Professor Juhi Adhikari.
In science and history...
...there are only two possibilities: truth or lies.
Are you flirting with me Mr. Vishal Mehra?
Totally.
- I love you. - I love you.
Conceiving naturally is very difficult in your case.
This is your last submission for this term...
- Rhea Rajguru. - How did you like my essay?
Did anyone help you write it?
Are you accusing me of cheating?
You do know, right, that she is Rajguru's daughter?
What is this I hear about your cheating charges?
I’m handling it.
Was someone here?
Your student, Rhea Rajguru.
She is stalking me! I’m telling you...
- She is stalking me. - I'm telling you...
You need to drop this right now!
- Leave! - Leave me!
Are we pregnant?
She killed herself when I was 6.
Why do people become parents if they cannot handle it?
Dad, where is that photograph?
Are you having an affair with Rhea too?
No, I’m not having any affair with this girl!
- Then what is it? - She is your sister!
Imagine having two dads, yet feeling like an orphan.
You are being arrested on suspicion of the murder of Neil Adhikari.
Juhi is innocent.
I love her more than anyone else.
You only suffer when Juhi is in pain.
It's all in the bloody upbringing.
Launch of Professor Juhi Adhikari's first book,
Head of the Hindi Department.
I have reached. Yes or no?
Yes.
Tony come here.
Before leaving, you said I should stay away from Yash and you.
Will I return, or not?
[birds chirping]
[sighs] Namaskar. I am Juhi Adhikari.
Thank you very much for all the love and respect...
...that you have shown towards my book Dhund.
But.. a foundation built on lies...
...does not last very long.
That’s why today, I...
Today, I want to tell you all the truth.
Dhund is not my original work.
I stole it from an unpublished novel.
I take sole responsibility for this plagiarism.
So, I’m... I’m sorry.
[Title montage]
[applause]
Friends.
Juhi Adhikari’s novel Dhund has become the bestseller...
...in a very short span of time.
It has been translated into seven languages so far.
And in two weeks, Juhi Adhikari is going to join...
...the University of Oxford as a distinguished professor of Hindi.
- Thank you. - I hope I haven’t missed anything.
[laughs]
Juhi, ever since I’ve read your novel...
...I can’t help wondering..
Like Meera, the protagonist of Dhund...
...you too are a modern Indian woman who knows her mind.
[host] 'But your other protagonist, Saira, she’s like a chameleon.'
How did you write her character so well?
Well, first of all, thank you.
Thanks to all of you.
Coming to your question..
- Every character that we create... - Yes?
[Juhi]...'lies somewhere between truth and imagination.'
'They are inspired by our experiences.'
Every character is within us, and we give them a voice, a life.
You mean, Saira is not just a figment of your imagination?
She too is within you?
Well, I’m sure...
...no one has ever asked legends like Mr. Salim and Mr. Javed...
...if they have a Gabbar Singh within them.
[laughing]
On that note, let me welcome on stage, our honoured guest...
...for this evening, the high commissioner of Britain...
...Mr. Ben Larson. Welcome, Mr. Larson.
[applause]
[host] 'The award for best debut writer, Hindi'...
...'goes to Juhi Adhikari.'
Thank you.
- Name? - Amit. Amit Chaudhary.
I’m a huge fan of your father.
Really? So, tell me, fan of Dr. Anand Tyagi...
...what should I write for you?
Strange! You call yourself a writer...
...yet you need my help to write an autograph?
- Sorry? - You should be.
Anyway, since you asked, you can write...
"To Amit, my inspiration."
"The one from whose manuscript I stole this novel."
Ma’am, all okay?
- Do you need something? - I’m fine
Look, some stories touch the heart so deeply...
...that they start to feel like your own.
- I’ll take that as a compliment. - Wow.
‘Those that wear masks..
...claim to be originals.’
This line isn’t mine. I have the courage to admit that.
Do you have the courage to accept the truth?
Actually, just the way your characters Meera and Saira...
...eventually turn out to be one person with a dual personality..
...that’s actually you.
You’re both, the righteous Meera and the chameleon Saira.
It’s easy to accuse, Mr. Amit.
If you had published a book of your own, you’d have known.
Stealing someone’s work isn’t as easy as you think.
Right. That’s why I’m saying. All this love and adulation...
...you haven’t earned it.
And what isn’t earned, doesn’t last for long.
The world will soon see your true face, Juhi.
I’ll expose you.
Okay, have a good day.
- Name? - Rhea.
‘Next on the auction list is Golden Dawn Tea.’
Base price, 250.
Should we start?
[Auctioneer] 'First bid, 260. Do I have 260? 260, anyone?'
'Number 28! 270, anyone?'
Can I have 270? Number 9!
'Okay. Now, 285? Anyone?'
- Great, anyone for 290 - Sir, your tea.
Which tea is this?
[Auction continues in background]
Sir, I wouldn’t dare serve you anything less than your 1878 tea.
Only the best for the best, sir.
[Auctioneer] 'Start now!'
Although, I can’t say the same about the others, sir.
Rajguru Estate has set the base price...
...of their full-leaf tea higher than yours, sir.
- What? - Yes, sir.
Even my drivers don’t drink this horse piss.
I’m so sorry, Burman uncle.
- One Rajguru High Leaf, please. - Yes, ma’am.
- You’re Rajguru’s daughter, right? - Yes.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
[Auction continues in background]
Rajguru was my friend.
Consider me like a father.
[Burman] If you need any tips or guidance.
Thank you so much, Burman uncle. I will.
[auctioneer] 'And now, 1878 Tea.'
Base price, 340.
[Auctioneer] '340 per kilo. Shall we begin?'
You’ve set the price...
...of the Rajguru high-leaf greater than ours?
If you try to leap before you learn to walk...
...you’ll hit the ground face-first.
[auctioneer] 'Base price, 340!'
[Phones beep]
'Anyone? Any bidders?'
[Indistinct murmurs]
'What’s the matter?'
Not a single bid?
[auctioneer] 'Anyone?'
[phones beep] 340. What, nobody?
[Phone beeps]
Hello Sir. Check this. This article..
[Phones beep]
What’s going on?
My God! What’s this the FDA’s saying?
"1878 tea is unfit for consumption?"
What rubbish!
An independent body has tested this batch of yours...
...and they found high levels of pesticides.
It takes a moment for such news to hit the internet..
...and months to recover from it.
What?
What happened, Burman uncle?
I thought I’d get to learn from you.
Next time.
[auctioneer] 'No buyers.'
1878 Tea, unsold.
'Very rare event for 1878 Tea.'
[auctioneer] 'Unsold item will go into the next cycle.'
'Next, The Rajguru Estate. Let’s begin.'
400 rupees a kilo. Start.
'420. 450. 455. 460. 465.'
'Okay. 500! Whoa!'
[Cop] 'Pull it up! Easy!'
- Pull it. - It’s in terrible condition.
'Yes. Put it down!'
It’s completely ruined.
- Jai Hind, ma’am. - What’s going on?
Ma’am, the villagers were burning wood yesterday.
They spotted this van and called me.
- That’s my senior. - Jai Hind, ma’am.
Look, ma’am, We found the car in this state.
We haven’t tampered with it.
Look at this, ma’am. The bumper is broken.
The number plate is missing too.
Look like it’s been in the ditch for many months now.
So much has happened, and you had no clue?
What will you do if you’re posted to a big city?
Chhetri, find out if there’s a report of a blue van missing.
Yes, ma’am.
Ma’am, if I’m not mistaken, Dheeraj Rajguru too...
...was hit by a blue van.
Dheeraj Rajguru?
- The owner of Rajguru Tea Estate? - Yes, ma’am.
Strange.
A car hits such an influential man..
An accident in which he loses his life.
That car has been missing for all these days...
...and yet no one made a sound?
Who’d do it, ma’am?
His first wife committed suicide.
His second wife has been in coma for years now.
And his step-daughter...
No, the illegitimate daughter of his first wife...
...was in jail when he died.
There’s more drama in your city than in films, Mr. Chhetri.
Get all the details. - Yes, ma’am.
Find out what’s going on.
What did you say the daughter’s name was?
Rhea. Rhea Rajguru.
Rhea Rajguru. Let’s go.
Sir.
- Gopal, all done? - Yes, sir.
But please don’t let the baby down for a few hours.
He can slip.
Is it done here?
- Yes, sir, I did this room first. - Good.
No, it’s okay. You worked hard all day.
- Good job done. - Thank you, sir.
[man] 'Mr. Tyagi?'
Anand Tyagi?
Delivery for you. Please sign here, sir.
I didn’t order anything.
But this is your name, sir?
It's the same address.
[phone rings]
Hi, Anand.
[Bhushan] 'The parcel was delivered today itself?'
If you think this is funny, then it’s a very bad joke.
This isn’t easy for me either.
But all the copies have returned from the market.
What?
You sit down first. Calm down.
[Bhushan] 'Look, the demand isn’t less, it’s nil.'
What can I do? Tell me.
In good times, we’ve done some great work together.
[Bhushan] 'Why suffer at this stage?'
Now you sit back, relax...
[Bhushan]...'and cherish your daughter success.'
- [Sudha] 'Yash! - [Yash] Grandpa'
Don’t run so fast! Wait!
Anand? Hello?
What’s all this, Nandu?
- [Yash] 'Grandpa.' - [Anand] 'Come to grandpa.'
The readers have rejected it.
When is Juju coming back?
- [Juhi] Name? - [Rhea] Rhea.
[Rhea] Dear Juhi.
Before leaving, you said I should stay away from Yash and you.
What do you say?
Will I return, or not?
[engine whirrs]
- Hello, ma’am. - Shukra? Thank you.
- What are you doing here? - Ma’am, this is for you.
I came to wish you for getting a award.
"An".
- An award. - An award.
- Give me. - Right.. an award..
- Thank you. - Good evening, ma’am.
- Good evening, Bye. - Bye, ma’am.
- [Vikas] It’s so complicated.. - [Juhi] Wow! Is it Diwali already?
- Juhi! - Hi, Mom, this is for you.
Wow! Flowers! But you’re back early.
Of course!
- Hi, Yash! Hi, my love! - [Sudha] 'Hurry up Vikas.'
'How are you not done yet?'
See what I got for you. Red car.
- [Sudha] Vikas, are you done, ready? - [Juhi] You like it?
- Yes, let’s see. - Give me a kiss.
- Surprise! - Surprise!
Oh, God, Vikas!
How does this even happen? You can’t do anything properly.
If you make a lawyer do an electrician’s job...
...this is bound to happen.
Juhi, did you see?
[Vikas] 'No matter how big a person becomes in life'...
...'if he’s the younger brother, he’s going to be bullied.'
Look at this. Your son has drawn you.
- Really, Yash? You made this? - Mine.
Where’s dad?
Gateway Best Debut Author of the Year! Juhi Adhikari!
[Sudha] 'Now we can say'...
...like father, like daughter.
No. She’s not my reflection, Sudha. She’s my pride.
She has paved a path for herself. On her own terms.
A different language, a different genre, and now...
This!
I wouldn’t have been be able to do it without you.
I had nothing to do with it.
It’s all you, my child.
My dear, you have shown so much courage.
Determination, dedication, perseverance...
[Vikas] 'That’s enough.'
Before Dr. Tyagi takes us down lanes of wisdom...
[laughing]
Juhi, please save us.
- Tell us, how was Mumbai? - [Vishal] 'Yes, tell us.'
And I hope you have brought vada pav to eat with this champagne.
- [Anand] 'Vishal!' - Hello Sir.
- [Sudha] 'Welcome!' - Come.
So go on, how was Mumbai?
It was fine. It was okay.
[Juhi] 'The same old sea, the same old heat'...
The usual.
Dad, did Uncle Bhushan call?
[Juhi] 'Book sale figures?'
No, not yet.
[Juhi] 'So, call him. Let’s find out.'
- [Juhi] 'Let’s go Yash.' - [Yash] 'Mumma, come.'
What are you doing?
[Juhi] 'C’mon. Shower time.'
- Say bye. [Yash babbling]
- Bye, Grandma! Good night, Grandpa! - Bye!
[Yash] 'Mumma!'
Oh okay! He doesn’t want to take a shower.
[Juhi] 'Let’s go.'
He’s the only one in the world who can make you...
- ...dance to his tunes, right? - Absolutely.
Give me 5 minutes.
Don’t you get tired alone?
I’m not alone.
- Mom and dad are with me. - I mean...
- What! No way! - Careful...
It’s vintage. Collector’s item.
How did you know I... I looked for this at every black market.
How can I forget your disco deewane dance...
...from our first year in college?
[laughing]
Happy birthday.
In advance.
Thank you.
[Anand] 'I can’t wait for the day when this'...
...entire cabinet is filled with Juhi’s trophies.
Nandu.
- Tell her about your book. - No.
You don’t tell her anything either.
She has just won. She is happy after so long.
No, I don’t want to ruin it. No.
Not again, because of me... No.
I’m really happy for you, Juhi.
Does Mansi know you’re here?
No.
She’s disliked me since the first year of college.
And now you’re giving her more reason to hate me.
I think she took the position of Dean, and got transferred here...
...only to keep an eye on us.
[laughing]
[Vishal] 'Our love story was meant to last for just one night.'
'Anyway...'
Tell me this.
Why was Mumbai just ‘fine’?
What happened?
How?
How do you always know?
Because I don’t just hear you.
I listen to you.
Now tell me, what happened?
I met a man in Mumbai. Amit Chaudhary.
He accused me of having plagiarised Dhund from his manuscript.
- Have you? - Of course not.
Then?
If you’re stressed, talk to your dad.
- Vikas is here too... - No, I can’t talk to dad about it.
You saw him.
It’s been a while I’ve seen him so happy.
I can’t. I can’t involve him in this.
Then, why are you taking this so seriously?
Not seriously, but... it’s...
But what?
You’ve carried this worry all the way from Mumbai.
You take a small, trivial thing and over-think it...
...until it becomes huge in your head.
Just leave it, Juhi.
[indistinct chatter]
Dad!
Hey, Shukra, you haven’t left for college yet?
I’m going, Dad. You forgot your lunch again.
- Okay. - Take this.
Did you fix the broken water pipe?
- Yes, Dad. - Don’t forget to get the box.
- Okay, Dad. - Go. Hurry up.
Jeth Bahadur?
[Chhetri] 'You’re Jeth Bahadur, right?'
Yes, sir.
You were the main witness in Dheeraj Rajguru’s accident?
Yes, sir.
Come to the station tomorrow. We have some questions for you.
- Okay, sir. - Don’t forget.
[bell rings]
Ma’am, how will we manage after you leave?
Come on. Don’t you remember what Dr. Joshi said?
"What am I? I’m just a story."
[laughs]
All right, all of you bring your assignments on time tomorrow.
Go to class now.
Ma’am, Mansi ma’am has asked for you.
- Mansi...alright. - Okay.
Congratulations for the award, Juhi.
Thank you.
Vishal didn’t tell me...
[Mansi]...'or I’d have come too.'
He came back very late last night.
That’s when he told me he was with you.
[Mansi] 'Anyway, that’s a different matter.'
I’ve called you for another reason.
There’s news for your family.
[Juhi] 'Wow! Do we have a new source of income now?'
What’s this?
Dad? Let me see.
Give me that.
Mister, take this inside.
- We just took them out. - Never mind.
Take this money, and keep them back inside. Go.
What’s going on, Dad?
No one wants to buy or read my book.
Failure...
It’s karma, Juju.
I’m worthless now.
You don’t even know your true worth.
Look at this.
The university wants to build a new library.
In your name.
I don’t deserve this, Juju.
Why are you doing this for me?
If I was that important, I’d get the library built in my name.
Come.
Books can get dusty, but stories never do.
Dad.
We all have bad days, and good.
But I’m always with you, and will forever be.
Isn’t that enough?
[Anand] Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.
For a writer, it’s ironical when he runs out of words.
But then, all good things do come to an end.
'And when roads and buildings start getting named after you'...
...it’s an indication that your time is up.
[laughter]
So now, sit back, relax. Pull back.
Make way for those next in line.
[applause]
[Anand] 'No matter how much you plan life'...
...it never fails to surprise you.
I would like to thank the Dean, the trustees and the management...
...of Oakhill University for this respect, for this honour.
Thank you.
[applause]
[Mansi] Thank you for your kind words, sir.
The pleasure is all ours.
But the credit for building this library...
...goes to a special person.
It was their idea, and their funding that has made this possible.
A big, warm thanks to them.
How about I call them here?
The donor of Dr. Anand Tyagi Library...
...and the new trustee of our university.
Please put your hands together and welcome...
'Ms. Rhea Rajguru.'
Wasn’t she in jail?
[man] 'Yes. She’s Dr. Anand Tyagi’s daughter.'
'From his affair.'
[Mansi] 'Thank you so much Rhea.'
- 'Thank you for coming.' - [Rhea] 'Always a pleasure.'
Don’t react. That’s what she wants.
[Mansi] 'You have to say a few words.'
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
It’s so nice to be back here. No, seriously.
I’ve not just had a great time on this campus.
I’ve also learnt a lot from the professors here.
Like, upbringing is everything.
Since then, I’ve been wondering who is more important...
...the one who gives you birth, or the one who raises you.
[Rhea] 'I couldn’t choose one.'
That’s why I thought I should honour them both.
To honour the name of the one who raised me...
...I took his place in this trust.
And to honour the one who gave me birth...
...Today, I’ve made him an indelible part of this institution.
'Thank you so much for all that you’ve done.'
Thank you, Ms. Rajguru.
Now I would request Dr. Tyagi to unveil the plaque.
[Mansi] 'Sir, please do the honours.'
[applause]
[Mansi] 'In the spirit of celebration'...
...his latest book, My Beastly Shadows...
...will be introduced as a masterclass...
...at the university tomorrow.
Let’s go home.
You go ahead, I’ll come.
We’ll go back home and I’ll tell you what happened.
Mansi, you should have told me everything the other day.
You should have told me that Rhea was behind...
It was a huge donation, Juhi.
And I won’t issue an explanation for that.
Now, will you please excuse me?
- I really had no idea about this. - It’s okay.
- Shall we? Dad, come. - Let’s go.
Where’s Yash? Yash... Mom, where’s Yash?
- He was here... - Sudha?
- Yash? - He was here just now.
- Have you seen Yash here? - Yash?
- How could he just get up and go? - Yash!
- I know... - I was talking to the students.
- How could he just go? - I don’t know, he was... Yash...
When we brought the pram here...
Rhea.
- What’s this got to do with her? - Where is Rhea?!
Rhea!
Yash...
I told you to stay away from Yash! I told you!
Excuse me, you should be thanking me.
I’m aware of what you are and what you can be.
Stay away from my family.
[Anand] 'How could I not see Rhea was behind this?'
The one whose book no one wants to read...
...gets a library to his name.
Let it be.
You deserve this honour.
Forget about her.
Can you?
Tell me?
[Juhi] Did you seek anyone’s help in writing this?
Are you accusing me of cheating?
[Amit] To Amit...
...my inspiration.
The one from whose manuscript I stole this novel.
[door closes]
[Juhi] What’s the connection with you, Rhea?
Where are you?
[tense music]
[eagle pealing]