They were both from the same middle-class background…humble, yet very inspiring, instilling. And they both had a vision…they both wanted to be famous and famed. But Ravi and Vinay were two different personalities, two different personas, two different minds…legendary yet complex.

Where Ravi was into hardcore romance, the poor boy-meets-rich girl drama, the song-and-dance sequence along with Shiamik Davar-style rich, engrossing choreography, Vinay was a more subtle issued man who could churn out films made on social issues in a bid to create awareness amongst society.

The two very clashing minds are not just competitors at the ticket counter; they have a relationship that goes beyond the worldly topics…Ravi Kajaria and Vinay Mathur have been friends since adam’s. Ravi, an orphan, was rescued by the then adolescent school-going heir to a tyre-fortune Vinay, from the streets of Dehradun. And they had since then formed an unbreakable bond of affinity and affection which continued despite their early years of struggle, first as obscure spot boys in a B-grade film to their success, together, as A-class filmmakers.

But today is a big day for the both of them as they both stand on a threshold of a career which the both of them have struggled hard to shape into the most pristine of a structure. A career that has stood the test of time and also the only common thing shared between the two of them, their love and friendship for each other. So can the fate of their respective movies destroy this invincible bond that they have always shared between them? Can the ruthless ways of this industry force the two of them to swear each other’s blood and forget the days when the only thing mattered to them was their friendship?

Both of them have been releasing their films, till date, on the same day. Call it destiny or a mere coincidence, but whenever they had done this they had tasted nothing but success at the box office. So, going by the tradition, this time was going to be no different. Ravi’s latest film “Pyaar ki Duniya”, a simple exotic love story of two star-crossed lovers and after weeks of rigorous publicity, “Dosti” touted the year’s biggest blockbuster by Vinay – a take on best friends turned sworn enemies- was releasing on the same day.

But all this had kept Vinay and Ravi completely unaffected…best friends, competitors for years…but in different genres.

“How can I imagine competing with you Vinay,” said an unfazed Ravi, holding a can of chilled Kingfisher Beer. “But yes, it’s a different feeling altogether that our films are releasing the same day.”

“Arre chadd yaar…tu jeeta, main jeeta…ekko gall hai,” pouted Vinay. “Let’s carry on.”

But in hearts of heart there was a mind game both were playing. What if the crores spent on the film just crash? What if the reviews are bad? What if one’s film is declared better than the others…but at what cost?

Come the Big Friday…adrenalin rush was high, tempers soaring, a nail biting day began with a visit to the temple followed by  a break at the trade analyst’s office which was to  be their home for the next 2 days and decide what turn their career would take next. Whether they were to come out unscathed or would be completely destroyed, never to re-emerge from their ashes.

The industry, the worlds largest by ticket sales, was waiting eagerly to see if the two films could strike gold in a year in which most big productions had bitten the dust and only a few low-budget ventures tasted moderate success. All eyes were set on Ravi and Vinay, the industry’s blue eyed boys, to perform a miracle for the ailing box office.

The day was coming to a close, reviews were out and so were the figures of total collections of the first day. Even though the critics had panned Ravi’s love saga, the box office was playing collections were narrating a different story altogether. Audiences loved the story line and the dialogues from the movie were on their way to becoming a sort of a cult. Half the battle for him was won and the other half, he was confident he would win by Monday. But on the other hand a complete opposite had happened with Vinay’s ambitious project. Even though the critics hailed it as a masterpiece the audiences were quick to abandon it because of its no song and dance routine. Creativity was being overlooked for the mundane run-of-the-mill romance. But like all things unpredictable box office belongs to the person who knows how to make his/her audience happy. And Ravi seems to have mastered this art. Even though Vinay was far superior a filmmaker than Ravi, in all respect, but in the fight of conventional vs unconventional it was always Ravi’s tried and tested formulae that won. It had always happened and it had happened this time too. But what was different this time was that while Vinay’s film were considered second best, in terms of collection, to Ravi’s blockbuster this time Vinay’s was not even 5^th best. It was a complete washout on the very first day and showed no signs of revival on the next. Vinay was a distraught man. He had put in all his hard work, imagination, money, creativity et al in this one project which he had dedicated to the everlasting bond between Ravi and him but the world had rejected it.

The critics still loved him, like always, but this time he wanted awards and adulation too, something that had evaded him all this while. At award functions too it was always Ravi who was pitted against him but despite strong lobby from the jurist he always lost on the popular count. Ravi was a darling of the hoi polloi and Vinay, even though tried hard to win masses always failed. His only wish in life was to win a popular award in the best director category like a stamp of approval from the audiences who had deceived him so far. And with the way the news of his yet another film falling at the box office, his hope to register a mark on the audiences mind was lost, yet again.

Ravi knew it was hard times for his friend so he goes to meet him. Trying hard to console him Ravi suddenly realizes that Vinay was a lost soul now. Not paying attention to what he was trying to explain, Vinay kept on staring at the tree outside the window. Ravi was scared that Vinay might try to end his life but then realized that he was the most positive soul present, around. Suicide was a word that was not present in his dictionary of his life. He might be sad but would collect himself once again and return to his jovial self once he had passed this recurrent phase in his life.

Days and months passed. While Ravi was seen on every channel basking in te glory of his newly declared blockbuster movie, Vinay had become a recluse. He was tried to reach by the reporters but to no response. Ravi would often come visit him, as he was the only one whom Vinay would agree to meet, but still he would not exchange a word with him. He would continue to stare at the tree as if to believe that like the tree he would continue to live a silent existence but would never give up on life.

Then came that time of the year when it is celebration time for the industry. The period when whole of the industry would come together and honor the best of the year gone by- he awards time. Even though Ravi was the expected winner, but what left everyone wide eyed was the nomination of Vinay’s film in almost all the technical and popular category. This news had shocked a lot of people as they had never expected that a washout of a film like “Dosti” could garner the interest of the jury member. But like they belived, it was a far more superior and well made film than any other that year. Ravi was ecstatic to hear this, therefore, rushed to give this news to Vinay. Though deep down in his heart Ravi knew that the result at the function would completely shatter Vinay , but he also knew that the news of being nominated could instill a ray of hope in the otherwise dead eyes of Vinay. Ravi insisted that Vinay come with him for the function but Vinay refused. Perhaps he did not have the heart to face another failure.

The night came and awards were announced. Category after category Ravi swept the nominations. He was happy but also feeling a little uncomfortable thinking how would he face his friend. But these are the ways of the industry and one has to move in life despite success and failure. Then came the turn for the last award of the night-  The best director category. Like all the other categories Ravi was pitted against Vinay in this one too, and knew that like always it was his. All eyes and ears were open to hear the name of the winner. The celebrity opens the envelope and pops a surprise that leaves everyone surprised. Its Vinay and not Ravi this time. The audiences were shocked, the anchor was shocked and so was the announcer, but this was the moment of glory for Vinay, something that he had always dreamt of realizing. It was the moment he had lived everyday in his life. But now when it came he was not there to see it happen. He was not there to experience it. So as a close associate and friend of Vinay it was Ravi who went to collect the award on his behalf. An emotional Ravi tell the till now surprised audience that it was the best day of his life as he would be able to resuscitate his friend with this trophy.

Ravi doesn’t wait for the show to end. He gets into his car and fly’s it at a jet’s speed towards Vinay’s. All this while he is thinking how happy Vinay would be to finally hold his dream in his hand. With this award he had proved himself to be audiences favorite too. As soon as Ravi reaches Vinay’s bungalow, he leaves his car unparked at the entrance and rushes towards Vinay’s room. He finds Vinay sitting, as usually, on his rocking chair staring at the tree. The T.V. had been left on but he doesn’t pay attention to anything as he is too excited to hand over the trophy to Vinay. He calls out to Vinay but Vinay doesn’t respond. He goes to the other side of the chair and finds him still staring at the tree. He places the trophy on his lap and in an emotionally chocked voice says, “This is for you my friend. This is your dream that no one can take away from you”.  While saying this he places his hand on Vinay’s only to realize that they are cold with no life running through them. He quickly gets up and tries to shake Vinay up but to know response. His attention suddenly goes towards the T.V. set that is running the news piece of Vinay being declared the best Director at tonight’s function.

Ravi’s eyes swell up with tears as he realizes that his friend, his lifeline for most part of his life was no more. It was the realization of his dream that had killed him. He had, finally, managed to overcome all the odds in life only he was not alive to enjoy this phase of his life.