guess... I just want to be seen. For who I really am. Not for who people think I am."

Zara’s heart ached at the rawness in his voice. For the first time since they’d started this project, she felt like she was truly seeing Arjun—not the actor, not the celebrity, but the man beneath it all.

"That’s all anyone wants," Zara said softly. "To be seen."

Arjun looked away, his jaw clenched. "Yeah. But it’s harder than it looks."

There was a long silence between them, the weight of Arjun’s words hanging in the air. Zara knew she had hit on something important—something Arjun wasn’t used to talking about.

After a few moments, Zara cleared her throat, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "So, what’s next for you? What kind of roles are you looking for now?"

Arjun seemed grateful for the change in topic. He leaned back in his chair, his usual confidence slowly returning. "I want to do something real. Something that challenges me. No more of the typical hero stuff."

Zara smiled slightly. "Good. I think that’s what people want to see from you."

Arjun raised an eyebrow. "Do they? Or is that just what you want to see?"

Zara’s smile widened. "Maybe a little of both."

Arjun chuckled, the tension easing between them. "Well, if you want real, you’re going to get real."

Zara’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I look forward to it."

As they wrapped up for the day, Zara couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. The guarded, combative dynamic they’d started with was beginning to give way to something deeper—something more honest.

And as much as she tried to stay objective, Zara couldn’t deny that Arjun’s vulnerability was starting to affect her. Beneath the headlines and the image, there was a man who was struggling to find himself in a world that constantly tried to define him.

For the first time, Zara found herself wondering if she was ready to let Arjun see a little more of who she really was, too.