The beginning

Chapter 3

Deepika grew excited as she became immersed in the discussion about the film. This was the most collaborative process she'd ever worked on. Her character, too, was someone she was looking forward to playing, though right now she only knew what little Sanjay sir had told her about Leela and what she'd skimmed through on the first reading. Tonight she'd dive into the script and she couldn't wait. 

She was aware that Ranveer was equally excited as he offered suggestions and made comments sitting beside her. That made her happy - some of the people she worked with didn't care, or at least pretended not to. There was an energy in the room, like everyone knew that what they were working on was something special, and that energy came from Sanjay sir himself. It was infectious. 

She was actually very happy with all three teams she was working with this year. The film with Ayaan was fun because everyone was more or less the same age. It had been a bit awkward at first acting opposite Ranbir, but they'd been forced to spend a fair bit of time together during the Manali shoot, with the result that they were now comfortable with each other again. There was still the old familiar attraction, but it was just a hum in the background that she could turn up during scenes when she needed it and ignore the rest of the time. As for the hurt feelings, well, they'd both grown up considerably during the intervening years, her more than him. She was no innocent any more. 

Besides, he was happy in his relationship with Katrina, and if there was one absolute rule she would never, ever break, it was to come between two people in a relationship. She'd had it done to her by these very same people and she knew just how much it hurt. 

And so she had fun with Adi, Kalki and the rest, with Ranbir, too, when they were part of the same group, but didn't spend time alone with him except for a few hours right at the beginning when they'd had dinner together and assured each other that they'd be able to co-operate. Now, after the first schedule was done, she could say with some confidence that she and Ranbir were friends. Not best friends, but she cared about him and he cared about her. That was good enough for her. 

Her other film, Chennai Express, had yet to begin shooting, but Shah Rukh was the best. He'd made her feel so comfortable right from the beginning, and even now, whenever she had a problem, she knew she could call him for help. Rohit Shetty, whom she'd met a couple of times, was a gentle giant who had the enthusiasm of a little kid when it came to his films. And now the team of Ram Leela seemed like they were all passionate, committed artists, and she couldn't be more excited. This was going to be a good year - insanely busy, but she was happiest busy. 

"All right, let's do the photo test," Ravi Varman, the cinematographer announced. 

"Deepika, there are a couple of lehengas that the costumers picked up in Gujarat, why don't you try one of those? Just to get an idea of the look," Sanjay sir said. 

Ranveer's look for the film had already been pretty much put together. Deepika nodded and went to change. She immediately fell in love with the colourful ghagras and dupattas and the intricate heavy earrings. Maxima Basu, Ranveer's costume designer on the film, joined her to help her dress. "We've asked Anju Modi to work on costumes for Leela, and she's got some spectacular ghagras made," she commented as they tried different styles of draping the dupatta over a simple black blouse that Deepika had brought with her. They ended up tucking a corner into her waistband, bunching the rest on her shoulder and allowing the whole of her midriff and back to show. 

"Are you sure about this?" Deepika asked, assessing with a critical gaze. 

"Oh yes," Maxima said. "Leela is beautiful, flower-like, but she's also fiesty and knows she is stunning. She would totally show off her fabulous figure," Maxima winked at her, and Deepika burst out laughing. She put on some of the chunky jewelry that they'd laid out, clipped her hair half out of the way, applied a little extra kajal and a hint of a darker lipstick, a small red bindi, and looked at herself. Yes, this was good. She felt just enough unlike herself.