Telugu words in chapter : Anna/Annayya = Elder brother

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"Vicky, what are you playing at? She is a scientist. Not an actress. How will she manage?" Latha sounded angry.

"Relax mom. She will be fine. She agreed to this." 

"This isn't right Vicky. We can't take advantage of her helplessness. Just because we are paying her doesn't mean that we will manipulate her into doing anything for us."

"Mom please! I gave her an offer and she accepted it. I am selfish, I agree. But I didn't brainwash her into thinking that this is the best for her. She's not a kid. She knows what's right for her. She herself walked into my office and told me that she is willing to do this" said Vikram, defensively.

"Did she?" Latha frowned. "Fine. If she wants this, then I won't stop her. I'll be there during the screen test tomorrow. Let's see how she performs."

Vikram nodded and led her to her room. He sat there massaging her legs until she fell asleep. He walked towards his room when he saw Shubha pacing up and down in her room.

"You didn't sleep yet?"

"I am nervous about the screen test tomorrow. I never did something like this in my life." She said in a worried tone.

"I felt the same on the eve of my first audition." He said recollecting old memories.

"Audition? You?" She was shocked.

"Yes. Remember the movie in which I played the lead actor's teenager cousin?" He asked her. 

"No" She answered. 

"Sorry?" 

"I didn't know this. Honestly speaking, among all your nine films as lead actor, I watched only six."

He looked at her face keenly to see if she was joking. But she was serious. He shrugged.

"What I am saying is, when I auditioned for the role, ten years ago, I was equally nervous. But once I went and stood there, I forgot the director and everyone else who were watching me. The only thing I remembered was the dialogue I was given. That's the only advice I give you today. Forget everything else and concentrate on the work at hand. Only then you will be able to give your best." He advised her. "Sleep. Everything will be fine."

"Thank you sir." She smiled at him and closed the door.

---***---

"Vicky, I'm back." said Naveen.

"You are here?" asked Vikram.

"We meet after three weeks and that's how you greet me? Come on give me a hi-fi" said Naveen.

"It's High-Five. Not hi-fi." Vikram corrected him. 

"Alright. Alright. Now tell me. Where's this new girl who captured your heart? I have been told you started writing poems." 

"Chris! You told him?" Vikram glared at Chris, who pretended not to hear him.

"Not just me. He told Pragathi too. Very soon it will be viral on YouTube" said Naveen. "The title will be 'What this Superstar thinks about his new co-star will shock you.' How is it?"

"Naveen. Go annoy someone else" said Vikram. "Wait. Tell me what he told you." Naveen showed the message Chris sent him. 

Vikram read it. "What is this? Cheeks so red that put tomatoes to shame. Teeth so white that they shine like diamonds. Eyes that petrify those who look into them. When did I say all this?" 

"I forgot what you said. So, I made my own poem" said Chris, grinning.

Before Vikram could say something Pragathi joined them. "Hello Naveen anna. When did you get here?"

"Don't call me anna."

"Okay annayya" said Pragathi.

"Vicky, ask her not to call me that." Naveen complained.

"Too late. You are her brother now. Both on screen and off screen" said Vikram.

"Not just him. Everyone on the sets is my brother" Pragathi announced.

"Hope the new girl is not like you" said Naveen, making the others chuckle.

Vikram waited for Shubha to get ready. He was as nervous as her. The previous night, he considered giving her the dialogue and asking her to practice. But it was against the rules of his production house. So, he didn't. 

A few rooms away Shubha looked at herself in the mirror. She was given a red saree and her hair was tied in a very ancient-looking hairstyle. Not much makeup was applied on her face except accentuating her eyes with kohl. But still, she couldn't believe it was her. She marveled at the fact that a simple change in hairstyle and outfit can make her look so different.

Vikram's assistant gave her a paper with the dialogue. Her immediate reaction was, "What is this? Is this how she speaks?"

"Yes" said the assistant. He left. With her sharp memory power, she could remember all the lines just by reading one. But she couldn't understand the emotion of the character.

She called Vikram. "Vikram sir. Is this supposed to be the dialogue? I don't understand--"

"Sorry Subbu. I can't help you here" said Vikram. "You have to figure it out yourself." He ended the call.

'Okay. Read it line by line. Let's see what her problem is.' She told herself. She read it again. 'So, this girl is arrested by mistake. Why does she talk like that? Isn't she scared they might punish her further?'

She closed her eyes and imagined what she would do if someone imprisoned her. She remembered how she felt when she was locked up in her room for her cousin's mistake. 

'Okay. So, this girl's anger is justified. The anger that came from her helplessness. She should also feel sorrow upon being locked up for no fault of hers. And let's just say she is also desperate to prove her innocence. So, basically this is anger combined by helplessness and sorrow with a bit of desperation.' She concluded. She went through the dialogue once again, feeling a lot more confident than before.

---***---

"Chris, go hide somewhere" said Vikram.

"Why?"

"She can't do this if she sees you." He made Chris stand in a corner. 

Shubha entered the room. She was a bit nervous. She looked at Vikram who smiled at her encouragingly. It took her a few seconds to adjust her eyes to the flash of lights. She faced the camera while Vikram's assistant stood beside the camera. She took a deep breath and started her performance which involved talking to him. It was a lengthy dialogue which carried several emotions. With subtle change in her expressions she managed to portray it convincingly. 

After she was done with the test, the assistant started clapping. "Very good."

"Not so fast. Here's another dialogue. The situation is completely different. You have five minutes to prepare" said Vikram. She snatched the script papers from him and went through the dialogue. It required her to speak in an authoritative tone. 

"You will talk to me now" said Vikram. "I want to see how you manage to hold your ground when an established actor is in the same frame."

"Are you challenging me?"

"Maybe" He smirked. 

She was mildly annoyed. She decided to wipe that smirk off his face. The second screen test started. She was careful not to raise her voice. She knew that particular scene required her to display her wit. 

"Go back to your village lady. Your tall frame will be a disadvantage in the battlefield" Vikram made up his own dialogue then and there to see if she could keep up with his pace. 

"Says the man who has nothing to boast about, except his height." Shubha gave a fitting reply. "Don't worry about me. I mastered the art of turning these so called disadvantages into strength."

"Excellent" He felt proud of her. He looked at Latha, who nodded at him and smiled at Shubha. 

"Congratulations. The job is yours" said Vikram.

"Really?" She gasped. "Thank you sir."

"Come let me introduce you to everyone else." He took her to Dhwani. "This is Dhwani."

"I know her. Hello ma'am." She shook hands with her.

"Call me Dhwani. Welcome to the film industry. Looking forward to working with you" said Dhwani. 

Shubha thanked her. She remembered hearing news about the probable wedding of Vikram with Dhwani. She carefully observed him. But he didn't show any emotion a man usually would, on seeing his future wife. She shrugged and moved towards the other girl. 

"This is Pragathi. This is her first Telugu film. She is a Tamil actress" said Vikram.

Pragathi embraced Shubha. "Hello Shubha. I am glad someone else is making her debut along with me. If you need any help don't hesitate to ask. I will help you. But you have to help me learn Telugu."

"Sure. Thank you so much." 

"I am Naveen. You can call me Naveen. No anna, annayya or bro" said Naveen.

"It means he wants you to call him brother" said Vikram.

"Oh! Okay. Sure brother" said Shubha. 

Naveen glared at Vikram. "Am I the brother of all the girls on the set?" He lowered his voice and asked him.

"Try your luck somewhere else, brother" Vikram grinned. Naveen clutched his heart and pretended to be hurt.

"Subbu, come. I have a surprise for you." Vikram asked her to follow him. "Look, who is here."

Chris emerged from shadows. Shubha's jaw dropped. "This is your biggest fan" said Vikram.

"Hello. I'm Chris."

"I-I am, er, I am Sh-Shubha. Shubha Narayan."  She kept staring at Chris, afraid he might evaporate if she blinked. He shook hands with her.

'Any moment now' thought Vikram. He was ready to hold her if she fainted. But she didn't faint. Instead she started talking to him. "I watched all your films more than ten times sir." 

"You said you will faint if you meet him. Come on. Go ahead." Vikram interrupted her.

She gave him a please-don't-embarrass-me kind of look. Chris talked to her for a few more minutes before leaving.

"By the way, you will be playing his sister in the movie" said Vikram.

"I know" She said.

"And in real life, he is in a committed relationship." He added.

"I know that also-- Wait." She frowned. "He is my favourite actor. Not my crush."

"Okay." He said, grinning ear to ear. "Just being careful. Well, let's have narration at home this evening."

"Sure. Thank you."

"One more thing Subbu. We might be living under the same roof. And I might be a good-natured man. But once you are on the sets I am your director and I expect you and everyone else to follow my instructions without fail." He said in, what he felt was, a serious tone.

She giggled. "I am going to pretend you didn't say the last part." 

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The first time I thought about this story was in the year 2011. And we know how much film making has changed in the past 5-6 years. So, my question is, does it look a bit old for the current times? 

Also my knowledge in this area is limited. I am sorry if I got any details wrong. 

Don't forget to comment and vote. Thank you.