The beginning

Chapter 2

Deepika had butterflies in her stomach. She'd had a restless night, well aware that this film, with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was one of the biggest opportunities she'd ever had as an actor. Bhansali, with his larger-than-life canvases, his complex storylines and strong female characters, was a director that every actor aspired to work with. Her co-star, Ranveer Singh, she didn't know much about - which was part of the reason for her apprehension. From the narration she knew they'd have to work very closely together to convince everyone that they were passionately in love. What would he be like?

She'd worked with a fair number of actors so she knew how to portray being in love with someone she didn't care for by now. It was always nicer when she and her co-star got along, though. She'd only spoken to him a couple of times before this, and both times he'd flirted outrageously while denying he was doing it. She didn't know whether he was pretending to be unaware or whether he really was that affected by her. She didn't know which was worse.

When she'd entered Sanjay sir's house everyone from the team had risen to greet her. As Sanjay sir introduced her to them one by one, she was constantly aware of Ranveer staring at her. She was already nervous and he wasn't making it any easier for her to dissemble. Only her years of acting experience and Sanjay sir's warm presence by her side kept her calm. Finally Sanjay sir turned to Ranveer. "You've met Ranveer, of course," he said. 

"Yes, briefly," she nodded, and held out her hand. 

He shook it. "Yes, we've spoken to each other a couple of times," he feigned nonchalance when those times were actually etched into his memory. "I'm glad to have you on board," he told her. "And congratulations on Cocktail. I absolutely loved your performance in it." 

"Thank you," she smiled at him. 

Neither of them noticed that he'd yet to let go of her hand. Most of the team had already headed to the dining room for lunch. Sanjay sir said, "I'll leave you two to chat." 

Deepika startled. She'd almost forgotten that he was still there. "Sure, we'll, umm, join you in a bit. Unless you're hungry?" She turned to Ranveer and caught him staring at her again. 

"What? Umm, no, no, you go ahead, sir," he forced himself to look away from her face.

Sanjay sir walked away smirking, pleased at their reactions to each other. He could already see the chemistry; he only hoped it translated just as well on the screen. Deepika and Ranveer sat down facing each other on one of the comfortable sofas in the living room, already oblivious to everything else.

"So you've had a while to prep now. How is Sanjay sir to work with?" Deepika asked Ranveer when they were alone. 

"He's a genius," Ranveer replied. "Like all geniuses, his mind runs a million miles an hour." 

"And everyone else can't keep up?" she guessed. 

"Right, exactly. Look, we've both heard stories of how he makes his actors cry," he said, "And working with him for these past few months, I think I understand why. It's because he expects everyone else to be just as passionate and to give as much of themselves as he does." 

She nodded thoughtfully. "I think I understand," she said. "I got a similar impression when he came to narrate the film to me." He smiled at that.

"He was very impressed by you in that meeting, by the way," Ranveer said. 

"What? Are you kidding me? I was so sick that day! I looked like a drowned rat," she said, and laughed. 

"You really don't know?" he asked, disbelieving. 

"Know what?" she questioned. 

He shook his head, bemused. "Sanjay sir came back singing praises of your beauty and spirit. I remember his exact words. 'That neck! Those eyes! She is a burning flame.' You could never be anything less than stunning, you know that, right?" He watched a blush bloom on her cheeks at his words, saw her shyly duck her head, and felt his heart begin to beat faster in his chest.