Nearly two months had passed since Akshatha started shooting for the film.
Her work was almost finished.
By now, she had become quite comfortable with the production team. She joked with the crew, chatted with the assistants between takes and had developed a particularly good rapport with the producer.
One afternoon, after finishing her scene, Akshatha walked toward the producer.
"Are you free for five minutes?"
The producer looked at her.
"That depends. Are you asking for five minutes or are you about to give me a five-hour presentation?"
Akshatha laughed.
"Five minutes. I promise."
"That sounds dangerous already."
She pulled a chair and sat down.
"I want to talk business."
The producer raised an eyebrow.
"You?"
"Yes, me."
"You're still finishing your first film here."
"I know."
"And you're already talking business?"
"Why should I wait?"
The producer laughed.
"Okay. Tell me."
Akshatha leaned forward.
"I want to invest in this film."
The producer's smile disappeared for a moment.
"Invest?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I like the project."
"That simple?"
"That simple."
The producer studied her face.
Akshatha noticed the hesitation and smiled.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not asking you to give me anything for free."
"I wasn't thinking that."
"You were."
The producer laughed.
"Maybe a little."
Akshatha continued.
"Look, I know I'm an actress on this film. That's exactly why I'm telling you directly. I don't want there to be any confusion."
The producer became more serious.
"What exactly are you looking for?"
"An investment opportunity. Properly documented. Proper agreement.
"And creative control?"
"No."
"Any special privileges?"
"No."
"Changes to your contract?"
"No."
"Then why do you want to invest?"
Akshatha smiled.
"Because I think this film has potential. And if I'm willing to put my own money into it, why shouldn't I?"
The producer leaned back.
"You've thought about this."
"Of course."
"How long?"
Akshatha gave him an innocent smile.
"Long enough."
He laughed.
"You're not going to tell me how much you're planning to invest?"
"I will. But first I want to know whether you're even interested in discussing it."
"We are."
"Good."
She stood up.
"Then let's have a proper meeting."
The producer smiled.
"You really came prepared."
"I told you. I'm serious."
---
THE BUSINESS MEETING
A formal meeting was arranged with the producer, members of the production team and their legal representatives.
This time, Akshatha came prepared with her own legal counsel as well.
The discussion covered everything.
The investment amount.
The structure.
The documentation.
The rights attached to the investment.
The risks.
The payment schedule.
And what would happen if the film performed differently from expectations.
Akshatha asked questions whenever something wasn't clear.
"So this amount goes directly into the production?"
"Yes."
"And my return is based on the investment agreement?"
"Correct."
"And this has nothing to do with my acting payment?"
"Correct."
"Good. I want that clearly written."
The lawyer nodded.
"It will be."
Akshatha smiled.
"Perfect. I don't like confusion."
The producer laughed.
"You're very particular."
"I like money. I don't like unnecessary drama about money."
Everyone at the table laughed.
But Akshatha was serious about one thing.
She wanted everything clean.
She didn't want anyone to later claim that her investment was connected to her acting contract.
She also had one more matter to settle.
Her agency.
After the meeting, she spoke with her representatives.
"My acting contract and my investment need to remain completely separate."
Her agent nodded.
"Of course."
"I want it written clearly that the agency receives its agreed percentage from the professional work you negotiate for me."
"Yes."
"But not from money I invest personally."
The agent paused.
"That's a separate financial activity."
"Exactly."
"So you want a separate clause?"
"I want the whole thing documented properly."
Her agent smiled.
"You really don't want to leave anything to chance."
Akshatha shrugged.
"I've learned that paperwork is much better than arguments later."
The agency agreed.
A separate agreement was prepared.
Her professional earnings remained under the terms of her agency contract.
Her personal investment remained entirely separate.
Both sides reviewed the documents.
Her lawyers checked them.
The production's lawyers checked their documents.
Then everything was signed properly.
Once the investment was completed, Akshatha smiled.
"Done."
The producer looked at her.
"Happy?"
"Very."
"You know, when you first mentioned investing, we were a little suspicious."
"I know."
"We wondered why an actress would suddenly want to put money into the film."
Akshatha laughed.
"Honestly, if I were in your position, I would have been suspicious too."
"But after working with you for almost two months, we understood that you were serious."
"That's why I didn't rush you."
The producer nodded.
"That was actually the right approach."
Akshatha smiled.
"I wasn't desperate. I had time."
She stood up and picked up her bag.
"And now I'm officially an investor."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
She grinned.
"Now don't make me regret it."
The producer laughed.
"No promises."
Akshatha pointed at him.
"That's exactly the kind of answer I don't want from a producer."
Everyone laughed.
She walked out of the meeting room with a satisfied smile.
She had achieved exactly what she wanted.
She hadn't forced her way into the production.
She hadn't revealed anything about what she knew of the film's future.
She had simply taken her time, built trust, asked questions and entered the investment properly.
For everyone else, it was a young actress making her first serious investment.
For Akshatha, it was something much bigger.
She knew the film's journey would take time.
Its theatrical release would come first.
Then recognition would grow.
The film would eventually reach audiences far beyond what anyone on the set could currently imagine.
But she wasn't going to behave as though she knew that.
She had learned one important lesson from her second life.
Knowing the future was an advantage.
Showing everyone that you knew the future was a mistake.
So she smiled, picked up her bag and returned to the set.
She still had a few more days of shooting left.
And she intended to enjoy every one of them.