After nearly two months of shooting, Akshatha finally got a small break.
Her shooting was mostly finished.
But she wasn't completely done with the film.
The dubbing would begin after a few days, and Akshatha knew that dubbing was not something to take lightly. The expressions could be perfect on screen, but if the voice didn't match the emotion, the entire scene could lose its impact.
So for the next few days, she decided to spend some time at home.
Her family was busy with a new television project.
It was a fantasy-based series with a young cast, a colourful world and plenty of elements aimed at the younger audience.
When Akshatha first heard the concept, she immediately became interested.
She sat with her father one evening while he was going through some production papers.
"What are you working on?"
"The new television show."
"The fantasy one?"
"Yes."
Akshatha picked up the script.
"How's the story?"
"It's different."
"Different is good."
Her father smiled.
"You haven't even read the whole thing."
"I don't need the whole thing to say that."
He laughed.
Akshatha flipped through a few pages.
"This could work really well with young people."
"That's what we're hoping."
"No. Don't hope."
Her father looked at her.
"Then?"
"Make it work."
He laughed again.
"You've become very demanding."
"I'm just practical."
She continued reading.
"Appa, not every project has to be judged only by how much money it makes immediately."
Her father looked at her more seriously.
"What do you mean?"
"Some projects give you money. Some give you experience. Some build your reputation. Some introduce you to a new audience."
She tapped the script.
"This one can give you all three if you handle it properly."
Her father nodded slowly.
Akshatha continued.
"It's television. If young people like it, they'll talk about it. If they talk about it, they'll bring more viewers. And if the show builds an audience, don't stop there."
"What do you mean?"
"Online."
Her father raised an eyebrow.
He smiled.
"Put the episodes online through our production company's official channel. Don't just depend on television."
Her father thought about it.
"Would that really make a difference?"
"It can."
She leaned back.
"Television gives you the first audience. Online platforms can keep the show alive long after the original broadcast."
Her father nodded.
"And eventually?"
"Eventually, the channel itself becomes valuable. People may come back years later and watch the old episodes."
She smiled.
"You're not just making a show, Appa. You're building a library."
That idea stayed with him.
When the series finally premiered, the response was better than they had expected.
Young viewers connected with the fantasy setting and the characters.
The numbers grew.
Then came another opportunity.
The show attracted interest from broadcasters outside India.
Her father called Akshatha one evening.
"You were right."
She looked up.
"About what?"
"The show."
She grinned.
"I usually am."
He laughed.
"Don't become arrogant."
"Too late."
He shook his head.
"It's being discussed for broadcast in other countries."
"See?"
"But there's a complication. The agreement gives the production a share rather than us controlling everything."
"That's still good."
"You're not disappointed?"
"Why would I be?"
She shrugged.
"We tried something new. It worked. We're earning from it, the show is reaching more people and the production gets international exposure."
She smiled.
"That's called a successful experiment."
Her father looked at her for a moment.
"You really think about everything as business now."
"Not everything."
She paused.
"Just the things worth thinking about."
---
A few days later, the two of them were sitting together again.
Akshatha suddenly said,
"Appa, there's something else."
"What?"
"I invested in the film I'm acting in."
Her father stopped drinking his tea.
"You did what?"
Akshatha burst out laughing.
"I knew you'd react like that."
"You invested?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
She told him.
His expression immediately changed.
"That much?"
"It's fine."
"Akshatha, that's not a small amount."
"I know."
"You put millions into a film while you're still working as an actress?"
"Yes."
"Did you take proper legal advice?"
"Yes."
"Everything documented?"
"Yes."
"Your agency involved?"
"Separate agreement."
"Production agreement?"
"Properly done."
He stared at her.
"Where did you even get this confidence?"
Akshatha smiled.
"From knowing what I'm doing."
Her father wasn't convinced.
"Confidence is good. But you also need to be careful."
"I am careful."
"You earned that money through your games. It's your money. That's exactly why I don't want you taking unnecessary risks with it."
Akshatha's expression softened.
"I understand."
She smiled.
"I didn't invest because I wanted to gamble. I invested because I understood the project and the agreement."
Her father nodded, though he was still concerned.
Then he looked at her for a moment.
"You've changed."
Akshatha smiled.
"Good change or bad change?"
"Good."
He paused.
"You're more lively now."
She looked at him.
"You mean I laugh more?"
"Yes."
"And annoy you more?"
"Definitely."
She laughed.
But her father continued.
"Earlier, sometimes you looked like you were carrying something very heavy inside you."
Akshatha became quiet.
He didn't know every detail of what she remembered.
He didn't need to.
"But now," he continued, "you seem like you're actually enjoying your life."
Akshatha smiled.
"I am."
"And the people from your past?"
She understood exactly whom he meant.
"What about them?"
"Do you still think about getting even with them?"
Akshatha shook her head.
"No."
Her father looked surprised.
"Why?"
"Because in this life, they haven't done anything to me."
She leaned back.
"They haven't crossed our path. We haven't crossed theirs. So why should I go looking for them?"
Her father remained silent.
Akshatha continued.
"I'm not interested in carrying someone else's actions from my past into my present."
She smiled.
"I have too much to do."
Her father nodded slowly.
"But what if you meet them again?"
"Then we'll deal with it."
"And if they cause trouble?"
Akshatha's smile became slightly mischievous.
"Then they'll learn that this version of me isn't the same person they knew before."
Her father laughed.
"You're very confident."
"I have a family behind me."
"Of course."
"And if they ever try something?"
She shrugged.
"Then we'll show them where they stand."
Her father smiled, but then became thoughtful.
"You know, I believe actions always come back to people. Sooner or later, paths cross again."
Akshatha looked at him.
"Maybe."
"But?"
"But I'm not waiting for it."
She smiled.
"That's the difference."
She looked around the house.
"I have work. You have your production. Amma has her projects. Manu has his own future. We're building our lives."
She looked back at her father.
"If our investments grow and our work takes us somewhere completely different, maybe we'll never cross paths with those people again."
"And if you do?"
Akshatha grinned.
"Then I'll deal with it."
"How?"
She stood up.
"By winning."
Her father laughed.