EXT./ESTAB. NEW DELHI METRO STATION - DAY
INT. METRO STATION – SAME
A young man, KABIR, early 30s, regular looking guy, but is most definitely our hero. When you look at him, you feel like he is the sort of a guy who will rock out to ‘Kora Kagaz’ but the rock version of it. He is listening to the radio on his phone. He looks like, either he has had a breakup or the doctor has told him that he had only few days to live.
He walks up to the edge of the platform, and we see the metro rushing in hard and fast. Metal against metal screeching and a loud whistle blowing from the security guards’ mouth. Maybe, this is the last time we see Kabir alive. CUT TO:
INT. METRO – SAME
Kabir enters the metro and puts the bag on an empty seat.
TRAIN ANNOUNCER (O.S)
Kripya darwazoon se door khadey
rahein
Draft - AC
RADIO JOCKEY (O.S)
You are listening to Hot FM 110.1,
today we have a special guest coming
in…
TRAIN ANNOUNCER (O.S)
Aakri station Indira Gandhi
antarashtriya hawai adda hai.
(BEAT)Kabir enters the metro and puts the bag on an empty seat.
TRAIN ANNOUNCER (O.S)
Kripya darwazoon se door khadey
rahein
(BEAT)Kabir leans against the door and looks out the window. TRAIN ANNOUNCER (O.S)
Agla station <Station name>He takes his phone out, begins to type a message and then deletes the message. His phone beeps, he looks at the whatsapp message
MESSAGE
Kabir, I love you! Please hum milke
baat kartein hai.Kabir goes through his gallery and scrolls through all the photos before he lands on a single photo which shows him and a gorgeous girl hugging and smiling in a coffee shop. DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. COFFEE SHOP – FEW DAYS BACK
Kabir and the girl in the photos are sitting in a coffee shop.
THE GIRL
I don’t think this is going to work
Draft - AC
out Kabir
KABIR
(looks confused, like
a small child who just
realized that Santa
Claus is not real, nor
is chota bheem)
But why?INT. FLIGHT – DAY, PRESENT DAY
Kabir, is dressed in different set of clothes, he is looking fresh and eager. The bag he is carrying is definitely different from the one he had when he was in the metro. He stows his bag overhead and buckles into his window seat. His phone pings, the text message says, “Can’t wait!”, Kabir smiles the widest grin. AIR HOSTESS
(to the passenger
seated in the aisle
seat)
Sir, since this is an emergency seat,
could you kindly keep your bags in
the overhead storage compartment.Airhostess looks at Kabir with a flirteous smile, you know that the smile the airhostess smiles is not part of her job profile.
AIR HOSTESS
Sir, since you are seated in the
emergency seat, would you be willing
to assist us during any emergency.Kabir smiles and nods as the air hostess rattles off instructions, the window seat passenger attempts to ask a question but is interrupted by the flight announcement.
FLIGHT CAPTAIN
Draft - AC
Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen.
This is your flight Captain Gurpreet
Singh… Along with me is first
officer… Our flight to Mumbai will
take 2 hours and 20 mins…Kabir looks out the window as the Airhostesss looks at him as she carries out of the flight instructions. The passenger seated next to him mistakes the airhostess smile for Kabir to be for him and smiles back lecherously.
(CREDITS ROLL)INT. FLIGHT - DAY
Kabir is seated in the non-emergency seat, he is dressed in the same set of clothes we saw him at the very beginning of the story. Looking sad and devdas types. A different air hostess brings out the food trolley.
AIR HOSTESS (#2)
Sir, Veg or Non-Veg?KABIR
How much is it?
AIR HOSTESS
Nothing sir. Veg or Non-veg?
KABIR
Non-veg.
Thank you!Kabir smiles. Air hostess smiles back politely as she hands him a tray of food.
EXT. CHATRAPATI SHIVAJI AIRPORT – DAY, FRIDAY MOHIT, (early 30s, dressed smartly in jeans and crisp white shirt, gives a decent boy impression) and NIKHIL (early 30s, dressed in 3/4ths and black metal t-shirt, gives a hippie vibe) are eating a sandwich while waiting for Kabir’s flight to land. Both of them check out the airhostesses who walk out of the arrival terminal. Nikhil winks at few of them. Mohit is embarrassed by it all.
MOHIT
Draft - AC
Pooja ke baare mein kuch matt bolna!
NIKHIL
Kyun?
MOHIT
(Rolls his eyes and
looks at his wrist
watch)
Chal, uski flight land hogayi hogiMohit and Nikhil wait at the arrival gate and soon catch sight of Kabir walking out with the same colored bag he had when we started this story. Not the bag we see him stowing in the overhead compartment. The friends greet and hug each other.
NIKHIL
Abey Devdas jaisi halat kyun bana ke
rakha hai?KABIR
Kyun, kya hogaya?
(Rubs his hand over
his chin to see if
there is any growth)
MOHIT
(Glares at Nikhil)Abey gadheda hai yeh!
KABIRTu aaj office nahi ja raha kya? MOHIT
Abey pehli baar aaya hai toh maine socha dost ko pick up kar loon.
NIKHILGhanta! Uski meeting hai Andheri mein. Tabhi yeh office nahi gaya.
Draft - ACChalaya khud ko best friend sabit karne.
KABIR
(chuckles)Wohi toh main sochoon. Acha tu apni meeting ke liye nikal. Main aur Nikhil tujhe baad mein milengay.
NIKHILHaan tu nikal
(He grabs Mohit’s
sandwich and pushes
him away)
MOHITCool hai. I ll see you in the evening. Nikhil sun, Mondy’s par milte hai. 8 baje types. KABIR
(Watches Mohit walk
away)
Bacha bada stud type ki English bolne
laga hai
NIKHIL
(Guffaws)
Chal line pe lag ja.
(points to the queue
of people waiting to
get an auto)INT. NIKHIL AND MOHIT’S 1BHK FLAT – DAY
Nikhil opens the main door and waves his hand grandiosely.
NIKHIL
Welcome to the heart of the city!
Draft - AC
Shri Hari do sau do
(Turns back to look at
Kabir and points to
his right)
To your right is Mohit and my room.
(Swivels on his heels
and points)
To your left you will see that we
have our hall with TV. And further to
that is the kitchen with the fridge.
(To the space between
his room and the hall)
This is the toilet and this is the
bathroom.
(Walks to the kitchen,
opens the fridge and
grabs a beer)
Peeyega?(Kabir shakes his head. Puts his bags down and opens the door to the toilet and looks at Nikhil all confused) NIKHIL
(Laughs out loud as he
reads Kabir’s mind)
Haan itna hi hai. When we moved in,
it was an Indian style toilet. We got
the landlord to get the commode.
KABIR
(Opens the toilet
door and struggles to
enter and close the
door behind him)EXT. RAILWAY STATION – EVENING
Draft - AC
NIKHIL
(Slurs slightly)
Wait here, I will get the tickets.The two of them wait for their train at the station.
KABIR
Yaar, I have heard so much about
Bombay local trains and the bheed.
But here there are hardly 10-15
people standing waiting for the
train.
NIKHIL
(Chuckles)
Wait and watchKabir looks around searching for the train at the horizon.
Nikhil looks at his mobile phone for the time. NIKHIL
Listen, in another minute or so train
will come. Once you get in, don’t go
inside. Stand next to the door with
your back against the seat. And
whatever happens don’t move. But
don’t worry, this train will be
khali-khali. Kurla mein fight hoga.Kabir watches the train enter the station and slowing down. He soon realizes that the population of rajouri gardens has descended on the platform have magically appeared and are trying to get in. He follows Nikhil in a daze, swept by the sea of people.
With every station stop, the train slowly and steadily Kabir is finding it difficult to stand without stepping on anybody’s toes or leaning against somebody. As the train departs the station, Nikhil smiles at Kabir as one man tries to strangle Nikhil with his elbow.
NIKHIL
(yells but sounds like
a whisper in all the
din)
Draft - AC
Next station is where we get down!EXT. KURLA STATION – EVENING RUSH HOUR
As the train slows down and pulls into the station, Kabir nudges Nikhil and shows him a man holding the footbridge railing and yelling obscenities and asking people to stop pushing him. They both chuckle.
Nikhil gets down the moving train. Kabir waits for the train to come to a complete stop. The other commuters spot a fast train pulling into the other platform. The swarm of anxious and harried commuters push Kabir both inside and outside. Kabir pushes his way out and soon finds himself standing next to the man yelling obscenities. Kabir looks on like a lost puppy. He wants to join in with the man shouting obscenities and asking the swarm of people to show some humanity but he finds that his voice doesn’t reach his throat.
Finally a harassed Kabir sees Nikhil standing few feet away laughing away like Gabbar asked him to before he killed him. NIKHIL
(He yells in between
raucous laughter)
OH! THAT WAS SO FUNNY!
KABIR
Saale! Matbal tu hass raha hai aur
yahan meri mummy sister ho rahi haiNikhil pulls him to the side and hugs him good naturedly while continuing to laugh.
NIKHIL
Chal! Ek aur train pakadni hai.
KABIR
(looks on with shock
and pain)
Abey auto-wato se nahi ja sakte kya?
NIKHIL
Draft - AC
Abey, chal na!
(Points excitedly at
the platform from the
overbridge)
Jaldi chal, apni train aa gayi
KABIR
(Running frantically
behind Nikhil)
Timbaktu ja rahein hain kya?
NIKHIL
Town! Tu chal abhi! Anita wait kar
rahi hai humare liye.
KABIR
Anita kaun hai bey?NIKHIL
Abey friend hai.
KABIR
(sniggers)
Friend? Ya gurrlfriend?
NIKHIL
Abey friend-friend hai. Mohit ke
saath kaam karti hai. And I think
Mohit likes her. He says she is just
a “good friend”. Pata nahi. He
doesn’t tell me things as much as he
shares things with you even though I
am his brother.Kabir playfully grabs Nikhil’s shoulders and squeezes it before pushing him inside the relatively empty train with decent space to stand.
EXT. FINAL? STATION – EVENING RUSH HOUR
They get off the foot bridge. ANITA, (early 30s, dressed in
Draft - ACsmart ethnic office wear) looks up from her phone and waves to Nikhil.
INT. TAXI – EVENING
Nikhil sits along with the driver while Anita and Kabir sit at the back, much to Kabir’s discomfort.
ANITA
So this is your first time in Bombay?
KABIR
Yeah! I thought you couldn’t call it
Bombay anymore.
NIKHIL
Abey people are idiots! Kuch bhi bol
do samjhne wale ko samaj aana chahiyeANITA
People are not idiots! Bombay is what
people used to call it and Mumbai is
what it is today. Anyway, how are you
liking it so far?
NIKHIL
(chuckles)
KABIR
It’s different. It’s not like how
they show it in movies. It’s more
like a Deepa Mehta documentary.
ANITA
(laughs)
Manjhe?
KABIR
(raises eyebrows)
Manjhe Matbal?
Draft - AC
NIKHIL
Abey manjhe means Matbal. Jaise ki
what means kya.Anita stares at Kabir.
KABIR
Why you staring at me?
ANITA
I am still waiting for you to explain
why Mumbai is like a Deepa Mehta
documentary
KABIR
I don’t know. I just landed today
morning.
ANITA
And you made up your mind so soon?NIKHIL
(pauses before he
lights up a cigarette)
Abey yaar! You guys ask so many
questions. Just chill na. He is
recovering from a break up.
(scrunches his eyes
tightly realizing that
he goofed up)
ANITA
Oh yeah! I forgot.
KABIR
What do you mean you forgot?Nikhil mimes not to say anything to Anita but is wary of Kabir. Kabir looks on inquiringly.
(BEAT)
Draft - ACEXT. COLABA CAUSEWAY – EVENING
They get off the cab, things are tense between the three.
KABIR
Kitna hua bhaiya?
CABBIE
Pachees rupayKabir is mildly surprised. Anita jumps in.
ANITA
(If looks could kill,
the cabbie would have
died a thousand
deaths)
Station se idhar baaees rupay lagte
hain ki 25?Kabir looks at Nikhil exasperated and confused. KABIR
Arre, why you getting so gussa?
ANITA
Guys like you only spoil Mumbai for
us people.
(takes back the change
from the cabbie and
gives it to Kabir)
KABIR
(Annoyed)
Hain? Maine kya kiya abhi?
NIKHIL
(Hugs Kabir and tries
to calm him down)
Shaant gadhadhari bheem! Shaant!Nikhil spots Mohit walking towards them.
Draft - AC
MOHIT
(hugs and greets all
three of them and then
spots the weird vibe
in the air and the
sulky faces on Kabir
and Anita)
Hua kya?
ANITA
Dilli walon ko Mumbai raaz nahi aa
rahi.
MOHIT
Kyun bechare ki le rahi hai. Aaj
subah hi aaya hai.ANITA
(Sniggers
mischievously)
Sorry.
(You can tell, she
doesn’t mean it
really. She is just
kidding around)Nikhil and Kabir look at each other and shake their heads
NIKHIL; KABIR
(sigh)
Yeh ladies log!
(Bursts into laughter)
MOHIT
Can we go and get a drink and
celebrate?They walk and talk.
Draft - AC
KABIR
Celebrate what?
MOHIT
You finally coming to Bombay and
Anita’s last day at work.INT. RANDOM PUB – NIGHT
There is loud music, the place is filled with people getting a drink after work. Most of the crowd is dressed in casuals and work clothes. You can sense that Kabir feels slightly out of place. Mohit and Nikhil are singing aloud to the song playing on the speakers. Kabir is nursing his beer.
ANITA
(turns to Kabir)
So you haven’t been anywhere?
KABIR
Nope.ANITA
Not even to the touristy places?
KABIRTouristy places?
NIKHIL
(Stops singing and
joins the
conversation)We were planning on taking him on a Mumbai Darshan.
KABIRBut what are these touristy places?
MOHIT
(Clearly drunk and
slightly slurring on
his speech)
Draft - ACArre, Gateway of India, Juhu Chowpatty, Haji Ali, Siddhivinayak Temple, Mannat, Bandstand
ANITAGateway toh we can go after this only.
NIKHILYou want to come?
ANITAPagal hai kya?
MOHITWaise kya kaam hai? Aaj toh tera last day tha. Aur kal waise bhi Saturday hai.
NIKHILHaan! Dekha de iss Dilli ke launde ko ki jannat cheez kya hai. (breaks into, cheese, cheese Amul cheese!) KABIR
Saale! Tum dono kahan se ho?
ANITA
Waise why are we in Mondys? We should
have taken him to Leo’s na?
NIKHIL
Yaar Leos boring hai.
ANITA
I thought you were showing him
Mumbai.
NIKHIL
(calls out to Mohit)
You want to go to Leos kya after
this?
Draft - AC
KABIR
What is Leos?
ANITA
Mondys and Leos are basically the
same. Except Leos mein there is more
firang crowd.Mohit shakes his head vehemently. You are unsure if he shaking his head side to side because he is drunk and doesn’t want to move or because he think Leos is a bad idea)
ANITA
You guys na! I have a feeling that
you guys will take him to all shady
places.
NIKHIL
Acha, so you coming tomorrow?ANITA
I am definitely not letting somebody
give this poor man a bad image of
Bombay. And definitely not by two
idiots like you two!
NIKHIL
Cool! You can help me select a b’day
gift for Priyal tomorrow then.
Birthday aa raha uska.
ANITA
Tu abhi bhi uske peeche pada hai?
MOHIT
(turns towards Kabir,
puts his arm around
like only how a drunk
friend who wants to
confess something dark
does)
Ek baat bolon! Ab Dilli mein woh baat
Draft - AC
nahi rahi. Tu Bombay Shift karja,
nahi toh tera bhi rape hojayega.
KABIR
(takes it as a
personal affront)
Saale!
ANITA
(realizing that Mohit
is drunk, comes to his
defense)
Arre shut up and drink your beer!The rest of the night goes away in more drinking, singing aloud and dancing on the streets in front of Gateway of India. INT. MOHIT & NIKHIL’S FLAT – MORNING, SATURDAY
NIKHIL
Abey haraami! Jaldi utt. Anita ghar
se nikal chuki hai.Kabir wakes up and looks through one open eye and waves at Nikhil who is sipping on tea and having a smoke.
MOHIT
Chai peeyega?Kabir smiles and nods his head.
INT. AUTORICKSHAW – MORNING
KABIR
Yaar! Hum directly issi auto se nahi
ja saktey kya? Train mein jaana
zaroori tha?
Draft - AC
MOHIT
Saale ek toh traffic mein fasengay
aur doosra kum se kum dedh sau rupay
lagegay.
KABIR
Haan! Toh main de doonga.
MOHIT
Saale! Paise toh main bhi de doon.
But tereko Bombay ki feel nahi
aayegi.
KABIR
Aur local mein aayegi?MOHIT
Jab paseene se lat-pat lat-pat tu
apni mundi train ke bahar nikalega
aur jab thandi thandi hawa tere shirt
ke andar jayegi na tab tujhe feeling
aayegi. Abhi tujhe bolke koi fayda
nahi.
NIKHIL
Lagta hai yeh bet bhool gaya
KABIR
Kaunsi bet?
DISSOLVE TO:INT. GATEWAY OF INDIA – LATE NIGHT
The four of them are considerably drunk and continuing to drink from plastic cups. They share a moment watching a ferry running in the distance. Draft - AC MOHIT
This, lady and gentlemen, is the
famous Gateway of India.
NIKHIL
Priyal was right there
(Points vaguely)
When the shots were fired and she was
taking pictures.
(Nikhil turns around
and looks solemnly at
the Taj Hotel)
KABIR
It is nice.ANITA
(goes defensive)But?
KABIRBut India gate wali feeling nahi hai isme.
ANITA
(curious)What is this India Gate wali feeling? KABIR
(Looks around and sees
mostly empty streets
and few black and
yellow taxis)Ice cream wali?
ANITA
Draft - AC
(Shakes her head. She
knows she is not going
to understand the
explanation even if
she was sober)Chal bet lagi
KABIRKis baat ki?
ANITAKitne din ke liye hai tu idhar?
KABIR
(Looks around
incredulously at Mohit
and Nikhil who are
swaying and giggling
like little school
girls)Tu? (Tries to put on a serious face and voice before turning to look at Anita and her drunk smiling face) Monday evening tak.
ANITA
Tujhe main aise Bombay ki feel doongi
kis tujhe bolna hi padega ke Bombay
is better than Delhi.
KABIR
Agar nahi bola toh?
MOHIT
(Suddenly jumping and
chiming in while doing
a Mithun da groin
thrust)
Agar bola toh tu kya karega?
Draft - AC
Tu bol
KABIR
MOHIT
I don’t know…
(Looks at Nikhil and
Anita)
NIKHIL
Tu hume daaru pileyga
ANITA
(quickly adds in)
Aur… Aur… Ek din ke liye tu vada pav
ke liye vada talega.Mohit and Nikhil crack up laughing. KABIR
Aur agar nahi bola toh main jo
bolunga tu karegi
MOHIT
(comes in for Anita’s
defense)
Saale yeh nahi ki jo bhi ho tu mera
dilli mahan ka naara lagata raheKabir drunkenly muses for a while before smiling.
KABIR
Jaise Shahrukh ne kahan, done, done,
London ji!EXT. KURLA STATION – PRESENT
Kabir and Nikhil are having a smoke while waiting for Anita. Mohit is standing a bit away from them talking into his mobile phone.
Draft - AC
KABIR
I thought you said that she had
already left
NIKHIL
Ruk! Main na comuterji se pooch kar
batata hoon.
KABIR
(Slightly annoyed)
So what’s the plan anyway?
NIKHIL
We wait for Anita. Then we go to
Bandstand
KABIR
Bandstand?NIKHIL
Haan! I will show you your hero’s
house. Phir will walk around Linking
road, have lunch and then make more
plans.
KABIR
(rolls eyes)
Planning na, tu rehne de. Bachpan se
jaanta hoon tujhe. Planning tumse na
ho payega.Mohit finishes talking on the phone and joins them.
ANITA
OI!
(Yells from opposite side of the road)Anita is dressed in jeans, fab india top, her wavy hair left loose. She looks pretty enough for people to take a second look at her.
Draft - AC
ANITA (CONT’D)
(Walks across the
street and looks at
Mohit with a question
mark painted on her
face)
Kya hua?
MOHIT
Arre, office called. Client needs the
report abhi ke abhi. Manjhe weekend
ka toh hogaya tata birla!
ANITA
(laughs)
Somehow I knew this was going to
happen and I would be stuck with
these two!EXT./INT. ROAD/AUTORICKSHAW – MID MORNING Nikhil hails an autorickshaw. The auto fellow refuses. KABIR
(pointing in the
direction where Mohit
left)
Is that why you quit your job?
ANITA
Nahi re! I enjoyed my work. But you
know, after the first couple of
years, it was just work, work and
more work. I needed some time just
for me.
KABIR
So what you planning on doing?
ANITA
Same thing you are doing
KABIR
Matbal?
Draft - AC
ANITA
You know travel, study, side mein
keep doing freelance assignments for
this paapi peth.The three of them finally get into an auto.
KABIR
You didn’t ask him for how much?
(Points to the auto
driver)
NIKHIL
(Points to the meter)
Isse na bête ji, meter kehte hain.
Yahan sab meter se chalte hain.(BEAT) NIKHIL
(points to the left)
Salman ka apartment
KABIR
Kidhar?
NIKHIL
Abey upar dekh
KABIR
Kahan?
NIKHIL
Abey mundi bahar nikaal kar dekh.
ANITA
(chuckles)
Draft - AC
Arre but he toh is a shahrukh fan!Kabir flashes a boyish smile – part embarrassed and part shy
NIKHIL
(taps the auto driver
on his shoulder)
Boss, Mannat se lete huye jaana
ANITA
(to Nikhil)
Jab koi Mumbai pehli baar aata hai,
toh use toh Amitabh, Shahrukh, Salman
ka ghar toh dikhana padta hai na?Nikhil laughs at the auto driver’s reflection grinning in the rear view mirror. The auto slows down at the long winding road.
KABIR
Abey ghar dekh kar karunga kya?AUTO DRIVER
(pointing with his
free hand)
Saab yeh raha Shahrukh ka ghar
KABIR
(surprised, confused
and slightly annoyed)
Abey yeh toh sirf gate hai.They alight off the auto. Kabir walks back to try to sneak a peek above the gates. They get back into the auto.
EXT. SIDEWALK OPPOSITE CAFÉ COFFEE DAY – MIDDAY
They walk out of the coffee shop with cold coffees in their hands.
NIKHIL
(Points to the
Draft - AC
horizon)
Woh building dekh raha hai?
KABIR
What about it?
NIKHIL
That is Taj Lands End.
KABIR
Lands End Matbal kya? Land khatam
hojata hai kya?
ANITA
Technically yes. That is the western
most point of Bombay.KABIR
(pointing slyly with
his chin at the many
couples huddled
together as one)So this is Lodi gardens of Bombay?
(BEAT)
KABIRAcha tell me this, and this is something which has been bothering me for quite some time. What is the difference between Bombay and Mumbai NIKHIL
Bombay is state of mind. Mumbai is what you felt in the local.
KABIRMatbal?
Draft - AC
NIKHILBombay means independence, freedom to chase your dreams in a way you see fit. And Mumbai is the fight for survival. Here you will find this fellow (points to the vegetable vendor on the road) selling vegetables and side by side mein playing the stock market.
KABIRWhat rubbish?
ANITAEverybody does ten things at once here. Else they can’t survive. When we used to live in town, there used to be this tailor who used to run his shop till evening and then he sold ice cream. That’s how things are. (BEAT) Why what did you think the difference was?
KABIRI thought Bombay was more about Amitabh bachchan wali filmein. You know mills and strikes, underworld dons, smuggling, dance bars and all. And Mumbai is more like the Khans. Mall-shawl, party-sharty.
NIKHILWoh zamana kab ka gaya.
ANITAWe still have dance bars
NIKHILArre but mamu logon ka tenshun rehta hai re baba
Draft - AC
(BEAT)
NIKHIL
(Checks his phone and
smiles cheekily)Acha listen, why don’t you guys go to Janta and wait while I meet with Priyal? I will finish shopping with Priyal. Tab tak toh Mohit bhi free hojayega, then shaam ka plan baneyengay
ANITACool KABIR
(shoots Nikhil a dirty
look – saying kiske
saath chod ke jaa raha
hai)
ANITA
(Flags an auto down)
Boss pehle humey Jantha drop kardena,
phir isse linkin road par chod dena.INT. JANTA – LUNCHTIME
Both of them look around the crowded noisy bar to check for empty seats. Couple of people get up. The two of them move to the empty chairs.
KABIR
These autos don’t run near gateway
kya?
Draft - AC
ANITA
Nope! Colaba is town-town. No autos
allowed after Bandra.
KABIR
That’s bit stupid isn’t it?
(BEAT)
So, town is Bombay and the rest of
the place is Mumbai?
ANITA
No. Not really.(passes the menu to Kabir) KABIR
(goes through the menu
and poses the question
like innocently like
his mummyji will call
him to drink his milk
anytime)
So Mohit and Nikhil were telling me
about some bet that we had
ANITA
Oh yes! Don’t tell me you forgot!
Because you are most definitely going
to be talofying vadas. Sab set hai.
(Kabir chuckles)Anita places order for two beers, one chicken biryani one by two. KABIR
Draft - AC
(interrupts Anita as
he scans the menu)
Idhar Bombay duck milta hai kya?
ANITA
Arre I will take you to the best
place for bombil. Tu abhi chill maar
(BEAT)
Anyway, I toh forgot to ask you last
night only. What do you do?
KABIR
I sell fertilizers.
ANITA
Like to farmers and stuff? I didn’t
know Delhi had farmsKABIR
Delhi has lot of farms but none where
farming happens. But, there are a lot
of farmers in and around Ghaziabad
area.
ANITA
So you took a break from selling
fertilizers to farmers and came down
to meet Mohit and Nikhil?
KABIR
(averts his eyes from
Anita and goes back to
scanning to menu)
Something like that.
ANITA
Acha tell me this, Mohit told me not
to ask you but I don’t know you so I
will, why did you and the girl break
up?
Draft - AC
(BEAT)
KABIR
She said I made her realize that she
liked women more than men.They both chuckle. Their order comes.
ANITA
Cheers yaar! Hope you fall in love in
Bombay and make vadas for a whole
day.
KABIR
Haan I was going to ask you, were you
serious about that?
ANITA
Toh kya? I know the uncle who runs
the shop at Churchgate station. My
breakfast and lunch were always there
only during college days.KABIR
Where did you study?
ANITA
KC. That’s where I met Nikhil and
Mohit. College was fun.
(BEAT)
So… seriously, why did you guys break
up?
KABIR
I didn’t break up. She did.
ANITA
Okay… but what was the reason?
KABIR
No reason. She just said that it
wasn’t working out.
Draft - AC
ANITA
What do you mean no reason? There is
always a reason.Kabir shrugs as he swigs at his beer and smiles a sad smile. A smile which makes you feel bad for him.
EXT. COFFEE SHOP, SAKET – FEW DAYS AGO
EX-GIRLFRIEND
(In English)
I love you Kabir, but I don’t think
its working out.
KABIR
Are you seeing somebody else?EX-GF
(In English)
(A bit too fast)No. Nooo!
(realizing that she
comes across as
guilty, slows down)You know you are sweet. And you are nice. But I think things are moving way too fast for us.
KABIRFast? We have been dating for seven whole years. Your parents like me, my parents like you. My parents are even ready to speak with your parents.
EX-GFNo they don’t. And what makes you so sure that I want to get married right now. Draft - AC (BEAT) You know, maybe panditji was right after all.
KABIRI mean I am ready whenever you are ready. But yeh Pandit ji kahan se aagaye? And when you say Panditji, you mean that dhongi fellow who you dragged me to get your hands read? The fellow who said that you are a wild child and you need to find somebody who will calm your petulant heart?
EX-GFI am sorry Kabir. But I don’t think Babaji meant you. KABIR
(raising his voice)
Are you serious? Are you fucking
serious?
EX-GF
(embarrassed)
Maybe it is best if we don’t speak to
each other anymore.INT. JANTA, BANDRA - PRESENT
ANITA
How long were you guys together for
anyway?
KABIR
7 years
Draft - AC
(BEAT)
(Raises his hand to
get the server’s
attention)
ANITA
(talks loudly)
Boss! Ek aur KF.
KABIR
Maine ek cheez notice ki hai
ANITA
Aur woh kya hai Mr. Byomkesh?
KABIR
People in Bombay don’t talk nicely to
others. I mean there is no basic
respect.ANITA
What do you mean?
KABIRLike the way Nikhil was talking to the auto driver. You calling for another beer. People in the local. Matbal full on dhakabaazi. Even though there was so much space for people to get on and get off araam se.
ANITABeing nice to people is a luxury which we can’t afford.
KABIRMatbal?
ANITAManjhe… Suppose if you are bleeding to death and you are on your way to
Draft - ACthe hospital, will you be nice to people standing in your way?
KABIRNo.
ANITAHaan… Same way, everybody has some place to go. If you don’t reach the place at the right time then there is somebody else who has taken what you should have got.
KABIRYou don’t have a boyfriend?
ANITA
(her expression
changes from serious
to a broad knowing
smile)Mohit didn’t tell you? KABIR
(surprised)Oh! I didn’t know you and Mohit were dating.
ANITAYou mad or what? Mohit and I are friends. I was in a relationship with my boss. Things didn’t work out. Which is one of the reasons I am quitting. I thought Mohit would have told you about this, given how men love to gossip.
KABIR
(smiles)Well, we do love gossip. But no, Mohit didn’t tell me anything. He was drunk drunk last night.
ANITA
Draft - AC
(chuckles)I find it hard to believe that this is your first time in Bombay
KABIRA lot of plans were made. None of them worked.
ANITAWell, it is never too late to visit friends.
KABIRYou know what people say about friends right?
ANITAWhat do they say? KABIR
That the only friends you keep are the ones you feel better when you compare your life with.
ANITAWow! That’s deep! Let me guess, only child?
KABIRNo, I have a younger brother.
ANITASo do I!
KABIRDoes your father also think that you never listen to good advice, and are always doing awaaraapanti. And you need to do something about your temper? Not to forget that you are always chided for setting a bad
Draft - ACexample for your younger sibling
ANITA
(laughs out aloud)I didn’t know we were in a competition of comparing our families. But, yeah pretty much.
KABIRWhen I was young, I hated my brother. Like he could do no wrong and I could do nothing right.
ANITAIsn’t it true for almost all elder siblings born in the 80s? KABIR
I think what my father really wanted was either a futuristic robot or a very obedient dog. You know somebody who won’t question any of his commands and still give him unconditional love and respect despite everything.
ANITAI just think that parents, especially my father didn’t know and still doesn’t know how to deal with me. Like he was the elder son to his parents. He had only brothers and I am the only girl child in the whole family. He raised me as a boy and then when I turned into a teenager he suddenly realized that I was a girl. So suddenly I was told that I shouldn’t do this and do that.
KABIRDo you also fear that as you grow old
Draft - ACyou might turn into your father or your mother?
ANITAI don’t have this fear but I know what you mean.
(Smiles
understandably)
KABIR
(checks his watch and
checks his phone)How long do you think Nikhil is going to be gone for?
ANITA
(Shrugs)Why? You getting bored? KABIR
(shakes his head)No. No. Waise, how is this Priyal? I haven’t heard about her before.
ANITAShe is nice I guess.
KABIRMatbal ki you don’t like her.
ANITA
(smiles cheekily)No. Not really. Something doesn’t seem right about her you know. She seems very fake.
KABIRNikhil always did have a thing for women bit cuckoo in the head.
Draft - AC
ANITAWhat sort of women do you go for?
KABIRBack in school, we were like the three Khans. Mohit was like Aamir, mostly because he was short and always a kitabi keeda.
ANITA
(Laughs out aloud)Oh yeah! The forever front bencher!
KABIRNikhil was Salman and I was…
ANITA
(interrupting)Shahrukh? KABIR
(smiles and defends
himself)Nikhil always said that when he grew up, he wanted to have a girlfriend in every city. I was always like Shahrukh in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Ek baari pyar hota hai. Ek baari shaadi bhi hogi.
ANITA
(Smiles)So you telling me that your relationship of 7 years was not love?
KABIRI don’t know. I thought I knew what it was. But now I am not sure anymore.
ANITA
Draft - ACI thought you would know, since you are such a big Shahrukh fan.
KABIRYou know, when fauji and circus used to come on Doordarshan, my mother used to tell me, ‘Yeh star banega’. And ever since then, I think I have got something for Shahrukh. Not because he was or is a good looking actor or is a fellow Delhi boy. But I think it was more to do with the fact that my mother believed he could be something which he wasn’t back then. I think I have always chased that dream.
ANITAAnd what dream is that? KABIR
You know be somebody who people look
at and say, ‘ki yeh kuch karega’. You
know like that ‘papa kehte hain
song’. I think before Bon Jovi’s its
my life was an anthem. Papa kehte
hain was the anthem for people like
us.
(BEAT)
Somewhere along the line, I think the
keeda entered my mind that maybe I
will end up having a personal life
like the ones I see in movies.
ANITA
You know people say that finding the
one person you love enough to spend
the rest of your life is difficult,
but I think finding the one person
who will believe in you and your
capabilities is lot more difficult.
(BEAT)
Draft - ACThey both laugh and continue talking as they finish they biryani and their beers.
INT. JANTA BAR, BANDRA – AFTERNOON
ANITA
(checks her watch for
the time)
I think Nikhil and Priyal are busy
(BEAT)
So, what do you want to do?
ANITA
You want to do shopping for family
and all?
KABIR
NOANITA
Good, then will go to chowpatty after
this.
(Looks outside)
The sun is also setting now. Perfect
time hai.
KABIR
Chowpatty?
ANITA
Juhu Chowpatty. Best chat in all the
world.
KABIR
I don’t think so. Have you had chaat
in Purani dilli?
ANITA
No. But you promised to have an open
Draft - AC
mind about things. So shut up and
come with me.There is something innocent and cute about Kabir and his smile which Anita notices as she continues to stare at him with a smile on her face and reaches for her wallet. KABIR (reaching for his pocket) Arre! My treat!
ANITA
Rubbish. You pay for the chaat and
the nariyal pani.
(She pushes the money into the bill
folder and hands it to the server)
KABIR
The chat better be good(He mockingly challenges Anita) INT. AUTO – EARLY EVENING
KABIR
So what is the fascination with Juhu?
Is it also like India Gate and ice
cream?
ANIT
I don’t know about India gate and ice
cream.
KABIR
Well, there is a tradition – if you
come to Delhi, you have to visit the
India Gate and you have to have ice
cream there. Even if it is the middle
of winter. It is just something you
do.
ANITA
Draft - AC
(Laughs)
Well, maybe the next time I visit
Delhi.
KABIR
You been to Delhi?
ANITA
I had gone there once couple of years
back on work. The only places I saw
was my hotel room and the client’s
office. Had to catch the flight back
to Mumbai early next day.Kabir smiles, a thought rises in his mind.
KABIR
Okay, so here is the deal.
ANITA
What deal?KABIR
If you win the bet, I will make vadas
and pav and whatever all day long.
But if you lose then the next you
come to Delhi, you come with me to
see the real Delhi.
ANITA
(Laughs)
And if I don’t like Delhi?
KABIR
First you come to Delhi then we will
see.EXT. JUHU CHOWPATTY – EVENING
The beach is buzzing with activity. Kabir looks around and takes everything in. Suddenly he is overcome with feeling of being alone in a crowd. As the two of the them walk towards the water, Kabir notices young families holding an impromptu picnics – Fathers buying their sons and daughters ballons. Few of them taking rides on the horse. Kabir takes off his shoes and walked
Draft - ACbarefoot. Anita already has her sandals in her hands.
KABIR
I can see why people like this place,
but I am more of a hill station
person.
ANITA
When we used to stay in Dadar, my
father would bring me and my brother
every Sunday evening here. We would
go till the edge of the water, dip
our feet in and then walk back. Think
that was the only time when I think
my father was at peace.KABIR
There was a time when I think I was in 5th or 6th standard. My family decided to go do one of those south India tours. You know visit all the temples, see Kanyakumari and all. We went to Marina beach. That was the first time my feet touched sand. It was weird. It was soft and ticklish. And I saw those waves. Suddenly I was overcome with this feeling. I don’t know what it was. But there was this feeling that everything will be alright.
ANITAI know what you mean. You feel alone but at the same time you feel one with everything else around you. Like you are part of something bigger than just you and your world.
KABIRYeah! But you know there is a thin
Draft - ACline between feeling alone but part of a crowd and feeling alone in a crowd.
ANITAI hate that feeling
KABIRI don’t know if anybody likes feeling that way.
ANITABut that’s the thing with Bombay. It makes you not think about those things you know. There is always something happening. It makes you self reliant. You stop depending on people. It makes you very self sustainable. If you are dependent on other people then you are done for you know. Everybody is here for themselves. KABIR
I need to learn that shit. I guess
that is also one of the reasons I
came down to Bombay you know.
(BEAT)
But I don’t think I can handle this.
ANITA
I know what I can do forever and ever
and ever(Grabs Kabir’s hand and drags him to the chat stand. They break into an impromptu race)
MONTAGE
SCENE 1: Anita orders chat for both Kabir and herself.
SCENE 2: Anita and Kabir playfully protect their chaats while trying to grab a bite from the other’s plate.
SCENE 3: Both of them sucking on a gola.
Draft - AC
KABIR
In Delhi we call this Chuski
ANITA
Chuski?
KABIR
It used to cost us 2/- when we were
in school. It was always a question
of should we buy a chuski or a
falooda. Everything was for 2/- back
then. Chole kulche, chuski, falooda,
soda.
ANITA
Now you get babaji ka tullu for 2/-.Anita checks her phone for time.
KABIR
You getting bored?ANITA
(grins widely)You mad or what? I don’t remember the last time I had this much fun doing nothing.
Draft - AC