October 19, 1995. The Night Before.
Aarav sat on the terrace of his rented apartment in Bandra. The city lights flickered below, indifferent to the storm that was about to break.
Tomorrow was Diwali week. Tomorrow was the release of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
The industry trade magazines were cautious. "Can a TV actor carry Yash Chopra's legacy?" one headline asked. "Aditya Chopra risks it all on a debutant director and a 'Soap Opera' Star," read another.
Aarav smoked a cigarette—a habit he picked up during the stress of post-production and intended to quit immediately. He looked at the System panel.
[Mission: The Kingmaker][Status: Pending][Success Probability: 99.9%]
He knew the numbers. He knew the history. But living it was different. The fear that the Butterfly Effect might have ruined the magic was real. What if his chemistry with Kajol wasn't enough? What if the audience missed SRK?
He flicked the cigarette away. "It's done," he whispered. "The reel is in the can."
October 20, 1995. Maratha Mandir, Mumbai.
The premiere was a glittering affair. The red carpet (which was actually a maroon rug) was rolled out. The air smelled of heavy perfume and desperation.
Yash Chopra stood at the entrance, welcoming guests. Amitabh Bachchan arrived. The Kapoors arrived. And, of course, the Khans arrived.
Aarav stepped out of his white Honda Accord. He wore a black suit, tailored to perfection, his hair styled in that messy, windblown look he had popularized in the film.
The flashbulbs went off like a strobe light explosion. "Aarav! Aarav! Look here! Left! Right!"
He walked in, smiling the smile of a man who knew the future.
He took his seat next to Kajol. She squeezed his hand. Her palm was sweating.
"I'm going to vomit," she whispered.
"Don't," Aarav whispered back. "You look too expensive to vomit on."
The lights dimmed. The Yash Raj Films logo appeared. The projection reel whirred.
For the next three hours, Aarav didn't watch the screen; he watched the audience.
When he entered on screen—playing rugby in the rain—there was polite applause. When he met Simran in the Eurorail, the chuckles began. When he did the "Palat" scene, a hush fell over the hall. It was the moment the character of Raj ceased to be a stalker and became a mystic.
But the explosion happened in the second half. Punjab.
The scene where Raj feeds the birds with Simran in the mustard fields. Tujhe Dekha To Yeh Jaana Sanam began.
Aarav heard a woman in the row behind him gasp. "He looks like a dream."
The climax. The fight at the station. The blood streaming down Aarav's face. The slow-motion run.
"Jaa Simran... jee le apni zindagi."
When Aarav pulled Kajol onto the train, the entire theatre—celebrities, critics, and producers—erupted. It wasn't just applause; it was a release of tension. They were cheering for the union. They were cheering for love.
As the credits rolled, the standing ovation was immediate.
Yash Chopra was wiping his eyes. Aditya Chopra looked like he had just survived a heart attack.
Aarav stood up. He turned to the audience.
He saw the faces. They weren't looking at "Vijay from Gharaunda" anymore. They weren't looking at the "TV guy."
They were looking at Raj.
[Mission Complete: The Kingmaker][Reward: The Throne of Bollywood][Fame Level: Superstar (Instant)]
November 1995. The Tsunami.
The box office report for Week 4 was on Aarav's desk.
Film:Dilwale Dulhania Le JayengeVerdict:All-Time Blockbuster.
Collections:
Week 1: ₹2 Crores.
Week 4: ₹5 Crores (Rising).
Trend: Unprecedented. Repeat audience factor is 5x.
The film wasn't just a hit; it was a cultural reset.
Leather jackets sold out in Colaba Causeway. Mandolin sales spiked. "Raj" became the most common name for newborns in November 1995.
And Aarav's bank account?
He had negotiated a 5% share of the profits. Usually, producers cooked the books so "profits" never existed. But DDLJ made so much money—so visibly—that Yash Raj Films couldn't hide it. They had to pay him to maintain relations for the next film.
A cheque arrived. Amount: ₹2.5 Crores (First Tranche).
Aarav stared at the cheque. In 1995, ₹2.5 Crores was "retirement money."
He didn't retire. He called his broker.
"Put 50% into MRF and Infosys," Aarav ordered. "And find me a plot in Bandra. Sea facing. I'm done with renting."
February 1996. The 41st Filmfare Awards.
The night of the coronation.
The venue was the Centaur Hotel, Juhu. The air was electric.
Aarav arrived in a tuxedo. This time, the screaming fans broke the barricades. Police had to lathi-charge to clear the path for his car.
Inside, the industry was gathered.
Aarav walked to his designated seat in the front row.
And there he was.
Shah Rukh Khan.
He was sitting two seats away. He was nominated for Karan Arjun and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (Wait, no—SRK wasn't in DDLJ here. He was nominated for Karan Arjun and Ram Jaane).
SRK looked sharp, energetic, and dangerous. He was smoking a cigarette (allowed indoors back then).
He saw Aarav.
The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. The media cameras swiveled instantly, hoping for a brawl.
SRK stood up. He walked over to Aarav.
Aarav stood up to meet him. They were of similar height, though Aarav was slightly broader.
SRK smiled—that dimpled, charming, razor-sharp smile.
"Pathak saab," SRK said, his voice raspy and quick. "Mubarak ho. I heard you broke the records."
"Thank you, Shah Rukh," Aarav replied, keeping his voice calm. "Records are meant to be broken."
"True," SRK took a drag. "Adi told me the story first, you know. I found it too... soft. Flower-like. But you..." He poked Aarav's chest lightly. "You made the flower look like steel. I underestimated the script."
It was a backhanded compliment, but a compliment nonetheless.
"Maybe the script just needed someone who didn't mind being soft," Aarav countered gently.
SRK's eyes flashed. The competitive fire was there. He laughed, exhaling smoke.
"Enjoy the night, Raj," SRK said, emphasizing the character name. "But remember... the Action Hero is still alive. Karan Arjun is also a hit."
"I know," Aarav smiled. "I watched it. You were great."
SRK patted his shoulder and walked away.
Aarav sat down. His heart was beating fast. That was the rival. The only man in this timeline who could challenge him. SRK wouldn't give up. He would fight harder now.
The Announcement.
Three hours later. The final award.
Rekha walked onto the stage to present the Best Actor award. She opened the envelope. She smiled, looking directly at Aarav.
"And the winner is... for redefining romance... Aarav Pathak for Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge!"
The room exploded.
Aarav walked up the stairs. He took the Black Lady statuette. It was heavy.
He stood at the podium. He didn't cry. He looked at the camera.
"Two years ago," Aarav began, his voice echoing in the silence. "I was told that TV actors don't belong here. I was told we are 'too small' for the big screen. Tonight... this award isn't for me. It's for every artist who was told they are 'too small'."
He raised the trophy.
"Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad. I hope the view is good from up there."
The applause was deafening.
[System Milestone Reached][Award Acquired: Filmfare Best Actor][Status Upgrade: The King of Romance][Acting Skill: 68 → 70 (Master)][Charisma: 90/100 (National Icon)]
The After Party.
The party was at a club in Juhu. Champagne flowed like water.
Aarav was cornered by every producer in town.
Karan Johar, young, chubby, and acting as an assistant director, approached him timidly.
"Aarav sir," Karan said. "I'm writing something. It's... it's about college. And friendship."
Aarav smiled. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
"Come to my office next week, Karan," Aarav said. "I'd love to hear it."
He secured the future.
But right now, he had another target.
He walked over to the bar where Dharmesh Darshan was drinking. Dharmesh was the director who was currently casting for a movie called Raja Hindustani.
In the original timeline, Aamir Khan did this film. It was the biggest hit of 1996. It involved a taxi driver and a rich girl. And that kiss.
Aamir was a perfectionist. He was currently delaying the project over script changes. Dharmesh was frustrated.
Aarav slid next to Dharmesh.
"Dharmesh ji," Aarav said. "I heard you need a taxi driver."
Dharmesh looked at him. "You? You are Raj. You are the NRI boy. Can you play a rustic taxi driver?"
Aarav signaled the bartender. "Cutting chai. Glass mein."
He turned to Dharmesh, changing his posture. His shoulders slumped. His jaw jutted out. He scratched his neck with a rough, unrefined motion.
"Arre Seth ji," Aarav said, his accent shifting to a heavy, localized Palankhet dialect (which he downloaded via System Linguistics for 100 points). "Taxi toh mil jayegi, par manzil ka kya?" (You'll get a taxi, but what about the destination?)
Dharmesh's eyes widened.
"You can do the accent?"
"I can do anything," Aarav said, dropping the act and sipping his champagne. "And unlike Aamir... I don't delay scripts."
Dharmesh laughed. "You are a shark, Pathak. A bloody shark."
"I'm just hungry," Aarav said.
[Quest Update][Target: 'Raja Hindustani'][Strategy: Steal the biggest hit of 1996 from Aamir Khan.][Status: Negotiation Initiated.]
Aarav walked out onto the balcony of the club. The Mumbai ocean roared in the darkness.
He touched the Filmfare trophy in his hand.
He had the Crown. Now, he had to build the Empire.
He checked his System one last time before the night ended.
[Current Era: The Golden Run (1995-2000)][Dominance Level: 35%][Next Obstacle: The Underworld Nexus (1997-1998)]
Aarav frowned. The Underworld. He remembered. The late 90s were notorious. Gulshan Kumar would be shot. Preity Zinta would be threatened. The Dons called the shots.
"Let them call," Aarav whispered to the sea. "I have a System."
[End of Chapter 8]