One Take

Kiron Dhar, former stunt double and current super hit character actor, delivers sizzling performances that tug at the heart strings of audiences and the traffic police all in one take.

Kiron Dhar’s lips quivered, a blank, lost look filled her tear-laden eyes. “My husband…My children…” the whispered words dissolved into anguished sobbing. Her shoulders heaved uncontrollably, utter helplessness engulfed the air. Then she clutched the table and lowered her head in despair.

“Cut!” boomed the director’s voice.

The watching crew heaved a big sigh. The superstar queen of emotional acting had done it again on the first take with her superb voice control and body language. There was not a single dry eye in sight.

“Pack up!” commanded the producer, anxious to not let this stellar performance overshadow the upcoming negotiations for Kiron-ji’s sign-on bonus.

“Superb shot, Kiron-ji!” the director of photography exclaimed.

Kiron smiled demurely and walked, eyes down, into her vanity.

“Where is the driver?” she demanded imperiously once inside the vanity.

“Gone to take lunch, madam,” replied her secretary, Gita.

“How many times have I told you all to eat on the set?” Kiron exclaimed in exasperation. “Give me the car keys,” she commanded, “you both take an auto and drop my clothes off at the dry cleaners.”

“Madam, your license is suspended for speeding.” Gita muttered, in an act of exceptional bravery.

Kiron glared and held out her hand for the keys. A petrified Gita handed them without a word.

“Madam, sari is very expensive designer silk. We have to put back in props,” said a meek voice behind her.

Kiron turned and shriveled the hapless prop coordinator with one look. “Tell Mehtaji to bring my signing bonus before I give his precious sari to my driver to clean the car.” 

Then she left, slamming the door behind her. Once outside, Kiron drew the sari around her shoulders, and walked sedately, eyes down, towards her car.

The Porsche Cayenne roared to life as Kiron raced down the crowded street weaving, braking, accelerating, with one hand poised on the air horn. The enormous multi-piston aluminum monobloc fixed caliper internally vented anti-lock disc brakes brought the two thousand kilo behemoth to a halt in an instant each time while the 350 bhp of instant power from the three thousand cc engine propelled it through gaps in the blink of an eye.

Memories of pumping adrenaline and roaring engines made Kiron reminisce fondly of the life she had left behind when she stopped being a stunt double and became a super hit character actor. The sudden wail of a police siren brought her to a halt. She watched in her mirror as the police inspector got out and walked to her.

“License please,” she said, “you were doing 120 km in a 25 km zone.”

Without missing a beat, Kiron Dhar’s lips quivered, a blank, lost look filled her tear-laden eyes. “My husband…My children…” the whispered words dissolved into anguished sobbing. Her shoulders heaved uncontrollably, utter helplessness engulfed the air. Then she clutched the steering wheel and lowered her head in despair.

“Madam! It is OK, madam!” the flustered policewoman exclaimed hastily, “Don’t worry, madam. I will give police escort to your house. Please follow me,” she said, beating a retreat, fighting back the tears welling up in her eyes.

“How was it?” Kiron’s husband, Ajay, asked as she slipped into her jeans, wiped off her bindi, and kicked the sari aside with her foot.

“Good,” she replied, “Did it in one take. Both times.”