[suspenseful music playing]
[girl] There is a big difference between assumption and reality.
Everyone sees me as this nerdy girl, Rithika.
A girl who loves football and has a crush on the footballer Neymar.
But the reality is that I want to be a guy, like Neymar.
I'd do anything to change from Rithika to Rith.
I want a body like Neymar's. I want to see a beard like his on my face.
And to do that, it's important for me to break into Betterverse anyhow.
I had been able to hack it for around five minutes.
But to gain full access to Betterverse, I will have to get admission to NNIT.
["Dhokebaaz" playing]
[Nandini] It's going to be a better world for the best version of you.
Immersive virtual universe and Betterverse is for you.
[woman] Rithika, beta?
I've made daal-dhokli for dinner. [in Gujarati] Come and eat.
[in English] I'll turn into a dumpling myself, Ma, if I have daal-dhokli.
I don't want to hear all this. [in Gujarati] Come and eat.
- Coming. - Don't just say that.
[in English] Hurry up. It's already late.
[mutters] Betterverse. Yeah!
[Rith] There's such a difference between Mummy-Papa's assumption
and my reality that I've had to lie to them all my life.
No harm lying yet again.
I've got admission into a top college of India.
Yeah?
- NNIT. - [Rith's mom] Wow!
- It's in Hyderabad. - [splutters] Hy--
Why do you have to go so far? Look for graduation options here.
Would be best if you get a government one.
Papa, I'm getting a full scholarship for it.
Wow!
It's a very good opportunity, Ma.
Did your favorite Neymar's parents stand in the way of his dreams?
No, right?
You go, gudiya. Okay?
- I need to leave this weekend. - [Rith's mom] This weekend?
That's too soon.
[in Gujarati] Uh, sure, no problem, yeah?
[in English] Uh, why delay something good, right?
[Rith's dad] Hmm.
[in Gujarati] Give her some money for expenses.
Hmm.
[Rith, in English] My mother! How is she always so full of love for me?
If I'm able to tell her the truth some day,
that I don't want to be her daughter but her son,
would she still love me as much?
[upbeat music playing]
[messages dinging]
[Rith] Nice!
I figured how I can impress Nandini Nahata at this event.
[in Hindi] ♪ I am an imposter! ♪
♪ I am an… ♪
[button chimes]
♪ I am an imposter! ♪
- [in English] Sir, ticket please. - Sure.
Here you go.
Hmm. Sir, ticket please.
[Rith] Since childhood, I've sat in my room
and only dreamed day and night of being Rith.
Sir, please show me your ticket.
[Rith] I'll get into Betterverse and see myself in Rith's avatar
in there for the first time.
After that, I might find the guts to become Rith in the real world as well.
Then the mismatch between people's assumptions
and my reality might disappear.
[theme music playing]
[sobbing]
Oh ho, Mummy!
If you're going to sob like this, don't come to Hyderabad.
How can I not come? My girl alone in a new city.
Your college doesn't have a hostel yet. Don't know how you'll manage there.
I'll live my life happily there, and I'll make my own decisions.
And we've all seen how that turned out.
- [Dheeraj] Why are you arguing? Come on! - What's happened? She was fine.
- Check if the cab is here. - Yes, I was going to. You come now.
And why did you have to get this '60s haircut?
Your hair grew long with so much difficulty.
I didn't even want a haircut. You forced me to go to the hair salon.
Yes, I was getting a discount.
[quirky music playing]
[Dheeraj] Yes, we are coming.
You have also never lived alone.
Went from holding your mother's hand to holding mine.
You! [grunts]
Listen,
I have packed a month's supply of Chinese samosas and Schezwan parathas.
- In the freezer. - So grateful.
- Heat them in the microwave and have them. - I will. Come on now. Stop crying.
- Senior manager sahab. - Yes?
- What is this? - Wear this tie to office from tomorrow.
So that Virk uncle doesn't get all his work done by you
in the name of friendship.
- Show him who's boss, ya. - You're absolutely right.
This Virk, you know, he's stolen a lot of food from my lunchbox.
Time to put him in his place as his boss.
And if you're serious about that, then feed him Mummy's Schezwan parathas.
- [Simple] Huh? - [Dheeraj and Dimple laughing]
- [Dimple] Bye, Papa. - Come, come, come, come, Simple.
- Bye, Papa. - She was joking.
[Sid] I have an announcement.
This is the last time we're meeting in a conventional classroom.
- [students] What? - [chuckles] Don't worry.
There will be classes, but not inside.
That's the whole point. To be unconventional.
Treat LLIT as an incubator for your own startup ideas.
I'm going to guide you all, like a mentor.
I'll help you develop these ideas.
But I'll not go chasing after anyone. Okay?
[girl] But what about the rest of the class?
[students muttering indistinctly]
- Khonglah, did you say something? - [Khonglah] I'm sorry, sir.
It's just that since morning, I've been getting these
love notes from unknown senders.
Why? What's going on, guys?
- Sir, today is Valentine's Day, so… - [sighs]
[Khonglah] Plus, these guys have no idea what romance is.
Half of these notes,
the guys are asking me for massages and pedicures.
What? Who the hell wrote that?
Thomas, I'll take care of it. You're in my class.
Guys,
this rubbish won't be tolerated here.
I know I'm casual, and I'm easygoing.
But that doesn't mean you can get away with anything.
By the end of the day, Khonglah will get three more notes
with apologies in them. Got it?
Thank you, Thomas. Please sit down.
Just remember,
in all the high-profile colleges, until you are in the final year,
you don't even get a chance to develop your own ideas.
[scoffs] And in NNIT, maybe, not even then.
- Uh, but why, sir? - Why?
Well, my friend,
that's because their dearest boss will never let them spread their wings.
[snaps fingers] For now, I'm flying off. See you, guys.
[male student] Huh? Sir left without teaching us anything.
- Know why this haptic suit's not working? - Anmol!
Because you wasted all your time focusing on that fuck-all robot.
- It's like you, useless. - [Vinny] Tell him!
- [Anmol] Does the world need another one? - [muffled] Not you.
- Anmol! - [Anmol] The world needs a haptic suit.
Anmol, look.
[romantic music playing]
How's the testing of your haptic suit coming along?
[Anmol] Uh…
Very well.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
- Any sensation in your legs? - Hmm.
- That's amazing! - [chuckles]
[romantic music continues]
[music intensifies]
[gasps]
[breathes sharply]
[exhales, gasps]
[romantic music continues]
[music stops abruptly]
Uh, I'm hungry.
Let's go to our haunt.
Um…
Let's get a meal in.
Huh?
Let's go.
Hey, I know. I'm really sorry, ya.
I'll come to Ambala next weekend. I promise.
- I hope you're not angry. - We'll go to see the Charminar, huh?
Oh wow, it was built in 1591.
Of course I'm angry. You're canceling at the last minute.
I know. The issue is Ayesha actually couldn't handle the Delhi event alone.
Namrata canceled, and because of that, I also had to stay back.
But I promise at the next weekend, I will be… One second.
What is this?
- Is this from the Delhi office? - You get back to the event.
I'll meet you s-- I mean, I'll talk to you soon.
- Does Mahesh Babu live around here? - Mummy!
- Bhai sahab, where does Mahesh Babu live? - [Dimple] Mummy!
Correct, from the Delhi office.
- [Rishi] Oh! - Merch for sale.
Oh, these look great!
Yeah, I love these.
[Rith] I'll make sure I thank this lover boy someday.
Makes it easy for me to enter any place.
If he hadn't compromised Betterverse's firewall for his lover girl,
- I wouldn't be here today. - [Vinny] Really?
[students chattering indistinctly]
I know it's rush hour. Um…
You okay?
Um…
Uh…
- Daksh! - [Daksh] Yeah?
Dude, I forgot the name of that biscuit. What was it called?
Osmania!
- Two. - [Daksh] Two Osmania.
I'll… I'll get them for us.
Just go there and wait for me.
Yeah, away from all this. You go. I'm coming. I'm coming.
[Daksh] Your paneer sandwich is ready.
[Daksh] Yes, two.
[Krish] It's nice.
[Daksh] First pay me.
[dramatic music playing]
What is this? What are you people doing?
Huh? Step aside. Step aside!
A handicap is waiting.
Poor fellow. Have some pity.
Social work is your new hobby, huh?
You want a Nobel Prize?
I want nothing from you. Okay?
So then why do you always hover around me
like a poor dog with its tail between its legs?
Fuck off, Anmol!
- Show me how. - You bloody cunt!
- [Vinny] Anmol!
Sorry, Vin. I… I was… This son of a bitch was messing with me.
[snickers]
Rishi part two!
- Bloody simp! - This mother…
Mother what? Complete your sentence.
This… mother…
What are you looking at? Get in line. Why are you all here?
- Daksh, just feed them. Feed them. - [Vinny] Anmol!
Open that Swear Jar app. Come on. Three grand.
- Wasn't it two? - Three swear words, no?
- [Anmol] Which ones? - Cunt, son of a…
Yeah… [chuckles sneakily]
Shell out 1,500.
- Don't act smart with me. - Why should I pay then?
[in Hindi] ♪ With sunshine moist And glistening ♪
♪ May the skies be filled With butterflies ♪
♪ Never lacking for praise ♪
♪ May there be passion in the sand Fantasy in the clouds ♪
♪ Desire in the raindrops Melody on the streets ♪
♪ The moon for my blanket The stars looking down on me ♪
♪ My your time belongs to me My time belongs to you ♪
♪ And just you and me together ♪
[audience cheering]
- Thank you. - It was amazing, you guys!
- Thank you so much! Thank you. - Thank you.
- Hi, everyone. Uh, welcome! - [audience] Hi!
Thank you for being here. My name is Rishi.
I hope you guys have already registered for today's event.
Great, because if you haven't, you can scan the QR code.
Um… so!
The Geeky Nerdy Pyaar app will give you a number in every round,
which will be based on your profile and preferences,
which is written on all the chairs around you.
You have to find that number, and you have to go
and sit in front of your potential match.
Everyone will get only three minutes
to engage in a chat with their potential match.
- After which, a… - [buzzer rings shrilly]
…blaring buzzer sound will be heard.
And that means you have to go back on the app,
you have to check for the next number, you have to rate your previous match,
and you have to go get prompted to the next one.
Okay? Towards the end, your scores will be tallied automatically.
And ta-da! You'll be with your matches.
So I am very excited for this. Good luck!
But before we head, we have a little message from our founder.
Hi, guys!
And welcome to Geeky Nerdy Pyaar's Valentine's Day event.
Now, I know that we tend to ignore our personal lives
because of studies and work.
But you know what?
We all deserve some romance in our lives.
So let us help you find love.
Trust me. If I managed to find love against all odds,
it's possible for everyone.
[Rith] Everyone expects this picture-perfect type of love.
But of course, the reality is that it's not easy to find such love.
Especially for me.
Because I need to find myself first.
I just hope there are no hiccups.
This, um… They've printed the same design on all?
- Didn't they have the budget for more? - There's one more.
Uh, sorry. Just setting up.
Anyway, I don't want to buy anything.
[quirky music playing]
Sorry. [sighs]
- Hi, I'm Celina. - Rith.
Um, aren't you participating?
Uh… I think you should take one of these badges, maybe?
So, orange is for straight, green is for gay,
and purple is for bi, like myself.
Um…
- Uh… - Um…
Sorry! [chuckles]
There's no badge for "confused." But there should be one.
I'm not confused, and it's none of your business.
- [buzzer rings] - Wow!
Very edgy vibes!
You do you, babe!
Oh, and by the way,
tell your founder that these T-shirts, they suck ass!
Much like your service.
[mock gasps] T-shirt drop…
What is wrong with her?
[Rith] Love stories are nothing but clichéd formulas.
[Rith] For instance, one is "enemies to lovers."
Then there is "friends to lovers."
And the worst of all,
"love at first sight."
[soft, romantic music playing]
- Hello! Hi! - Hey!
Sorry I'm late.
Ah, uh, no, that's okay.
- Ah, have you registered? - Yeah, yeah.
You know, I was at a play reading, and we're casting,
and I honestly haven't been able to find any…
- I'm Anuradha. - [chuckles]
Hi, Anuradha. I'm Rishi.
Uh, you are straight?
Yeah, yeah, yeah! She, her, straight.
Late, but straight.
- How about you? - Alas! Sorry!
I think the badges are over.
- Alas, indeed! - [chuckles] Sorry.
You know, I'm going to be directing Romeo and Juliet very soon.
- Oh, that's amazing! - Yeah! Uh, and, uh…
You'd make a perfect Romeo.
- [chuckles] - [romantic music playing]
My life's purpose is to be the perfect Romeo, Anuradha.
- [chuckles] - [Rishi] Hey! Found it.
- There. - Ah! Thank you, good sir.
- No problem. - But yours is pink?
[Rishi] Yeah! Pink is for "taken."
Committed. You know, perfect Romeo.
[pensive music playing]
Uh… oh…
- No, no. Um… - [chuckles awkwardly]
- [splutters] - Uh, I'm not… I'm not partici--
- I'm actually the… - Yeah…
- I… I just… - I'll just…
- No… - Excuse me. I'll…
Bu--
- [sighs heavily] - [man] I've been told I've…
- [buzzer rings] - [man] Round two.
Please check the number allotted on the app.
[Rith] Love at first sight always gets a strong dose of reality.
But everyone falls prey to this love at first sight formula.
[upbeat music playing]
[chimes]
What do you do for fun?
[scoffs, clicks tongue]
Make a complete fool of myself.
S-- sorry?
[Telugu love song playing]
Sorry.
Fun? Um, theater.
Yeah, I… I love theater.
It's like my passion.
What about you? Are you into the performing arts?
[song continues]
[in Telugu] ♪ Your glance brings out Those feelings, and I'm lost ♪
♪ Without you, my world is dark… ♪
[in English] No.
- No? - [boy] No.
Oh! Well, you should check out some plays sometime.
I mean, like, I know that people are mostly into films
and series and all that, but there's something about the stage…
[in Telugu] ♪ I'm alive But every second feels like an eternity ♪
♪ Are you with me? If not, I cannot feel myself ♪
♪ And now you make me stutter… ♪
- [girl, in English] Hey! - Taken, ma'am. Sorry.
Don't you have a long-distance thing going?
She won't find out.
[expectant music playing]
[in Telugu] ♪ I'm searching for you In my thoughts ♪
♪ But I cannot find you… ♪
[in English] Woah!
Slow down. We've literally just met.
- I'm a new student at LLIT. - What?
Dimple. You must have heard the name.
I've also heard that if you want something with all your heart,
the whole universe comes together to bring it to you.
- So is Mogambo happy now? - [chuckles]
[Dimple chuckles]
- So… - So?
Describe your last relationship.
She threw cold coffee at me the first time I saw her…
[both chuckle]
…and that's when I knew that I was in trouble.
Hmm, so that must have turned you into a fan of cold coffee.
A big one.
I'm addicted to it.
Yeah, me too.
[in Telugu] ♪ Where are you? Your thoughts are intoxicating ♪
♪ I'm alive, but every second Feels like an eternity ♪
♪ Are you with me? Or else I can't feel myself ♪
♪ And now you make me stutter… ♪
[Rith in English] Hello, my Betterverse buddies!
My apologies in advance for what is about to happen.
Actually, no. I take that back.
I really need this.
Why are you staring at me?
Okay!
It's because I'm hot. I get it!
But why such cold vibes?
You're Simran's ex, aren't you?
You… you know Simran?
Yes. I'm her big fan.
See? Her new boyfriend.
He's Spanish.
He's way hotter than you and clearly keeps her so much happier!
Oi! Looks like Valentine's is going well for both of us.
- Hello. - Hi.
- How are you? - Good.
- What's up, buddy? - [Anmol] Hey.
[pensive music playing]
V! Meet the famous Ms. Ambala.
I'm so sorry. I should've introduced--
- Hi, Dimple. I'm Vinny. - Hi.
- [Vinny] I've heard so much… - Did you tell her anything?
That, you know, the two of us, are…
How do you guys manage a long-distance relationship?
I mean, Anmol and I also figure…
But anyway, we'll be fine. These girls will figure it out.
I feel guilty, but I do miss him, you know?
Sorry, I'm going on and on.
It… I don't open up so much… You could have saved her.
Arey, she needs no saving. She's Dimple no damsel.
She was rejected by her idol, and yet somehow she made it here.
[hisses] You're not helping.
I'm just saying that her determination is fucking awesome!
[Rishi, Vinny] Hey! Swear not! 1,000 rupees!
[Anmol] What is this charity? There you go again.
[Rith] The problem with reality is that
one person's reality can be different from another's.
And when this comes out in the open,
one of them can even feel betrayed.
[chattering indistinctly]
There's a discount for the founder's girlfriend.
- [chuckles] I'm just browsing. - Okay.
I feel the same way during garba in my hometown.
Escape-room kind of vibes.
[buzzer rings]
I made an app three years ago, you know?
"Antisosh."
It taught users how to escape from rooms just like this one.
Nice. I'm going to download it right away.
But someone stole my app, ya.
Just another thing that didn't go according to plan.
[Rith] We're all full of contradictions.
We want to hide the truth from everyone.
I'm stuck in this loop of torture.
[Rith] But we also want someone with whom we can be completely open
and be understood by.
[both sigh exaggeratedly]
Are you okay?
Video…
- Yeah, I saw. - Hmm.
First, I saw Namrata, then I saw Dimple.
[snickers]
And you know, this thought came into my head that
I'm the bad guy in everyone's life.
Sometimes, it's good to be bad.
[both, mockingly] Mm-hmm?
[buzzer rings]
- And anyway, these good guys, right? - Hmm.
- They're all bloody boring. - Hmm.
Just like…
Just like Simran's new guy.
So, do you still miss Simran?
[squeals jokingly]
- Okay, got it. - [chuckles]
- No, man. No, man. Let's not go there. - Yeah, yeah, it hurts.
- Hey, listen! Since we're already here… - Yeah?
- A badass photo is a must! - Yeah, okay. Come.
[both panting]
Bro! [chuckles nervously]
- Whoo! - What the fuck?
[hesitates] Yeah!
Yeah, what the… what the fuck, man?
[beeps]
Fuck!
[shakily] This is… this is too bizarre.
I shouldn't have let this happen.
[Anmol speaking indistinctly]
[chuckles]
[tense music playing]
[Nandini] What the hell is going on?
Anmol,
your haptic suit's not working.
But instead of working on that, you're busy with these kiddish activities.
Rishi, you know very well how much I depend on you, right?
I didn't expect this from you.
Not done.
[tense music continues]
Of course. Makes sense.
Please make sure you don't fall into old patterns, hmm?
- Yes, ma'am. - [beeps]
Speaking of old patterns…
Katyal!
Do you guys know that there used to be a time
when your Nandini ma'am would write notes
that took all night
for all her batchmates, and anonymously,
so that nobody felt lonely.
Ever heard of something called growing up?
Oh, you wouldn't know, Siddharth.
In this university, there are many small-time colleges.
Including yours.
But there's only one NNIT.
My students do real work.
Usually.
That's it!
No more events in this college from now on.
- Rishi, wrap this up. - All right. Enough insults for a day.
- Come on. - Sir! Sir! Ma'am! Everyone!
Ma'am, just one second, please. The event's about to be over.
Only the calculation of the scores is left,
and it'll be done in no time.
The app will do it in seconds. Please, ma'am.
[buzzer ringing]
That's it, everyone.
Thank you. That was the last round.
Ah, now you can check your phones and click on the "complete" button.
You'll get a link. Click on that.
[Rith] Geeky Nerdy Pyaar.
Time to meet your perfect match.
Malware created by yours truly, Rith Joshi.
- Seems accurate. - Nuh-uh.
This app sucks!
Geeky Nerdy sham!
You know what this means, right? Date night's not over yet.
Just give me a moment. I'll fix this. Yeah?
- Bhai, come with me, please. - Open the source file and show me.
All the algorithms seem fine to me.
It's a front-end issue, not the back-end.
I worked in cybersecurity for two years.
I can find it and fix it in no time.
That was my job.
Okay, yeah.
[tense music playing]
Break the long lines first.
Someone has made the code unreadable on purpose.
Another thing we have in common.
[music intensifies]
Ask them to refresh the app.
[beeps]
- [beeping] - [participants exclaiming]
[glass shattering]
I got a match! Where is Sanjeev?
Sanjeev? Sanjeev!
[everyone laughing]
Thank you so much, man. You saved the day.
- You're amazing! - Yeah.
- Do you go to college here too? - No.
But I plan to fix that.
So do I.
[Dimple] Sir!
- Please tell me you saw her code. - Good to see you, too, Ahuja.
[Dimple] Hello.
- You finally showed up. - Yes!
[Rith] Hello, ma'am?
Hi, Ms. uh…?
Um, you just missed it, but you can ask anyone there.
There was an issue with the app, and at record…
…speed, she debugged the app.
She's too good. I'm very impressed.
And you want me to…?
There's no one of my caliber in your institute, ma'am.
I can guarantee you.
Nobody here could have handled such a breach so swiftly.
LLIT needs her more than she needs LLIT. No offense!
But if our institute is in a league of its own, then, you know…
NNIT is a premier institute.
These passionate show-off pitches aren't good enough.
We can't really gauge your caliber without a written exam. Hmm?
[Sid] Hey, genius!
LLIT was started for people like you.
And there's a seat for you if you want one.
And in the meantime, you can stay at our homestay for the students
until our hostels are ready.
[scoffs]
[Rith] Time for plan B.
The goalpost is the same.
I just need a pivot instead of a direct shot.
From here to there.
And from there, it's a free kick to Betterverse.
Where it's not Rithika but Rith that I'll see myself as.
[Zeenat] Sid sir, make that rogan josh with some passion.
Passion?
[exhales] My mood is finally better.
And why was your mood off?
Nothing much. Just that Valentine's Day
had the kids' hormones going all over the place.
And that Shekhawat had even organized an event.
Ended up arguing with Nandini there.
Hmm, but on the bright side,
Dimple is back!
Well, she also got mixed up in all this 14th Feb nonsense.
But I'm happy she's back.
Come on now!
It's such a romantic day, but you're being so unromantic right now.
- Wow! You too? - [Zeenat] Of course!
Why do you think I insisted to make rogan josh together today? Hmm?
Happy V-day, Sid sir!
[Zeenat laughs]
Anmol really has changed, Dimple.
But you didn't even tell me that you two have become besties now.
You didn't even tell me that you're the apple of Nandini ma'am's eye now.
I won't tell you everything about myself on our first date.
We've only just met, cupcake.
- [groans] Come on. - [Rishi chuckles]
Hey, you also didn't tell me about this new, hip hairstyle of yours.
- Looks great. - Thank you.
Oh, by the way, are you staying at the hostel here?
- It's not ready yet. - [mock gasps]
Come stay with me, no?
[mock gasps] Talk to the mummy.
[clicks tongue] No.
This is so wrong, just like your dialogue.
- What? - Hand! Talk to the hand.
You seem to be more upset about the dialogue.
- [chuckles] - [clicks tongue]
- Your priorities have changed. - [scoffs] Oh, really?
[chuckles] Okay.
What now?
So now?
[upbeat, romantic music playing]
- [chuckles] Sorry. - [chuckles] It's okay.
[Dimple clears throat]
[both chuckle]
- [lighthearted music playing] - Nice.
[Rishi chuckles] Thank you.
[pensive, expectant music playing]
[music fades]
- [thuds] - [Rishi yelps]
- [gasping] - Hey!
- Are you okay? - [chuckles]
[Rishi exhales sharply]
[both chuckling]
[Rishi snickering]
[slow music playing]
- [Dimple grunts] - [Rishi yelps] Ow! Sorry!
- [Rishi] Sorry. Sorry! - [chuckles]
[chuckles] Doesn't matter.
[clattering loudly]
[Rith] There is a bigger problem
than the mismatch of assumptions and reality.
The mismatch of expectation and outcome.
[pensive music playing]
Are you okay?
[Dimple] Hmm.
And you're okay?
[whispers] Yeah.
[in normal voice] You think that was okay?
I guess so.
[somber music playing]
[music intensifies]
[music swells]
[upbeat music playing]
[music fades]
[light music playing]
[typewriter dings]
[music intensifies]
[music fades]