Chandni stood in front of the mirror in her small, rented room in Mumbai, a flickering bulb casting a warm glow over her reflection. The remnants of her mother’s voice echoed in her mind, laden with disappointment and fear: “You could have a good life, Chandni. Why choose this struggle?” Her heart raced as she replayed her meeting with Rajveer and Sanjay, the tantalizing offer of a lead role still fresh in her thoughts.

The city outside was alive, a cacophony of sounds that both exhilarated and terrified her. She had come to Mumbai in search of her dreams, but now the weight of her choices pressed heavily on her shoulders. The desire to succeed in acting clashed with the haunting memories of her mother’s expectations, and the thought of accepting the role filled her with both opportunity and dread.