The Nidhi Kapoor Story
Read The Nidhi Kapoor Story Online
Authors: Saurabh Garg
The Nidhi Kapoor Story
SAURABH GARG
GRAPEVINE INDIA
Grapevine India Publishers Pvt. Ltd. Plot No.4, First Floor Pandav Nagar Opposite Shadipur Metro Station Patel Nagar New Delhi - 110008 India
Copyright © Saurabh Garg, 2014
All rights reserved
Printed and bound in New Delhi
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To,
Ma, Pa, Sonali
Myra, Shilpa & Vivek
#sgMS
Author’s Note
In Sikhism, it is believed that humans are afflicted by five major weaknesses. Called the
panjadosh
or
panch vikar
, or more famously, five thieves, these are
Kaam
(lust),
Krodh
(anger),
Lobh
(greed),
Moh
(attachment) and
Hankaar
(ego). These five thieves cause obstruction in pursuit of moral and spiritual path of a devout Sikh. Hence it is the primary aim of a practicing Sikh to subdue these five inner evils and render them useless.
Remarkably, apart from Sikhism, these five evils, or the variants thereof, are talked about in almost all other early religions. Bible calls these seven deadly sins. In Buddhism, these are called
Kleshas
. In Hindusm, these are called
Doshas
. Jainism calls these
Kashayas
.
The Nidhi Kapoor Story is an attempt to explore these five thieves. Or if I may, five universal afflictions. The book is divided into five sub-books. Each sub-book talks about one thief and how that one thief guides emotions and decisions of the lead characters.
Finally, before you depart for the journey, along with Nidhi, Rujuta and Prakash, I want to thank you for deciding to read this book. As a first time author, it means a lot.
Thank you!
Saurabh Garg,
September 2014
Contents
1. Sometime in the early 90s. Ronak.
2. Day 1, Morning. Police Station.
6. Sometime in the 1980s. Ronak.
7. Day 1, Evening. Vie Lounge.
8. Day 2, Evening. Rujuta’s Home.
9. Day 3, Morning. Police Station.
10. Day 5, Noon. Taj Land’s End.
12. Sometime in the 1980s. Ronak.
13. Day 6, Morning. Police Station.
14. Day 6, Evening. Rujuta’s House.
18. Day 9, Night. Rujuta’s House.
20. Day 13, Morning. Police Station.
21. Day 15, Afternoon. Panchgani.
22. Day 30, Afternoon. Rujuta’s House.
23. Day 30, Evening. Tarana’s House.
24. Day 30, Night. Rujuta’s House.
26. Day 32, Evening. Panchgani.
Krodh
∗
is “…derived from the Sanskrit word Krodha, which means wrath or rage. It expresses itself in several forms from silent sullenness to hysterical tantrums and violence.”
∗
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krodh
1. Sometime in the early 90s. Ronak.
Nishant Kapoor’s majestic bungalow, Ronak, was the object of everyone’s admiration and envy. Not just because it was grander than any other, or because it was located on probably the most prized nook of Mumbai, but because it was a symbol. Of power, wealth and fame. A symbol that one had to earn the hard way; the way Nishant Kapoor had. In fact, it was his very presence that made Ronak the symbol it was. After all, when he came to Mumbai from his dusty nondescript village in Punjab, all Nishant got along was his dream of becoming a Bollywood star. And a piece of paper with the address of a distant relative who had once made vague promises to help. Now, almost twenty years after he first set his foot inside a film studio – he started his career as an extra in a wasteful wedding scene – Nishant Kapoor was the undisputed king of Bollywood.
Bollywood fuels dreams of millions of Indians who throng dark cinema halls to escape from their tough lives in the bright world outside. It is an escape into a glossy, cheery, fantasy world of movies and film stars where everything is picture-perfect and almost every story has a they-lived-happily-ever-after ending.
Tonight, the lavish house dominating the far corner of busy Parulekar Road and quiet Alfred Creado Lane, was hosting a party. The party was the talk of the town, for it had been almost three long years since the last gathering at Ronak. There had been no reason to throw parties, as after
nearly two decades of dominance over the film industry, nothing seemed to be working for the great Nishant Kapoor lately. Except
Lahu Ka Rang
.
The movie had come at a point when everyone had almost written Nishant Kapoor off. He was ageing and despite his long and illustrious career, he was on a fast road downhill.
Lahu Ka Rang
came out of nowhere and had reinforced Nishant’s supremacy as the leading actor of Bollywood. Critics, fans, friends, enemies, media and everyone else who had anything to do with the business of entertainment, were of the opinion that Nishant Kapoor had given his best performance. Ever.
Surprisingly, unlike all his previous movies that were about love, romance, family sagas or tragedy,
Lahu Ka Rang
was an out-and-out action flick; his first ever in more than twenty years since his blockbuster debut in
Pyar Ka Musafir
.
Nishant knew that he was taking a huge risk in signing the movie. He had never done an action flick before. He was too old to perform complex stunts that the script demanded. The leading actress opposite him was a newcomer, fifteen years younger and too inexperienced to pull off long dialogues that were important for the climax scene of the movie. The production banner, though belonged to a veteran, had clearly seen better times. When the banner was strong, they had never approached Nishant. And the younger Nishant was too arrogant to approach someone for work.
Although Nishant was reluctant,
Lahu Ka Rang
was his only choice. His older movies were now fading from public memory and new offers were getting harder to come by.
Messages and mail from his loyal fans that almost choked up his mailbox once upon a time, was now reduced to a trickle. The relentless crowd outside Ronak had thinned considerably and now consisted mostly of curious tourists who considered Ronak yet another landmark in the city of dreams. Otherwise every Sunday, precisely at noon, when he came out on the first floor terrace of Ronak to wave at the crowd gathered for his
darshan
, all he could see from his vantage point was a sea of humanity; mostly young women who considered Nishant Kapoor the answer to their fervent prayers for a Prince Charming riding on horseback.
Even though they did not use any out-of-city locations, the shoot took almost a year to complete. The year was full of anxiousness and agony for Nishant. What if the movie did not do well? What if the audience did not accept him as an action hero? What if the heroine could not deliver? What if she did deliver and got more eyeballs than him? What if the distributors backed out? What would he do if the movie bombed? How could Nishant Kapoor fade away into obscurity?
Lahu Ka Rang
took its time to release. Just before the release, the censor board put an objection to steamy love scenes between Nishant and Preeti. When they edited those scenes out, one of the largest distributors got into an argument with the producer and refused to release the prints. But despite the roadblocks and delays, the movie did come out and surprised everyone with the reception it got. Including Nishant.
The first few days were slow; theaters were running empty shows and Nishant’s greatest fears almost came
true. The producer, Roshan Taluja, surprisingly remained upbeat and kept telling Nishant to remain patient. And then, as if someone had cast a magic spell on them, the first set of people who saw the movie – most of them were ardent Nishant Kapoor fans – started to come back. To watch the movie second, third, even the fourth time. And they got along their friends and family. They talked to everyone they could about its brilliance and how the movie ought not be missed. And like wildfire, suddenly, everyone was talking about the film.
After the first few disappointing days, all shows of
Lahu Ka Rang
ran houseful. For weeks. It eventually went on to celebrate a Golden Jubilee at the box office. The first for Nishant Kapoor after a long, long drought.
The film swept the Filmfare Awards and Nishant won awards for the roles of best actor and best villain, for he had played a double role in the film. This was the first such instance where the same actor won the two most coveted awards in the same year, for the same movie. There were talks of translating the film in foreign languages and releasing it overseas. It was even declared as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards and everyone was sure about its success on the global forum.
Lahu Ka Rang
had recreated the Nishant Kapoor that everyone had known over the years – bright, loud, colorful, successful and full of himself.
Bineet Majumdar, the prominent film critic known for his merciless and scathing attacks on any cinema that was not up to his apparently high standards, wrote in his weekly column at Maha Sakaal, “…Nishant Kapoor has been unfair to his fans to not have done an action film all his life.
This is a new, better and a mature reincarnation of the great Nishant Kapoor. A version that would remain etched in our memories forever. With
Lahu Ka Rang
, Nishant has made himself immortal and a living legend.”
Since Bineet Majumdar was indifferent to any form of coercion, bribe, lure or gifts, his reviews were taken more seriously than priests making zealous religious sermons. When the review came out, everyone around Nishant compelled him into throwing a bash. The first person to receive an invitation was Bineet Majumdar. As expected, he refused to acknowledge the invitation.
Thankfully Majumdar did not attend the party. Because if he had, his account of events that were to unfold at the party would have shattered the reputation that was so dear to Nishant Kapoor.
∗∗∗
Ronak was decked up like a new bride. Fancy lights outlined the two-storied structure. The grand lawn was bathed in color and opulence. The swimming pool was illuminated with disco lights that changed colors with music. A DJ was set up at the far corner, next to the bar, and was belting out famous dance numbers from Nishant Kapoor’s movies. Appropriate permissions had been taken, generous bribes had changed hands and Nishant had gone over the guest list with a fine comb.
Everyone of any importance in the film industry made an appearance. So did the prominent businessmen, high¬ranking politicians and socialites. The Chief Minister was
expected to attend as well. Nishant Kapoor was back in the game and it was time to resurrect old friendships and secure his attention. More importantly, secure his dates.