1985, Mumbai, India
The next morning, Raj sat in his office at Karma Productions, the air thick with the scent of old paper and ambition. The ROI system's glowing predictions for *Pyar Kiya* and *Love Train* fueled his confidence, but today was about sealing the deals with the directors. He adjusted his kurta, glanced at the clock, and prepared for his first meeting with Anil Sharma, the director of *Pyar Kiya*.
The door swung open, and Anil Sharma entered—a lanky man in his early thirties with a mop of curly hair and a nervous smile. "Good morning, Raj ji," Anil said, extending a hand. Raj stood, shaking it warmly, and gestured for him to sit.
"Anil, let's get straight to business," Raj began, his tone professional but friendly. "I've read the script for *Pyar Kiya*, and I believe in it. Karma Productions is ready to invest 50 lakhs to bring your vision to life. In return, we're looking at a 40% share of the profits."
Anil's smile faltered, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his shirt. "Forty percent? That's… quite steep, Raj ji. I'm a new director, and this is my first big project. I was hoping for a bit more to cover my team and future work. Maybe 20% for me, 30% for Karma Productions, and 50% for the distributors and theaters?"
Raj leaned back, studying Anil. The ROI system had predicted a 1 crore return on a 30% profit share, but he saw an opportunity to push for more. "Anil, I'm taking a big risk on a new director. Karma Productions is putting in the full investment, and we need a solid return to keep the company afloat. Let's meet in the middle—35% for us, 15% for you, and 50% for distribution."
Anil hesitated, his brow furrowing as he calculated in his head. After a tense pause, he nodded. "Alright, 35% for Karma Productions. But I need creative control. The story, the editing, the vision—it's mine."
"Done," Raj said, extending his hand. "Karma Productions won't interfere with your creative process. You have full control over the story and editing. But the film rights stay with us."
Anil shook his hand, a mix of relief and determination in his eyes. "Thank you, Raj ji. I won't let you down."
As Anil left, Raj leaned back, a grin spreading across his face. The ROI system's original prediction of 1 crore was based on a 30% profit share, but with 35%, he'd net an extra 15–17 lakhs. The system's precision was uncanny, and his confidence soared.
---
The following day, Raj was buried in paperwork when a knock on the door interrupted his focus. "Come in," he called, not looking up from the files.
A sweet, confident voice broke the silence. "Mr. Raj Mehra? I'm Priya Menon, the director and writer of *Love Train*."
Raj's head snapped up, and he froze. Standing in the doorway was a young woman, no older than 19 or 20, with sharp eyes and a poised demeanor that belied her age. Her simple salwar kameez did little to hide her natural charm, and Raj found himself momentarily speechless.
"Uh, yes, Priya, please, have a seat," he said, recovering quickly. He stood, offering a warm smile. "I wasn't expecting… well, you're younger than I imagined for a director."
Priya laughed softly, settling into the chair. "I get that a lot. But age doesn't write scripts or direct films—passion does."
Raj nodded, impressed by her confidence. "Let's talk about *Love Train*. I love the concept—a romantic journey on a train, full of self-discovery. Karma Productions is ready to invest 30 lakhs. For the profit split, I'm proposing 35% for us, 15% for you, and 50% for the distributors and theaters."
Priya tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Thirty-five percent is a bit high, don't you think? This is my debut film, and I've poured everything into it. How about 30% for Karma Productions, 20% for me, and 50% for distribution?"
Raj couldn't help but admire her negotiation skills. Her charm was disarming, and he found himself softening. "Alright, Priya, you drive a hard bargain. Let's settle at 30% for Karma Productions, 20% for you, and 50% for distribution. But, like with Anil, I need the film rights to stay with Karma Productions. You'll have full creative control over the story and editing."
Priya's face lit up with a radiant smile. "Deal. Thank you, Raj. I promise *Love Train* will be something special."
Curiosity got the better of Raj. "Priya, if you don't mind me asking, how did you end up directing a film? It's 1985—there aren't many women directing in Bollywood, let alone Hollywood."
Priya's expression softened, but her voice carried a quiet strength. "It's always been my dream to tell stories through film. My father owns a shoe factory, and he's done well for himself. He wasn't thrilled about my choice at first, but he supported me when I used family resources to get into film school. I studied, wrote scripts, and now here I am, ready to make my debut with *Love Train*. I want to prove that women can create stories that resonate just as much as anyone else's."
Raj was struck by her determination. "That's inspiring, Priya. I have no doubt you'll make waves in this industry."
An impulsive thought crossed his mind, and before he could stop himself, he blurted, "Priya, would you like to grab dinner sometime? Maybe discuss the film further?"
Priya's eyes widened, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. She laughed, a mix of surprise and shyness. "A date? Oh, Raj, you're bold. Let's… maybe another day, okay? I've got a film to focus on first."
Raj chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Fair enough. I'll hold you to that 'another day.'"
Priya stood, her smile lingering as she gathered her things. "Thank you for believing in *Love Train*, Raj. I'll make sure it's worth your investment." With a final nod, she left the office, leaving Raj staring at the door, still processing her presence.
As the door closed, Raj leaned back, his mind racing. The ROI system had predicted 5 crore for *Love Train* at a 30% profit share, which meant a massive 1.5 crore for Karma Productions. Even with Priya's charm nudging him to give her a slightly better deal, the numbers were still staggering. Two films, 80 lakhs invested, and a projected 4.2 crore profit in just 1.5 years.
But beyond the numbers, Raj felt a spark of something else—a connection with Priya that went beyond business. He shook his head, refocusing.
There was work to be done. With Anil and Priya on board, Karma Productions was about to take its first step toward greatness.