[Rishi] This should stay between us.
No one should find out about us.
Nobody will know a thing.
[soft, romantic music playing]
And, scene!
[music fades]
- [Anuradha] Uh, Sai? - Yeah?
I know you focus this special on us, but can we go with something slightly warmer?
[Sai] I can throw in something. Sure.
[Anuradha] Phila, slightly slower fade-out with the music.
- Yeah. - [Anuradha] Go with the feel.
[Phila] Copy.
- Okay, let's move on to the next scene. - [man grunts]
- Miyah? - Uh?
Get up. We're done. Come on.
- Thanks, Aalif. - [Aalif] Okay.
Uh, boys, can you do the set change, please?
[pensive music playing]
[Anuradha] Dimple…
When Colonel James and Khair-un-Nissa kiss,
then Dasi will enter.
You remember your line, right?
"Begum Jaan, Abu Jaan has arrived."
Hey, could you practice that moment once? I need to cue the door light.
- [Anuradha] Yeah, sure. - [Rishi] I wish life was like a play.
You know, we can change the play.
We can restart from the beginning.
But life doesn't give you the chance to start over.
- [softly] Line. - Come on Dimple, line!
[tense music playing]
Sorry.
Rishi, listen, I know taking part in the play is difficult for her.
Especially after--
- Yeah. I… I'll just… - Yeah.
I know tomorrow is choti Diwali, but we're gonna have to…
[Rishi] Dimple, isn't there any way we could start over?
[theme music playing]
Just leave this and look at him.
[Dimple] Ever since I've met him, the true-blue Romeo Singh Shekhawat,
I keep grinning away like an idiot.
I really don't know why people glorify tragic love stories so much.
The happily-ever-afters are the best.
[Anuradha] Rishi.
[upbeat music playing]
Romeo, is there no way you can separate your name from your family's name?
What's in a name, Juliet?
Please, just make me yours.
I shall then become whatever you want me to become.
[Dimple] If he is this passionate in a play,
then can you imagine how lucky I've gotten in real life?
And, scene!
[quirky music plays, fades]
Good.
- You do realize I'm committed, right? - Of course. I am too!
To whom?
- To my play? - [scoffs]
You've just witnessed a terrific actor at work.
[chuckles sarcastically] I'm such a fan!
As long as you're not a method actor, I'm fine-- [chuckles]
Come, we'll take it from the top.
It was great. Why keep doing the same scene over and over?
- [Anuradha] Uh… - No?
HOME CALLING…
Okay. Uh…
- From my line? - [Rishi] Yeah.
Yeah, Papa?
How are you, beta? All fine at the hostel?
Have you adjusted without your mom?
I'm absolutely fine.
But you tell me, how's Ambala adjusting after Mummy's return?
Ambala is in a state of shock.
[chuckles]
Your mom was saying something about Mumbai?
- Some Technovate or something? - Papa, it's nothing.
These college people keep finding new ways to extort money from us.
So let them extort some money from us.
It's not a small amount, Papa.
The registration fee is two and a half lakh rupees.
So?
Why did I become a senior manager then?
A brand-new, blank checkbook has just arrived.
Uh… what?
Hello? Tell me, how's Rishi doing?
Just fine. Roaming around playing Romeo.
Better keep an eye on him.
I wasn't around just for a few months,
and that Cheema Aunty tried her best to entice your dad.
- Uh? - Mummy! [chuckles]
- Uh, what are you saying, Simple? - Why are you laughing? It's true.
Okay, bye. I'll call you later, okay?
[play actors talking indistinctly]
I'm going to Technovate!
- Oh, wow. Wow! - [Celina squeals]
- Ooh! Mumbai! - [Rith] Good job!
It's gonna be an unforgettable trip. One for the ages.
Right? Listen, you'll help me streamline the chat box, miss…
- Mister, sorry. - It's fine. You're trying at least.
[chuckles]
The girls in the hostel look at me like I've landed on Earth from another galaxy.
Who are these people? Tell me more. I'll show them stars in the morning.
If you're giving me bodyguard services, then you'll have to provide them 24/7.
- [mock gasps] - Ooh, someone's got flirting game now.
I wasn't flirting.
- Aw! - [Dimple] Of course not.
[keys clacking]
Oh, wow.
- Is that one of your Betterverse UIs? - Yeah.
One of the worlds.
It's called "Bygone Era."
You can do a virtual walkthrough of some monuments in some heritage sites in it,
and thus the name.
Amazing. Uh, may I?
Yeah. Yeah, sure.
[curious music playing]
[Dimple clicks tongue] Why?
Rishi! [chuckles]
[Dimple] Research or romance,
the fruits of labor of both are always sweet.
- What is it? - What?
What's your problem?
[Dimple] Which is why I know for sure that nothing can go wrong between us now.
I'm working. So don't disturb me.
I'm also working only. Can I?
- [Rith] Yeah. - Thanks.
So work then. Stop disturbing me, no?
[message dings]
From T Thomas.
"A spectacular heritage walk in Hyderabad."
"Organized by history scholar Phila."
Wow, ya. You guys do such interesting things at LLIT all the time.
Come with us! A real-life walkthrough for a change, maybe.
- Is that allowed? Plus-one? - Yeah.
Rith's getting his plus-one.
- [suspenseful music playing] - Who?
[romantic music playing]
- Oh wow! That's interesting. - But where are you going?
[Rith] Um… uh, I'm going to my room.
- Bye! Have fun. - [chuckles]
[Rishi] Hmm.
- Finally, some privacy. - So I can work…
- [Rishi] Yes! We will work! - [chuckles] Rishi.
[Phila] Welcome to our heritage walking tour of Hyderabad.
Scan our app, Lostradamus, right away,
and get immersed in this one-of-a-kind AI historical experience.
Guys, the chai has been sponsored by Salim bhai.
- And this is his son Shehbaaz. - Salaam alaikum.
- They are Aalif's dear friends. - Salaam, miyah.
They've been very helpful to us for our research about the Charminar.
So take your time to explore for yourself.
We'll reconvene here in, say, half an hour?
- Yeah? - Yeah.
This is quite cool.
[Celina] Got to give it to these two for building this app.
[slow music playing]
[romantic music playing]
Uh…
Someone pushed you, or what?
[nervously] No one pushed me.
You actually wanted to do that?
[whispers] Yeah.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
[music intensifies]
[chuckles]
[message chimes]
That was my first, um, kiss ever.
[pensive music playing]
What happened? Did I do something?
[suspenseful music playing]
[romantic music playing]
[Aalif] You know, this place is famous for an eternal love story.
- [Anuradha] Hmm? - [Aalif] Yeah.
A British army officer, James,
and a local Muslim lady, Khair-un-Nissa.
They fell in love with each other and had a famous love story.
A scandalous one at that.
So James changed his religion in Khair's love.
Yeah.
He became a white Mughal.
But this world was hell-bent on tearing them apart.
- So, James was accused of being a spy. - [Anuradha] Hmm.
And the poor guy passed away when he was just 40 years old.
Hmm. And Khair… had such a tragic life.
- [clicks tongue] - Oh.
- What an amazing story. - Hmm.
[clicks tongue] But you know, this… this really bugs me.
Why do these couples vandalize such historic monuments?
Arey, it's not vandalism.
Just think of it this way.
That along with these monuments,
the love stories of those couples also became historic.
Yeah.
By the way, I have an idea. May I?
Tell me.
So if I were to look up Romeo and Juliet's love story on Google right now,
then I would get all the details in a few seconds.
But, uh, why won't someone make a play on this beautiful, local love story?
[inspirational music playing]
[students laughing indistinctly]
[Rishi] So Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built this beautiful fort.
- The same guy who built the Charminar. - [Dimple] Hmm.
He fell in love with a Hindu lady called Bhagmati,
who lived far away on the other side of the river.
And they were so madly in love that the king made a pul
or a bridge for them to meet.
Purana Pul.
And at times, people fondly refer to it as Pyarana Pul.
[Sufi song playing]
And that is exactly like?
- Altair and Vega. - [chuckles]
[in Hindi] ♪ That which hides Behind every gaze ♪
♪ That which is all around ♪
♪ It is love, it is love It is love, it is love ♪
♪ Since I met you ♪
♪ A spring warmth ♪
♪ Spreads through the winter cold ♪
♪ Since I met you ♪
♪ Across the city Valleys of flowers have begun to bloom ♪
♪ You're my soul, and I yours ♪
♪ Even when you can't be seen Your fragrance lingers everywhere ♪
♪ It is love, it is love It is love, it is love… ♪
[Dimple, in English] I never knew I could be this happy.
If I could, I would just freeze this moment and live in it forever.
The sum total of both your ages is below 90 years, right?
- Hmm. - Um, yeah.
Myself, 44. [chuckles]
Boy or girl? Do you have any preference?
- Then please tick this box. - Yeah.
- Girl. - Girl.
[slow, tender music playing]
You teach her cooking, and I'll teach her how to ride a bike.
Here you go.
Unmarried?
[clicks tongue] Damn! You two just wasted a form.
If you're not married, then only one of you can adopt a child.
[pensive music playing]
[people talking indistinctly]
Will you marry me, Karim?
[soulful Sufi love song playing]
When, Sid sir?
Maybe next week?
Yeah.
Next week seems like an auspicious time.
It'll soon be Eid.
[chuckles]
[Rishi, Dimple] Eid Mubarak!
[kisses]
[Zeenat] Mashallah!
NGL, you both look like such couple goals.
Thank you.
Welcome to Hyderabad, and we've missed you.
But even after three years, how are you looking younger than before?
[Rishi, Dimple chuckling]
Dimple!
Anmol.
How's the Vin-Mol love story going?
- Good. We get our inspiration from you. - [Rishi chuckles]
- Long-distance pros. - Aw! [chuckles]
Aah? This is unbelievable!
Malhotra, Shekhawat, amongst ordinary mortals like us?
We got to do it.
- [cell phone buzzing] - Ah, spoke too soon.
[disconnects]
- Haven't things gotten a little delayed? - Hmm.
It would've been nice if we finish the signing and all
before the feast begins.
- Don't you think so? - Hmm.
- Let me go and check. You wait here. - Yeah.
[Sid] Guys, help yourselves.
This seems like the perfect setting to tell everyone about your new play.
- Here? - Yeah.
- You think that's a good idea? - It's a cracking idea.
- Okay. - You wait right here. I'll be back.
- Why? - Ammi has sent nalli nihari for everyone.
- Oh, yum! - Yeah.
- I'll be right back, huh? - Okay.
I wanted to talk to you about something.
Can we speak now?
- About-- - Excuse me.
Is this Siddharth Sinha and Zeenat Karim's house?
Yes, yes. Please come. They're inside.
[Zeenat] Hello, Faizal bhai. Please come. We've been waiting.
- Eid Mubarak! - Eid Mubarak!
Eid Mubarak!
[Sufi love song playing]
What's up?
- Celina… - Hmm?
I want more.
Here?
- I mean… - No, no, no! No.
- I'm… - I…
I want this
to be more than what it is.
- [exhales] - Guys! Uh, guys!
I have an announcement to make.
- I'll just… - [Anuradha] I'm planning a new play.
Don't worry. It's still going to be a musical.
It's still a… a tragic romance.
And the best thing is, it's based on Hyderabad's local history…
- [Zeenat] Did you tell them? - I was just about to tell them.
- I know the reason behind this new drama. - Why?
She'll surely add some more make-out scenes, na?
- [Aalif panting] - Where is Aalif?
Right here. [panting]
- [Anuradha] You okay? - Dude, why are you… Give it to me.
Thank you.
- [panting] - [Anuradha] Come.
- Let him relax. - [Anuradha] Yeah.
- Give it to him. He'll feel better. - Thanks.
Ah, thank you.
I'm pretty worried about you, Aalif.
Arey, just relax. This is really normal for me.
Such shortness of breath is not normal.
You should seriously see a doctor or something.
I mean, have you been doing anything at all to try and lose weight?
[dramatic music playing]
Oh, Aalif! What are you doing here?
Faizal mamu!
- Uh, what are you doing here? - My work.
Registered marriage. What else?
Surprise announcement is a bad idea, Karim.
These kids and their drama is just never-ending.
Like I said, we should've just emailed them and informed them.
And then we could have sent them a box of kaju katli or something.
[chuckles] Okay, never mind. I'll go and announce. Come on!
[dramatic music playing]
[all, in Hindi] Congratulations on your wedding! [cheering]
[gasps]
You told them, right? You did, didn't you?
[in Hindi] ♪ Grant me this one boon ♪
♪ Grant me this one boon ♪
♪ Let me never be apart from you ♪
♪ Lose yourself to me ♪
♪ You're my strength, and I yours ♪
♪ What I fear most, what I desire most ♪
♪ It is love, it is love… ♪
[in English] I…
I don't want more, Krish.
Okay.
Friends with benefits it is.
Hmm?
[sighs] No benefits.
Just friends.
[in Hindi] ♪ Every journey In love is celestial ♪
♪ Since I met you Sitting right here on earth ♪
♪ I've begun to soar through the skies ♪
♪ Since I met you ♪
♪ A little love story Has begun to weave into a legend ♪
♪ You're my soul, and I yours ♪
♪ Even when you can't be seen… ♪
[Celina] Rith.
♪ Your fragrance lingers everywhere ♪
♪ It is love, it is love It is love, it is love… ♪
[Dimple, in English] Festival or no festival,
real celebrations are when fairy lights of joy
light up inside your heart.
HOME CALLING…
[Rishi] No matter the celebrations on the outside,
if the heart is unhappy, it's not Diwali.
Celina, I have to talk to her.
Please try and understand. She's…
Dimple.
Will you come with me, please?
Not right now, Rishi.
[melancholic music playing]
I really need your feedback. Come, na.
Just five minutes. Won't take long.
Come, na.
State-of-the-art TV plus console, check.
Sofa in front of the console, check.
Over there will be our parents' photographs, check.
And then here, finally…
finally, will be our photo instead of those random people.
The one we'll shoot at Marine Drive when we're in Mumbai.
I'm not coming to Technovate, Rishi.
Dimple, please.
[Rishi] I know everything has gone wrong, Dimple.
But I don't wanna lose you.
[melancholic music playing]
[Rishi] What the hell do I do to make this better?
Tell me, why did you stop speaking to me after our first kiss at the heritage walk?
That was three months ago. Why bring it up now?
You felt like you made a mistake, right?
Because I'm
not a boy?
[mock gasps]
You're not a boy?
[shrilly] That is such a huge betrayal! [chuckles]
Don't know. Perhaps… something silly was going on in my head.
I like you.
Girl, boy, shape, form…
Who cares?
I'm worried all the time that…
you know, that you may feel that I'm probably not enough for you.
And then, you'll leave me, and you'll find a "guy" guy.
But what you don't know is
I have this "guy" guy.
[chuckles]
[anklets jingling]
You know, Aalif,
I'm so happy you asked me to change Romeo and Juliet.
I mean, this story is so real and powerful.
- Huh. [chuckles] - Thank you.
[romantic music playing]
I mean, even the performance is absolutely cracking.
Amazing.
And the two of you look
so good together.
Nobody comes close.
I just got really lucky, Aalif.
I mean, Rishi is just… perfect.
Yeah.
Absolutely perfect.
I mean,
whatever you both do, you just kill it.
[melancholic music playing]
[Rishi] I can't believe it was just three months ago
when I thought our life was going to be picture-perfect.
The happily-ever-after kind.
- [plastic wrappers crackling] - [mug clinking]
HOME CALLING…
[cell phone ringing]
[phone stops ringing]
Listen, you really don't need to do all this.
I know.
Just leave me alone, Rishi.
Dimple, I'm not going anywhere.
You can't shut me out like this, ya. You have to talk about it.
It's important that we talk.
Talking is not gonna change a thing!
Fine. We don't have to talk.
I'm not leaving you alone like this.
[melancholic music playing]
[door creaks]
[Rith's sinister theme music playing]
[computer dings]
[exhales]
Okay.
- [dings] - [Rith chuckles]
[man, outside] Happy Diwali!
[crowd] Happy Diwali! [cheering]
[fireworks continue in the distance]
[romantic music playing]
[music fades]
[hesitates] You first.
[sighs] I'm always first.
And that's…
great.
Anmol,
we've been together for three years.
And you still don't open up to me.
[pensive music playing]
Talk to me.
- It's me. - That's the problem, V.
It's you.
I don't want to humiliate myself in front of you.
I don't even know if I can…
[pensive music continues]
It's not do-or-die for me, Anmol.
Sex is just a part of a relationship.
Not the entire relationship.
And I love you.
That's the biggest part, right?
[pensive music playing]
[Rishi] You know the thing is, you have to let your guard down.
Trust is a very important part of love.
And if you want to grow in love,
you need to share both, the good days and the bad.
I just wish you would let your guard down, Dimple.
And I wish I could take back that day.
[wheelchair whirs]
[tense music playing]
[music intensifies]
[laser guns firing]
[fighter grunts]
[laser guns firing]
- [laser guns firing] - [loud explosions]
- [laser guns firing] - [loud explosion]
- [laser guns firing] - [explosions]
- [laser guns firing continues] - [objects rumbling]
[loud explosion]
[gunshots fade]
[keys clacking]
[pensive music playing]
[pensive music continues]
[Dimple] Life is like a play, no?
Drama, comedy, romance, singing and dancing,
and some twists and turns too.
But the biggest twist is when people who seem like supporting characters
end up changing the entire story.
[upbeat, Hindi romantic song playing]
- [song fades] - [all applauding]
[Anuradha panting]
- I know, uh… I messed that one up. - I…
No, no, no, it's fine. No problem.
- Listen, I know it's late. - [cell phone ringing]
[Anuradha] If you have some time, can we practice for one more hour?
HOME CALLING…
- [disconnects] - [Rishi] Yeah.
- That's okay. - [Anuradha] Okay, great.
Uh, Sai, Phila, you guys stay. The rest of you are free to go.
I'm happy to wait.
Arey, no, no, it's pretty late. Your mom will be worried about you.
[Anuradha] Okay.
Okay…
Take good care of our Khair, Colonel saab.
- Okay. - But from a distance.
Ah!
- I'm gonna go. - Yeah.
- Bye. - [Dimple] Bye.
Bye.
[slow music playing]
I love you!
- [softly] Love you. - [man] Rishi.
Okay.
Um, should we take it from the scene?
- A few lines back? - Yeah, uh…
- Okay, when you enter, can you just take… - Yeah?
HOME CALLING…
Mummy!
I've told you I don't want to talk. Please stop calling me again and again.
HOME CALLING…
Hi Aunty. This is Rishi. Dimp--
[tense music playing]
[Rishi] There's a big difference between life and theater.
[video call ringing]
[Rishi] You can't rehearse when it comes to life.
[ringing]
[tense music playing]
Oh, hey!
How are you?
Oh, thank God.
I thought I lost it.
- [exhales] - Dimple…
[tense music playing]
Aunty called just now.
[groans] What was she saying?
I'm sorry, uh, I couldn't call you earlier.
I didn't know what to say.
I don't even know if words can do anything to…
[melancholic music playing]
Uh…
Uncle… suffered a cardiac arrest.
[loud, dramatic music plays, fades]
He didn't make it.
[loud, melancholic music playing]
- I'm sorry. - [restraining gasp]
[sobbing]
[sniffles]
[sighs]
I'm sorry.
[sobbing]
[music intensifies]
[music fades]
[slow music playing]
[typewriter dings]
[music fades]