Chapter 24: Rumors Begin to Swirl

The following morning, Aman walked into the studio, his mind sharp and focused. The calm before the storm always unnerved him. Rajeev's attack was coming, and Aman knew he had to brace himself for the inevitable media onslaught. But he couldn't let the crew or the actors sense his unease. This was a crucial day on set, and any hint of doubt would ripple through the team like wildfire.

As he entered the set, Sameer waved him over, a grim expression on his face. Aman already knew what was coming. The tabloids had gotten hold of something, and from the way Sameer was looking at him, it wasn't going to be pretty.

"Aman," Sameer said in a low voice as they stepped away from the crew. He handed Aman his phone, showing a fresh headline from one of the most notorious gossip rags in the industry: Scandal Erupts on Vishwajeet Studios' Set—Drugs and Affairs in the Making?

Aman's stomach tightened, but outwardly he kept his expression calm. He scrolled down to see a hastily written article filled with anonymous sources and vague accusations. The actors, especially Riya and Arjun—the two stars of the film—were named as part of a toxic, chaotic production riddled with substance abuse and secret relationships.

It was exactly what Rajeev had been planning. He hadn't wasted any time.

"We knew this was coming," Aman muttered, passing the phone back to Sameer.

"Still," Sameer sighed, rubbing his temples, "it's worse seeing it in print. Do you think it's going to affect the actors?"

"It already has," Aman said, glancing toward the break area where Riya and Arjun sat, whispering with worried expressions. They were young, new to the industry, and no amount of preparation could shield them from the emotional impact of public scrutiny. "I'll talk to them."

As Aman made his way over, his mind raced. He had to handle this delicately—shielding his actors from the worst while ensuring they remained focused on the work at hand. Rajeev's strategy was clear: unsettle the production and undermine morale. But Aman wouldn't let that happen.

"Riya, Arjun," Aman greeted them with a reassuring smile, sitting down beside them. "I'm guessing you've seen the article."

Riya bit her lip and nodded, her hands twisting in her lap. Arjun was frowning, clearly trying to hold back his frustration.

"I don't understand how people can just… say these things," Riya said, her voice shaky. "None of it is true. I don't even know how they came up with these stories."

"It's Rajeev," Arjun spat, anger flashing in his eyes. "He's trying to ruin us before we even get started."

Aman leaned back, keeping his voice calm and steady. "You're both right. Rajeev's behind this, and he's hoping you'll panic. But here's the thing: the truth always comes out. What matters is how we handle it now. We don't give the rumors any power. We focus on the work."

"But what if people believe it?" Riya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aman placed a hand on her shoulder, meeting her gaze. "People will believe what they want to believe. But we can't control that. What we can control is the story we're telling here—the film we're making. When this project comes out, all of this noise will be forgotten. They'll see your talent, your hard work, and no one will care about some made-up scandal."

Arjun nodded, though the tension in his shoulders remained. "I'm with you, Aman. I just hate that we have to deal with this."

Aman smiled. "It's part of the industry, unfortunately. But I promise you, it won't last forever."

As the actors returned to their preparation, Aman stood and took a deep breath. The battle had begun, but Rajeev's tactics were predictable. Now it was Aman's turn to counter.

---

Later that afternoon, as Aman stepped into his office, Nisha was already waiting for him, her laptop open and several documents spread across the desk.

"Damage control?" Aman asked, shutting the door behind him.

Nisha didn't look up from her screen. "More like strategy. We need to respond quickly, but not in a way that looks like we're scrambling. The last thing we want is to look defensive. I've drafted a few options for our official statement, but we need to choose the right tone."

Aman leaned over her shoulder, scanning the drafts she had written. Each one struck a careful balance between denial and confidence, subtly hinting at Rajeev's involvement without ever naming him directly. It was smart—calculated.

"This one," Aman said, pointing to the third draft. "It's firm, but not overbearing. We're not acknowledging the rumors as if they're worth our time."

Nisha nodded. "That's what I thought too. We'll issue this to the press later today. I've already got our PR team on standby to handle any follow-ups."

Aman took a seat across from her, rubbing his chin. "What's the mood online?"

Nisha frowned. "Mixed. There are trolls, obviously, but a lot of people are calling it out as a smear campaign. Rajeev's reputation isn't exactly clean, and people are starting to connect the dots. The good news is that your decision to use fresh faces is working in our favor. These actors don't have any history, no skeletons in the closet, so the rumors are starting to feel like what they are—baseless."

Aman nodded, feeling a small sense of relief. "Good. The less traction these rumors get, the better."

Nisha closed her laptop and leaned back. "We're holding steady, Aman. But this is only the beginning. Rajeev's not going to stop until he feels like he's won."

Aman's eyes narrowed. "He won't win. We've come too far to let him drag us down now."

Nisha smiled, but there was a seriousness in her gaze. "Just be careful. Rajeev's desperate, and desperate men are dangerous."

Aman knew she was right, but he couldn't afford to slow down. The project, the actors, his team—everything depended on pushing through this storm. Rajeev might have been a powerful force in the industry, but Aman had something more valuable: a vision for the future. And he wasn't going to let Rajeev take that away.

As Nisha left the office, Aman stared out the window, the bustling city spread out beneath him. The shadows of Rajeev's influence loomed large, but Aman knew that the only way forward was through.