The beginning

Chapter 7

As the weeks progressed, it became common for them to have lunch and dinner, sometimes even breakfast, together. The schedule for the shoot was intense, running late, beginning early, and as they found out all too soon, forcing them to improvise and think on their feet constantly because Sanjay sir changed things around at the drop of a hat - sometimes not even that. 

The long hours and stressful shoots, not to mention the close physical proximity that they perforce shared playing passionate lovers, brought them ever closer. Both he and she became attuned to the other's presence. They would steal glances at each other and stare when they thought no one was looking. People on set began whispering about their behaviour but they remained, for the most part, oblivious. 

On days off they found excuses to see each other. It became common for Ranveer to spend weekend afternoons at Deepika's place whenever she was free. They would watch movies, play board games and eat good food. Neither had ever enjoyed a person's company as much as they did each other's. 

As the months passed, it became harder and harder for them to ignore the feelings they so clearly had for one another, but they did their best. Deepika because she was afraid to acknowledge them, and Ranveer because he wanted to honour her feelings. He never indicated by word or deed that he wanted more, but he couldn't hide what he felt when he looked at her.

The crew thought it adorable how they were so obviously gone on each other but tried to hide it. Deepika hoped she wasn't as obvious as Ranveer, but knew she was probably fooling no one. As she felt more and more for him, she began to blush more and more in his company. Especially when she saw the way he looked at her. 

He would stare outright at her with a gaze that screamed infatuation and blush and look sheepishly away when caught. His character on screen was supposed to be madly in love with hers and she sometimes didn't know whether he was acting or whether he actually felt that way about her because even when the cameras were off, he looked at her like... Well, like he'd fallen in love. 

Deepika couldn't stop her heart from beating triple time or her skin from turning red when he looked at her like that. Leela was bolder than her, and she reveled in being able to kiss him and touch him and to enjoy his touches unabashedly in return while playing her. The moment the cameras stopped rolling, she'd feel the shyness filling her up again, though less and less as the weeks went by.

They became increasingly comfortable with each other's bodies. Most of the time they didn't even realise it when they were leaning against each other, holding hands, or mirroring each other's postures and expressions. It became natural for them to stand inches from each other as they talked, bodies and hands brushing absently. They adjusted each other's clothes, fed each other, and served as each other's pillows and masseurs on stressful late night shoots. 

Deepika was also shooting Chennai Express at this time and Ranveer both marveled at her work ethic and worried she would exhaust herself. On days off he took to visiting her on the set of her other film with a supply of snacks, drinks and bad jokes. The first time he called her and asked if he could come visit he was apprehensive that she'd say no. After all, he had no business there. To his surprise she happily agreed. 

He came to the set as they were setting up for a shot inside a house with a host of secondary actors. He was very excited to watch Shah Rukh Khan. He texted Deepika to let her know he was there and she walked in at that moment. He was stunned. She looked nothing like what he'd come to expect. She spotted him and started towards him but was waylaid by an assistant director. Her eyes kept looking to him as she discussed the upcoming shot until he smiled and shooed her. 

Rohit Shetty entered the stage and everyone snapped into work mode. The shoot ran like clockwork and Ranveer watched, fascinated by how different this was from Bhansali's set. But most of all, he watched Deepika. She was unrecognisable as the fiesty, funny Meenamma. He'd known she was an amazing actor, but this was incredible.