The Nidhi Kapoor Story

  The Nidhi Kapoor Story

  SAURABH GARG

  GRAPEVINE INDIA

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  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

  Book 1. Krodh

  1. Sometime in the early 90s. Ronak.

  2. Day 1, Morning. Police Station.

  3. Day 1, Afternoon. Ronak.

  4. Day 1, Afternoon. Ronak.

  5. Day 1, Evening. Ronak.

  Book 2. Moh

  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.

  11. Day 5, Noon. Ronak.

  Book 3. Lobh

  12. Sometime in the 1980s. Ronak.

  13. Day 6, Morning. Police Station.

  14. Day 6, Evening. Rujuta’s House.

  15. Day 7, Noon. JW Marriott.

  16. Day 7, Evening. Ronak.

  Book 4. Kaam

  17. Day 9, Afternoon. Moksha.

  18. Day 9, Night. Rujuta’s House.

  19. Day 12, Night. Film City.

  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.

  Book 5. Hankaar

  25. Day 32, Evening. Ronak.

  26. Day 32, Evening. Panchgani.

  27. Day 32, Night. Ronak.

  28. Day 32, Night. Ronak.

  Book 1. Krodh

  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.

  “These politicians are always late!” exclaimed Nishant. Preeti, the first time actress and the heroine of the film, was hanging precariously on Nishant’s arm. She was wearing a long white wraparound dress that extended from her shoulders to the ankles. The outrageously loud, body hugging one-piece dress accentuated her shapely figure. The dress had a long slit on the left that started at the ankles and went as far up as her slender waistline. On the left shoulder was a large red flower. She wore a deep red lipstick matching the flower.

  From a nobody, Preeti had catapulted to the very top of the fiercely competitive world with Lahu Ka Rang. She was an enigma to everyone around her. She had no connections to boast of and no godfathers whom she could ask for help. She rather had something rustic, something primal about her. Unlike most other newcomers that were tentative and insecure, she had no inhibitions.

  “Yeah? If it were his party, I bet you would have been the last to arrive and probably the first to leave,” Roshan Taluja said.

  Nishant laughed energetically. “Right, Roshan. In this country, we judge the importance of a man by two things. One, how late could he arrive at a function and keep everyone waiting. Two, once he has arrived, how soon can he excuse himself out of there.” The three of them laughed. So did other people standing around them. The loudest was Preeti, who seemed to be really enjoying the conversation. Her antics in Nishant Kapoor’s presence did not go unnoticed. Even Neelima, Nishant’s wife, could hear Preeti’s loud shrills from afar.

  Neelima was an actress herself before she and Nishant got married. Since then, Neelima had accepted the role of a mere homemaker while Nishant went out and earned his fame and fortune. At the party, while Nishant was entertaining guests with his natural charm and wit, Neelima and their daughters – Payal and Nidhi – were exchanging pleasantries with other guests.

  Payal, nineteen, had sharp features and deep set dimples that went deeper when she smiled. Her eyes were bright and full of life. She had the spring of a hyperactive child in her stride and the magnetism of a livewire that made her the center of attraction wherever she went. Just like Nishant.

  Nidhi, seventeen, was comparatively muted and reserved. Despite her silent countenance, she seemed to have inherited the best features of both her parents. Her deep eyes and perfect jawline came from her mother, her fine complexion from her father. She had a coy smile that intrigued everyone enough to want to talk to her.

  If the gossip magazines were to be believed, even though Payal was the adopted child, Nishant Kapoor wanted her to carry his legacy forward. An army of trainers had already been hired to groom her for dance, theatre, diction and fitness. Payal seemed enthusiastic about the idea and put in requisite time and effort. She reveled when she moved around in the film circles.

  Despite inheriting the regal looks of her parents, Nidhi on the other hand, had shown no inclination towards the film business. She, in fact, hated the filmwallahs and such parties. She was present only at the insistence of her mother. Her idea of fun hovered around books and photography, two disciplines that required immense amount of tolerance and patience.

  ∗∗∗

  It was now that time of the party when the monotony of conversation takes over gossip and guests start grooving to the music. Today, Preeti started the dancing furor. Since she was a newly crowned celebrity, she did not know the protocol and dragged a surprised Vicky Taluja, son of Roshan Taluja, to the dance floor. Vicky was an Assistant Director and had assisted his father with Lahu Ka Rang’s production. He was a newcomer himself and when Preeti started dancing with him, a few guests raised eyebrows. There were silent murmurs and glances in Nishant’s direction.

  Nishant had taken a liking for Preeti, the way he did for all other newcomers. No one felt odd about it, for everyone knew of Nishant’s avarice for good-looking women. Even if they were unknown and anonymous, Nishant met them with as much warmth and affection as one would expect him to reserve for his wife.

  Preeti was dancing dangerously close to Vicky. Despite his father’s reputation, he was just an AD and was clearly uncomfortable with so many seniors from the industry staring at him. He ha
d lived his life under his father’s wings and was clearly not used to the limelight. Nishant noticed everyone staring at Preeti and though he did not want to intervene while Neelima was around, he felt he ought to protect her. He wasn’t really afraid of his wife but he did not want any ugly confrontation.

  While the excruciating seconds ticked away, Preeti got bolder with her moves and Vicky got more uncomfortable. Nishant tried to ignore but could not tolerate it any longer. He went on the dance floor and like a gentleman, bent on one knee and asked Preeti for a dance. Before Preeti could even accept the invitation, Vicky excused himself and rushed to the bar. Preeti giggled like a fifteen-year-old. She moved towards Nishant, extended her bare leg sensuously and rested it on Nishant’s bent knee. Nishant caressed it and got to his feet. He held onto Preeti’s tiny waist in his strong grip.

  Before the crowd could digest the suggestive real-life steamy scene playing on the dance floor, the DJ played one of the most famous Nishant Kapoor dance songs. Preeti ran her hand through Nishant’s thick wavy hair and started to groove to the music. Nishant followed her moves and soon they were gyrating to the music. Nishant had embraced Preeti into a hug and his hands were rested comfortably on the small of Preeti’s back. Her head was leaning on Nishant’s shoulder and she was apparently whispering something into his ears.

  Neelima had known, tolerated and ignored Nishant’s escapades for well over twenty years now. Most of these encounters happened behind closed doors. But this open display of debauchery in the presence of her daughters and the entire industry made her furious.

  Nishant had his back towards Neelima, unaware of his wife’s seething anger. Preeti could see Neelima, but she remained unperturbed. To make matters worse, Preeti curled her lips into a contemptuous smile and sneered at Neelima. Neelima could not endure it anymore and started to walk towards the dance floor. Nidhi clutched at her mother’s arm and tried unsuccessfully to stop her.

  Neelima tugged at Nishant’s shoulder and broke the unnaturally long cuddle that Preeti and Nishant were in. Without Nishant’s strong frame to shadow her, Preeti seemed tiny, fragile and vulnerable. Neelima, on the other hand, looked like a reincarnation of Devi herself. She was breathing heavily, her jaws were clenched and her body trembled from rage pent up inside her.