I leave managing control of Viktory Studios
to my granddaughter from my first wife,
Mahika Nandy.
(riveting music)
(Raghu) I am leaving Viktory Studios
and will create my very own independent studio!
Go ahead and make your mindless films. I will make meaningful ones.
The ones that will make your father proud.
(Rustom) With Armaan on board,
Regal Star and Viktory's alliance is truly gold.
(Raghu) You want Armaan?
I'll bring you his entire fuckin' village.
(Mandira) Raghu called and he offered me a film.
(Yasmin) Agent Haseena is my film.
And you took that away from me!
I know you are there.
Satya, I want to make this film with you and Armaan together.
He was my grandfather's maternal ancestor.
-Tatya. -Yes, Deven bhai.
(Zico) Boss, that asshole Armaan just said yes to Mahika's film.
How dare he even think of backstabbing you?
Does he think Raghu Khanna is a joke?
(Saajan) Time is such a funny thing.
You were residing like a king on Viktory's throne a few weeks ago.
With style and panache. And today,
mingling with us at our humble abode.
There is only one god in Bollywood, and that is the star.
And you think you're God.
(Saajan) There is a very old saying that...
until you crawl your way to the top and disrupt the status quo...
-Sir. -Ma'am.
(Saajan) ...you will forever be regarded as an outsider.
(Mahika) Yasmin is pregnant?
That definitely calls for a celebration. Hmm?
(Raghu) You love me?
Then do me a favour. Get rid of it.
(reporter) Armaan Singh and his former co-star Saira Mistry
has made headlines today.
The news of their affair has spread like wildfire.
Be it the newspapers,
daily gossip or memes on Twitter, they're everywhere.
I don't give a fuck about this!
We need to shoot today. That's it!
-Call Prithvi. -(phone vibrating)
(Nitesh) Go for it,
if you want to.
No, sir. That's fine.
-(crowd) Boycott Armaan! -(man) This protest will go on
till Armaan Singh is kicked out of this film!
(Raghu) Nice work, Zico.
He messed with you, boss. I wouldn't have let him get off easy.
-(champagne pops) -(crowd cheering, clapping)
(musical crescendo)
Alliances can break as easily as they were once formed.
I'll sort it out.
(music stops)
It's a shit show.
-(upbeat music) -(cycle bell rings)
THE BIGGEST ARMAANIAN LUCKY LOVER'S LUCKY FAN
♪ There is only one heart That beats ♪
♪ But it beats for a million! ♪
♪ And the eternal dilemma continues ♪
♪ Who is the lucky one Of 'em all? ♪
(singing) ♪ There is charisma Everywhere ♪
♪ There is injustice everywhere ♪
♪ My eyes wander ♪
♪ And everybody Is chanting my name ♪
♪ La La Lucky Lover ♪
♪ I'm the name on every lip ♪
♪ La La Lucky Lover ♪
♪ I'm the thief of beats That the hearts skip ♪
(crowd) Boycott Armaan!
Boycott Armaan!
Armaan Singh is an absolute cheat.
A philanderer like him does not deserve
to play the role of someone as legendary as Tatya Tope!
Our organisation will henceforth commence a protest.
A movement that will go on
until Armaan Singh is kicked out of the movie!
-(tense music) -(crowd chattering)
TRAITOR
Armaan, I'll handle this.
Armaan. Armaan, no. Ar... Armaan!
Armaan, no!
(crowd cheering)
(music turns intense)
-(glass shatters) -(cheering stops)
Oh!
Motherfuc...
-(people whispering) -(music restarts)
(cameras clicking)
(musical crescendo)
(riveting opening music)
(reporter) Doom still looms large over Viktory Studios.
Armaan Singh and Saira Mistry's rumours were running strong already.
But amidst all of this, Armaan pelted a stone at his own fan
and has raked up a fresh controversy.
#Ban1857 is trending on social media
-while protests continue -(sombre music)
-outside Viktory Studios. -This is ridiculous.
What remains to be seen is whether 1857
-will ever see the light of day. -Bullshit! They're trying to bully us.
-(Prithvi) Satya, calm down. -Calm down?
Will there be an apology for the mistake...
#Ban1857 has been trending since last night.
And none of you seem to give a fuck about this!
You don't understand. This is not just about the movie.
This is about the legacy of Tatya Tope.
The legacy of my family, and it is being
fucking tarnished right now!
Okay. Enough!
It's nothing serious right now. We are all part of a team.
-You don't have to blast out like this. -How do you think you will fix this?
-We will do our job. We'll fix it-- -(shouts) Are you both done?
-Shut up, all of you! -(music stops)
(reporter) ...there is no news on this right now.
Mandira is leaving Mumbai and--
Listen.
I went a little overboard, I know.
But trust me,
I do know what you're going through right now.
(melancholic piano keys)
I'll talk to you later.
(footsteps departing)
(Deven) If we must save 1857 from all this negative publicity,
we need Armaan on our side.
(chair rolls)
(melancholic music)
Where were you?
-I was with Nitesh-- -No, I mean...
When I needed you the most, where were you?
-(champagne pops) -(electronic music playing)
(crowd cheering)
I swear on my mother,
in all my life, I have never ever got 100 out of 100.
But in just one week,
Screw Dheela has crossed Rs. 100 crore!
-(crowd cheering, clapping) -(man) Woo-hoo! Screw Dheela!
(music muffles out)
(phone ringing)
Is Yasmin with you?
Her phone is switched off.
(woman) She is not answering our calls either.
She told me not to go visit her either.
I don't even know if she's in Bombay.
Find out and call me.
Yeah.
(introspective music)
(breathing rapidly)
(doorbell rings)
(Jugnu) Hmm!
Have a look. Seems like someone's at the door.
This is quite convenient.
I'll fetch you water. Make tea for you.
-I'll operate this iPad too. -(doorbell ringing)
And I'll open the door too! (whimpers)
I'm stuck in this position, Jugnu!
-You're the one who's stuck? -(doorbell rings)
Calm down! I'm coming.
Alia beta?
(melancholic music)
Sweetheart, what brings you here?
(door bangs shut)
Why haven't you been answering my calls?
It's been a while since we had a good long talk.
Oh, by the way,
I've sent that phone across to your aunt.
She was thrilled.
She said she'll keep you as her wallpaper
and your song as her ringtone.
(giggles)
Anyway, enough about that.
Screw Dheela has turned into quite the rage!
Thank the Lord, your song is viral everywhere.
But I've heard the film is quite average. Right?
(Yasmin's father) Hey, I had no clue my baby is in Lucknow!
There's a photo on today's front page again.
Oh, come on now, Yousuf.
Our daughter is sitting across from you,
and you're still invested in your newspaper.
Oh, come on. I'm just showing how proud I am of our daughter.
So, tell me. Where are you shooting this week?
There's no shoot this month.
I have taken some time off.
I wanted to spend some time with you both.
My love, I get it.
We all have mood swings, yes.
But such a long break...
It doesn't suit an actor like you.
I'm sure you understand this.
(phone rings)
-(cuts call) -(phone lands sharply)
(melancholic music)
(music continues)
(Mandira) I put my career and my goals on hold
just to ensure the limelight always stays on you.
And once I got the Debonair endorsement and Agent Haseena,
this is what you did to me?
Huh?
-(sighs deeply) -(door opens)
(Raghu) Mandy?
(Mandira) Maybe it's also my fault.
When I first found out that he cheated on me,
I was really hurt.
The second time around,
I thought of leaving him for good.
I stayed back for my children.
The third time around...
it didn't hurt at all.
You know, he never deserved you.
And to be honest, when you decided to marry him,
I was a bit shocked.
I was.
He's an asshole!
And sooner or later, he's going to file for a divorce
and he's going to look like one.
Mandy...
It's his loss. You'll come out victorious in this.
His career and reputation will be tarnished!
And all the sympathy is coming your way.
You know, I feel...
I truly feel
you should embrace that sympathy.
Capitalise on it.
If you know what I mean.
(music intensifies)
(vehicles honking)
(people chattering)
(man 1) Mandira-ji is really nice.
(man 2) Look, it's Mandira. She's here!
(car screeches)
(intense music)
(woman) Ma'am, ma'am!
(man 2) Mandira ma'am!
One pose, ma'am!
-Look here, ma'am! -(cameras clicking)
(man 3) Mandy ma'am!
(reporters chattering)
(Raghu) If you want to win over the public, you need their sympathy.
We have to get your career and life back on track.
What's the use of a National Award
if you don't use your acting skills in real life?
And through all that you do,
Agent Haseena will get the publicity it needs.
(woman) Is Armaan sir coming too?
(cameras clicking)
-No. -(woman) Sorry.
(Ayan) Mumma!
-Hi! -Why are you crying?
(music intensifies)
Kill me! Another one bites the dust.
I wonder how many times she'll forgive that serial cheater.
Poor guy has too many trophies but only one trophy wife.
(woman chuckles)
Let's go.
(man 4) Ma'am, ma'am! One solo, please.
-That's beautiful, Mandira! -(camera clicks)
Love you, ma'am! Gorgeous.
-(gasps) -(music turns tense)
(whispers) The ring is off!
-They have separated? -It's true!
-For real. -Yes!
-(cameras clicking) -(music stops)
There is only one reason behind this misfortune.
The unfortunate addition and multiplication
of the doomed digits 43 is creating havoc in your life.
Dixit-ji.
You're on my payroll for your astrological skills.
Not for you to teach me complicated Hindi words. Okay?
So go easy on me, please.
43 is back in your life.
How is that possible? Impossible.
I haven't been anywhere close to 43!
Check again!
The number has sneaked its way into your horoscope.
But how?
-There has to be some catch. -(comedic music)
(Mahika) Umm. (clears throat)
(clears throat again)
Um...
The shoot...
We...
(Mandira) Our life,
our children,
all our brands,
you didn't bother thinking about any of this, huh?
I want that bloody Alibaug house on my name.
Or else these rumours of our divorce will no longer be just rumours.
You fucking self-obsessed fucking asshole!
So, that is how it is.
Look at how respectfully my wife addresses me.
National Award winner...
(sucks teeth)
...gets pelted by his fans and abused by his wife.
-Bloody... -I'm sorry.
I mean,
I can imagine.
It's not easy to be you.
You're probably the only one who gets me.
Who understands me.
I am an...
Armaanian, after all?
(playful music)
Guys.
Just give us a second, please.
Armaan, I know this is probably not a great time
uh... but,
-about the shoot-- -I need some time for that.
I'm totally mindfucked.
I love her a lot.
I never thought it would happen again,
but I fell in love again, damn it.
It's been years since I have felt this.
I feel like...
living again.
I feel like falling in love again...
with Saira.
(comedic music)
I just feel like the Armaan I always wanted to be.
Always.
(clicks teeth)
I think...
for a change,
you should listen to your heart.
You know,
you're actually the only person who knows me.
Who gets me.
We have your back. Don't worry. Really.
Viktory Studios and I stand strongly by your side.
I'll speak to Satya.
(Mahika) Armaan won't be back soon.
He needs some more time.
Take his close-ups later, can't you? You know--
It doesn't work like that, Mahika.
Just figure out the Gwalior sequence and the climax for me.
I'll somehow manage the rest.
But please do this for me.
-(introspective music) -(Satya sighs)
(Mahika) Hmm.
(introspective music)
(chuckles)
Satya,
I'm with you.
Good or bad, we'll deal with everything together.
(phone ringing)
(Jugnu) Yasmin! Where are you, beta?
They'll be here any minute.
-(Yasmin) Mom! -(Jugnu) Come, come, let's go.
(doorbell rings)
They're here!
(Yasmin) What are you doing?
Fix your scarf.
(sighs)
-(Jugnu) Greetings! -(man) Hello, hello!
How are you?
I'm great! Please come in.
Make yourself comfortable.
-I hope all is well with you. -Yes, with God's grace!
Please sit. I'll go fetch a few more chairs. Hang on.
(Yousuf) Please sit.
Salaam alaykum, Yasmin.
Please sit.
-Thank you. -Khan sahab was telling me
you have an elder brother in Mumbai?
-Yes. -So...
Which area does he reside in?
Our Yasmin is from Bandra.
-He has a flat in Saki Naka. -Oh, I see.
My grandson is one of her biggest fans.
-(man 2) Dad... -And so is he!
He truly is. (laughs)
I'm actually feeling a little feverish. I'll just go inside and rest a little.
Oh, wait! He's the one running a high temperature all day
ever since he got to know he's going to meet the Yasmin Ali.
-(man) Yes! -(both laugh)
(woman 2) He's your biggest fan.
-Yes. -He knows all your dance steps.
(woman 1) Yes, truly.
-(woman 2) Show her a few steps. -(woman 1) Come on, come on!
-Show her that step, beta. -Go on! Hurry!
-(tense music) -(voices muffled)
Look, look!
And this... is for all of you.
(muffled voices)
(music elevates)
What the hell are you doing?
-Um, so this is-- -You'll sit on my lap or what now?
(music stops)
Whatever happened to social decency?
You guys have turned this into a joke!
Is this some kind of carnival?
You think you can come here uninvited?
Without my permission or even an iota of social etiquette,
you all are pouncing on me.
I came home wanting a sense of belongingness.
And here too you've turned me into a bloody showpiece!
(breathing rapidly)
And what's with all the stares?
You can leave! We're closed for business.
Go back home and let me find some peace in mine!
-(woman 2) Let's go, please. -(Yasmin) I just came home today.
You could have let me take a moment to myself!
Alia?
What is this behaviour?
What has happened to you?
I'm running from the suffocation of it all!
But this house feels even more suffocating!
I don't get it.
You chased this dream all your life.
You yearned for even a single bystander to recognise you!
And today, when the world is at your feet,
you feel suffocated?
Respect your fans.
-(melancholic music persists) -(indistinct conversation)
Thank you.
(taps on glass door)
(book thumps on table)
(door creaks, shuts)
(paper flipping sharply)
(Mahika) I'm going for that interview. Shall I drop you hom--
I'll finish my work and go home later.
I hope you are prioritising our film.
What I'm working on right now,
I'm not sure if I can call it our work or not, honestly.
You didn't even ask me how the narration went.
(introspective music)
All I did was request a little bit of your time for 1857.
You know what that film means to me.
(sighs)
Never mind.
How did the narration go?
(sighs deeply)
(book flips close)
The narration was good.
But there are some obstacles.
I don't think we can make it with Nitesh right now.
Okay.
Prithvi, look.
I seriously think that Satya is a great option.
I just had a word with him. He'll get back to us--
What?
He'll get back to us?
I just can't fucking believe it.
Despite telling you not to.
Mahi, understand this.
Nitesh has refused, but I will take this to Kabir.
Then, Raju Hirani, and the list goes on!
Why do you keep bringing Satya into this?
Calm down!
It was just a suggestion.
And as a producer, Satya is my preference.
But the script is mine.
And it's not necessary that I only pitch this to you.
There are many viable producers out there.
(music turns intense)
You know what, you should know this.
Do you know why Nitesh refused?
Because he said only Raghu can back such a film!
Should I run to Raghu?
How could you?
And that's the first thought that came to your mind?
I wonder, if Raghu were in my position,
would you do the same thing?
Why are you making this about Raghu?
I'm sitting right here in front of you, Mahi!
Not with Raghu!
Isn't this support?
It's not.
What the fuck is it?
The difference is simple, Prithvi.
You're just standing next to me.
But I'm standing with you.
-(music rises) -(footsteps walking away)
(door slams)
People resting largely on their father's laurels
and minting money from legacies,
they put even nepotism to shame.
And why can't rightfully deserving talents ever truly gain success?
Because of such people.
Because they sell garbage.
So, Chali ya Pity gives Pyaar Dangerous 0 out of 5 stars.
I request you all not to watch this film.
Don't make yourself suffer, but make people like Raghu Khanna suffer.
Prophetic words, Mahika.
You know, of all the stories I have read recently,
yours is my absolute favourite.
A junior film critic from the news channel for Daily Samachaar
is running this country's biggest production house.
-You're doing a great job. -Thank you.
You shook a veteran like Raghu Khanna, and you got Armaan to sign.
You must have seen the news.
Cheating scandals, rumours,
he may have been seen with a woman half his age.
-That doesn't bother you? -Come on, Sucharita.
I mean, that's just conjecture.
There is no official confirmation on any of this
from any parties yet.
I mean,
I'm not so deeply invested in other people's personal lives.
I'm a producer,
and I'm here to make good films
and make some difference, so...
You're also a woman!
And you know, you're a feminist.
And you were a film critic.
And you thrashed misogyny and patriarchy.
And you made it a point to point out
when men romance women half their age in movies.
I guess the question I'm trying to ask is...
Now that you're on the other side of the table,
do you find yourself compromising on your ethos
a little bit?
Not at all.
And trust me, Sucharita.
I've been a victim of this myself.
You know, these men,
they talk you down
(echoing) to satisfy their male ego.
They make you feel absolutely worthless.
I mean, haven't we all been through this?
-(Sucharita) I hear you. -(phone flips)
(Mahika) But, Sucharita, I also feel
in my short-lived experience in this industry,
people don't really value emotions or feelings.
Because our job requires us to manufacture emotions.
We automatically get desensitised in this process
without ever realising it.
But real life and reel life are so different.
You can't compare real life and cinema.
Love can happen anywhere and anytime, and so can separation.
The same applies to marriages!
Who said it only happens once? It can happen after 21 years too!
That is if you're lucky. (chuckles)
Wait, so... "21 years later" meaning Armaan is looking for love?
He's in denial mode and so is his team.
Armaan.
You gotta check this out.
So, 21 years of marriage, yet Armaan and Mandira
are finally going their separate ways.
(tense music)
(throws phone)
(phone ringing)
Mahika.
My place.
Now.
-(slurps, gulps) -(tense music elevates)
(phone ringing)
Raghu.
Hi.
(music fades)
(footsteps echo)
(tapping cigarette on table)
(lighter flips)
It took me 25 years.
How many?
25 goddamn years.
To build this brand called Armaan.
And it took you merely 25 seconds
to shred it to pieces.
Well done.
Cheers.
Armaan, this wasn't my intention.
I hope you know that.
I was trying to say something else.
And they turned it into something else altogether.
I know I fucked up, but I'm not at fault--
Fucked up?
You didn't fuck up.
You
fucked me up.
But isn't this what you wanted?
Didn't you tell me that you love her?
Your feelings for Saira.
This is what you said and-- (stammers)
A toddler can grasp things quicker than you.
But you are a...
Actually, you are one of a kind.
I haven't just fallen in love a couple of times.
But multiple times.
What can I do with my feelings?
They are not in my control.
They come and go as they please.
And that is why it is called
a phase.
What do you call it?
Phase.
(music turns tense)
I fucked up.
I'm sorry that I believed you.
Yeah, of course, you're sorry.
I'm sorry.
You're always sorry, huh?
You made me run around with that Meena fiasco,
you were sorry then.
That's when I wanted to be a bigger, better version of myself.
Let it go. She's just a child.
But no!
You're not just a child.
You're a foolish child.
And which is why...
now...
let the adults do the work.
Hmm?
(ice cubes fall sharply)
Starting today, I will control every aspect of 1857.
-(liquid pouring) -(music elevates)
In fact,
I did a background check on the cast and crew.
And guess what I found?
You guys hid such a huge matter from me?
What is Satya's bank account number?
-Huh? -What is Satya's bank account number?
50891
000488
43!
Anyone who is associated with this number in my life,
they are a fucking big "cancel" for me!
So,
just kick him out.
I'll get his bank account details changed.
Too late, baby.
Too late.
You can't just kick him out of the film like that.
He's good, and he will only get better!
Nah.
I'm not here to train directors.
So,
get rid of Satya.
I'm done.
(lighter snaps)
I'm not.
(lighter flips close)
(tense music builds)
I know my job.
And so does Satya.
And if you can focus only on your job,
we can do the same.
And let me remind you, Armaan.
I'm the head of Viktory Studios.
And I'm telling you
there will be no 1857 without Satya.
And you know what?
Maybe I am a child.
I'm learning the ropes.
But I promise you I will not take 25 years
to learn it all.
(lighter flips close)
What did you just say?
You heard me.
I'll see you on set.
(blows)
(intense music)
(man) If you're going to evade tax,
we're going to come knocking on your doors, right?
(Saajan) How did you like my Diwali extravaganza, Mahika-ji?
Give us a chance too, and you'll see the things we'd do for you.
(Armaan) Our PR team is drafting a statement.
That we both are back together.
The complete amount needs to show up back in our accounts.
(Raghu) I promise I will fix everything.
Let's do it. Let's have the baby.
(Mahika whispers) Sorry.
I let you down.
I'll tell you what is important for you.
Money and power!
(Raghu) You have messed shit up with your own hands for far too long.
It's my turn now.
(tense music)
There is no business like show business, huh?
(Closed Captions by Desynova Digital)