1 July, 2014
Mumbai, Juhu ,Krishna's Villa
Morning
The morning sunlight filtered through the glass windows of Krishna's private gym.
Sweat rolled down his face as he completed his final set. After that, he moved into yoga—slow breathing, controlled movements, his mind calm but focused.
Yet even in silence, one thought kept returning.
The female lead. Preeti.
As he cooled down, Krishna walked slowly across the room, thinking.
"Deepika is a great actress," he murmured to himself,
"but she doesn't suit Preeti. The character needs innocence… youth… emotional rawness."
Names crossed his mind—many of them.
Then suddenly, one name stopped him.
He paused.
A faint smile appeared.
"She's perfect for this role," he thought.
"But will she agree?"
Krishna picked up his towel.
"Manoj will handle it."
Living Hall
After finishing his workout and freshening up, Krishna entered the living hall.
Manoj was already there, busy with files and calls—his usual routine.
"Good morning, Manoj," Krishna said calmly.
"How are things going?"
Manoj looked up and smiled.
"Everything is on track," he replied.
"Aashiqui 2 releases in ten days. The trailer is already out."
He continued,
"The film is releasing only in Hindi. Some of your South Indian fans are disappointed, but once they heard your next film this year is pan-India, they calmed down."
Krishna nodded.
He already knew that Aashiqui 2 worked only as a Hindi film.
Its soul was in its music and emotions—translation would dilute it.
Manoj closed a file and looked at him.
"So… have you decided who will play Preeti in Kabir Singh?"
"That's the only major casting left."
Krishna didn't hesitate.
"Yes," he said firmly.
"Contact Shraddha for the role."
Manoj raised his eyebrows slightly—but then smiled.
"Good choice," he said.
"I'll contact her agent today."
He gathered the remaining documents and stood up.
"I'll update you once I hear back."
Krishna's Private Decisions
After Manoj left, Krishna sat alone.
He opened his laptop.
Unlike others in the industry, Krishna didn't rely only on films.
Using memories from his previous life, he began investing—carefully, intelligently.
Not just Indian companies, but global giants.
Technology firms.
Entertainment corporations.
Luxury brands.
He also invested heavily in Bitcoin and future-focused stocks—assets that would multiply in value in the coming years.
To the world, he was just an actor.
But in silence, Krishna was building something far bigger.
A foundation no one could see.
Kapoor Family House
Shraddha was practicing in her training room—dance steps first, then acting exercises in front of the mirror.
Aashiqui 2 was releasing in just ten days.
Her next project wasn't confirmed yet, and that thought kept circling in her mind. She knew one thing clearly—after Aashiqui 2, her choices would increase. Everyone in the industry knew that working with Krishna automatically raised the face value of side actors.
Without realizing it, her thoughts drifted toward him.
Krishna.
Her cheeks slowly turned red.
She liked him.
But reality pulled her back.
"There's not much of a gap between us," she thought.
"He's an orphan… but now he's at the top of Indian cinema. His place is secure."
She sighed softly.
"And I'm Shakti Kapoor's daughter—from the Kapoor family."
She shook her head.
"Why am I even thinking about this?"
"Our film is done. I should focus on choosing my next script."
After being banned by YRF, she hadn't received many strong offers. She knew that once Aashiqui 2 released, things would change—but until then, patience was her only option.
She finished her training and wiped the sweat from her face.
Just then, Maya entered the room with a smile.
"I've brought a script for you," Maya said casually.
"It's from Star Studios. Take a look."
Shraddha accepted the script and began reading.
A few minutes passed.
She looked up.
"Maya," she said seriously,
"this story is too dark. And this Kabir Singh character is extremely violent. I don't think this role is right for me."
She paused.
"I like the Preeti character… but the overall story feels intense."
Maya smiled knowingly.
"Shraddha," she said,
"Star Studios' owner is Krishna. He's also the male lead."
Shraddha froze.
"Manoj gave me this script personally," Maya continued.
"Krishna chose you for this role. He wants to know if you're willing."
Shraddha was shocked.
"Why didn't you tell me this first?" she asked.
Maya laughed.
"Arre baba, just tell me—yes or no. I have to inform Manoj, and he'll tell Krishna."
She teased her deliberately.
Shraddha took a deep breath.
"Of course I'm not stupid," she said firmly.
"This is a big opportunity. I agree to do the role."
Maya clapped her hands.
"Good. Then sign the contract. Everything's already prepared."
Shraddha signed without hesitation, smiling.
"You know me too well, Maya."
After finishing the formalities, Maya looked at her playfully.
"Shraddha… you do know this movie has those kinds of scenes, right?"
Shraddha's face turned completely red.
She lightly punched Maya's arm.
"You're impossible!" she said.
Both of them laughed.
And just like that, Shraddha Kapoor stepped into her next journey.
Dharma Productions Office
Karan Johar sat at the head of the conference table, his expression tense.
Once again, a Dharma Productions film was heading toward a direct clash with a Krishna movie.
July 11 was approaching fast.
In his mind, only one question repeated again and again
Will this film make a profit… or will history repeat itself?
One of the team members finally spoke.
"Sir, why don't we change the release date?"
Karan looked up immediately.
"No," he said firmly.
"We've already done massive promotions for this project. If we change the date now, we'll lose a huge amount of money."
The room went quiet.
Another member added carefully,
"But sir, if we don't change the date, problems may still arise for this film."
Karan leaned back in his chair, thinking.
Before he could reply, the door opened.
Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt walked into the room.
Karan noticed them and turned to the team.
"Let's pause the meeting," he said.
"We'll continue later."
The team members nodded and quietly left the room.
Now only Karan, Varun, and Alia remained.
Karan sighed.
"Varun, Alia," he began,
"you already know the situation. We've decided to release the film alongside Krishna's movie."
He paused, then added honestly,
"Yes, there are risks—but we have no other option. I've invested too much in this project. Changing the date would mean even more losses, and I won't do that."
Both Varun and Alia nodded.
They knew the truth.
The promotions were already everywhere. Backing out now would look like fear—and cost even more.
"So," Alia asked softly,
"we're officially going into battle with Krishna?"
Her voice was calm, but her mind wasn't.
This was her third film of the year. Two had already underperformed.
Publicly, they were called "average" only because Karan had protected her image.
Karan met her eyes.
"Yes," he said simply.
"We fight."
Varun smiled slightly.
"No problem," he said confidently.
"I'm ready."
Karan nodded.
"Good. Then let's focus on the things we can still control. There's no point worrying about the release date now."
He changed the topic, steering the conversation toward other preparations.
The battle lines were drawn.
News Reports & Paparazzi Frenzy
Television screens across India lit up with breaking headlines.
News Anchor 1:
"Krishna's new romantic film Aashiqui 2 is releasing in Hindi, and advance bookings have already begun. Fans are rushing to theatres in record numbers."
News Anchor 2:
"July 11 turns into a major box-office battlefield—
Krishna's Aashiqui 2 vs Dharma Productions' Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.
Will history repeat itself for Dharma?"
Entertainment Reporter:
"Newcomers Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt face India's biggest superstar, Krishna, in a direct clash. The pressure is immense."
Headline Flash:
'Dharma vs Krishna — Once Again!'
'July 11: Box Office War Begins'
Public Reactions (Street Interviews & Social Media)
Outside theatres, microphones surrounded moviegoers.
Fan 1:
"Varun? Alia? Who are they?
I'm only here to watch Krishna."
Fan 2:
"I'm not interested in Dharma movies right now.
Krishna's film is my priority."
Fan 3:
"I don't care about the clash.
I'm going to the theatre only for Krishna."
Social media flooded with early reactions.
Trending Hashtags:
#OnlyKrishna
#Aashiqui2Storm
#July11BelongsToKrishna
Early buzz was overwhelmingly positive for Krishna's film.
Paid Reviews & PR Push (Dharma Productions)
Soon after, glowing reviews started appearing online.
Paid Review Post:
"An entertaining family film by Dharma Productions.
Varun and Alia shine brilliantly!"
Another Review:
"Dharma delivers yet another hit.
Fresh chemistry, great music, full entertainment!"
But the public response was brutal.
Most users scrolled past without reacting.
Fan Counter-Attack & Online War
Krishna's fan base erupted online.
Fan Comment:
"Another Dharma film with nepotism kids?
Not interested."
Fan Tweet:
"Why waste money on nepo babies when Krishna's movie is in theatres?"
Fan Post:
"I only watch talent, not launch pads.
Krishna all the way."
The comment sections turned toxic.
Memes, edits, and comparisons flooded timelines
most of them openly mocking Dharma Productions.
The narrative was clear.
No matter how many reviews were bought…
No matter how strong the PR push…
The audience had already made its choice.
July 11 wasn't just a release date anymore.
It was a judgment day.
11 July 2014
Movie Release Day
Mumbai – Krishna Villa
Krishna sat quietly on his sofa, phone in hand, scrolling through public reactions.
His face was calm—but his eyes reflected relief.
Across the city, Shraddha Kapoor sat with her family, watching news channels and social media reactions together.
Public Reviews
Outside packed theatres, reporters rushed toward fans.
Reporter:
"How did you like Aashiqui 2?"
Fan 1:
"Top-level music! Krishna's acting was outstanding. I cried during the death scene."
Fan 2:
"Both Krishna and Shraddha acted brilliantly. Their chemistry felt real."
Fan 3:
"The songs are unforgettable, but the best part was Krishna's tragic ending."
Fan 4:
"Pure romance. Emotional. One of the best love stories."
Krishna leaned back, a soft smile appearing on his face
.
The audience had connected.
Kapoor Family House
Shraddha's phone kept buzzing with congratulatory messages.
Shakti Kapoor hugged his daughter proudly.
Shakti Kapoor:
"Congratulations, beta. First day itself, the film has crossed ₹100 crore.
Your first blockbuster."
His wife smiled warmly.
Mother:
"You worked hard. This is just the beginning."
Shraddha's eyes sparkled.
Shraddha:
"Thank you, Dad.
I'm ready for my next project—with Krishna."
The family smiled. Her career had taken a giant leap.
Other Side: Dharma Productions
Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania received mixed reviews.
Public Opinions:
"Good movie, but the acting felt overdone."
"Nice songs, but dialogues didn't always land."
"Decent entertainer, but expectations were higher."
The film survived—but didn't dominate.
Theatre Distribution Impact
As expected, theatres across India
prioritized Aashiqui 2.
Krishna's films guaranteed massive footfall, so exhibitors increased screens daily.
Other July releases slowly lost shows.
Box Office Collection – Aashiqui 2
Day 1: ₹120 cr
Day 2: ₹125 cr
Day 3: ₹130 cr
Day 4: ₹135 cr
First Week: ₹510 cr
Second Week: ₹250 cr
Third Week: ₹150 cr
Fourth Week: ₹100 cr
Fifth Week: ₹70 cr
Sixth Week: ₹70 cr
Seventh Week: ₹50 cr
Eighth Week: ₹25 cr
Ninth Week: ₹15 cr
Tenth Week: ₹5 cr
Eleventh Week: ₹3 cr
Twelfth Week: ₹2 cr
Total Collections
India Net: ₹550 cr
India Gross: ₹600 cr
Worldwide: ₹1250 cr
(Released in China with a Mandarin version and Chinese singers)
Historic Milestone
With a budget of just ₹50 crore,
Aashiqui 2 became India's first romantic film to cross ₹1000 crore worldwide.
Verdict:
ALL-TIME BLOCKBUSTER
Aashiqui 2
Budget: ₹50 cr
Collection: ₹1250 cr
Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania
Budget: ₹30 cr
Collection: ₹35 cr
Verdict: Average
Most films released after July struggled badly.
Back at Krishna Villa, Krishna stood near the window, city lights glowing below.
He closed his phone.
A new chapter awaited.
Now… Kabir Singh.