The crew has just finished a shoot in Jaipur, and come back to Mumbai to finish the film in a three-month start-to-finish schedule. Pankaj says the first schedule went off very well. "The story is interesting, although I won't say it's different, because that's one word that gets used a lot. Salman wanted to produce it and I was game for direction. Salman has lot of interesting tips and suggestions, I accept only what I feel is appropriate to the narration, the scene and the film. He doesn't mind if I reject a few ideas. "Salman is too cool and comfortable within himself to bother about life's trivialities. I can't tell you more about the film's story because that would ruin the element of surprise and suspense. Sushmita and Diya are real professionals," he says.
In the meantime, the cameraman has set up the lights and reflectors in the garden of Kamalistan, and it seems to have been transformed into the Garden of Eden. Salman hangs out with his friends to kill time. Dressed in a yellow shirt and black trousers, Salman looks bright, though his mood doesn't seem so. The scene is a subtle romantic one with Diya. Pankaj goes over the scene with Salman and everyone waits for Diya to finish her makeup. She came to the sets late today due to a stomach ache. Salman talks with the director animatedly, almost rehearsing the entire scene. Soon the wait is over and Diya comes out with her boy and makeup man in tow. Loaded with Kundan jewelry and a magnificent golden ghagra choli, Diya looks dazzling. She greets the director and Salman who offers a sweet smile.
Does Diya remind Salman of Aishwarya, we wonder. Apparently, Diya hates being told that she looks like Aishwarya. She understands the scene and combs her hair once more for the final touch. The camera rolls and the duo mouth their dialogues. The camera then goes around them in a semi circle. They hug each other, but Diya is not too happy with the shot. So they do the scene again. And we're done. The shot is okayed. Diya rushes into her makeup room lest her makeup gets spoilt due to the sun, which has come after a gap of a week in the rain season. The latest queen to enter Bollywood, Diya is thrilled to be welcomed so warmly. "In this film, I play Salman's childhood sweetheart but am unable to express my love due to Sushmita. It's a fun-filled masala film. I play a tomboy and I have worn this Indian outfit to lure Salman. I knew films were exciting but I didn't know that they gave such exhilarating thrills too. And touch wood, I have got such good films and great banners."
