Sitara

It was a warm afternoon when Pooja decided to invite Bhushan and Savitri, an old makeup artist and hairstylist duo who had once worked with her father in the film industry. Bhushan and Savitri had retired long ago, but their legacy was well-known to anyone who remembered the golden days of Tollywood. The couple had not been in touch with the fast-paced industry for years, and Pooja knew that if she wanted to keep Harish’s secret transformation under wraps, they were the perfect people to trust.

The Arrival of Bhushan and Savitri

The doorbell rang, and Pooja opened it to see Bhushan and Savitri standing with warm smiles on their faces. Their eyes lit up when they saw her.

“Pooja! It’s been years,” Savitri said, pulling Pooja into a warm embrace.

Bhushan, with his gentle but firm voice, added, “You’ve grown into such a fine woman. And Harish—oh, how long has it been since we worked together?”

Pooja ushered them in, offering seats in the cozy living room. “It’s been too long, Bhushan uncle, Savitri aunty. I’m so glad you both could make it.”

As they settled into their seats, Bhushan looked around. “It feels like old times, doesn’t it? This house reminds me of your father’s sets. We’ve had so many memories working on his films.”

The Secret Plan is Revealed

Pooja leaned forward, her voice lowered conspiratorially. “Uncle, aunty, I’ve called you here for a special reason. I need your help with a new project, but it’s not just any project—it’s a secret. We need to keep this between us.”

Savitri raised an eyebrow. “A secret project? Now you’ve got me curious.”

Pooja smiled and motioned to Harish, who was sitting quietly on the other side of the room. “It’s Harish. He’s taking on a new role—one that’s going to shock the industry. He’s going to play the lead role of Sitara, a woman.”

The couple exchanged surprised glances. Bhushan was the first to speak. “Harish? Playing a woman? That’s... bold. But you know, Pooja, I love bold ideas. If anyone can pull it off, it’s Harish.”

Savitri’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “And you want us to help with the transformation, right?”

Pooja nodded. “Yes, but we need to keep it completely secret. We’re not using anyone from the current industry because we don’t want word to get out.”

The couple sat back, smiling with nostalgia. “You know,” Savitri began, “we remember the days when you two used to visit your father’s sets. Harish was always so quiet, but you, Pooja, you were everywhere! Running around, getting into trouble.”

Bhushan laughed. “Yes, and Harish would just watch, shaking his head.”

Harish, who had been mostly silent, chuckled. “Those were good times. Dad was always so serious on set, but it was like a playground for us.”

The couple nodded fondly. “It’s been years since we worked with your father, but the memories are still so fresh in our minds,” Bhushan said, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

Savitri turned her attention to Harish, noticing his mid-length hair, just a couple of inches shy of reaching his lower back. “My, my, Harish,” she said with a grin, “I can’t believe how long and thick your hair has grown. You’ve been hiding this beauty all these years?”

Before Harish could respond, Savitri stood up and walked over to him. She gently touched his hair, running her fingers through the silky strands. “This is perfect for the role. It’s so soft and smooth. You won’t even need a wig.”

As she began massaging his scalp lightly, Harish closed his eyes, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over him. It reminded him of how his mother used to soothe him when he was a child. His eyes became misty, and Savitri, sensing his emotion, whispered, “You’re doing something brave, Harish. Your mother would be proud.”

Bhushan noticed the moment and spoke softly, “You’ve got our full support, Harish. We’ll help you every step of the way.”

Pooja excused herself to bring tea and biscuits for everyone. Meanwhile, Savitri, ever the professional, grabbed a comb from the nearby dressing table. She gently parted Harish’s hair in the middle and began combing it with care. “Let’s see how this looks when it’s styled,” she said, her eyes focused.

With a few expert movements, she braided Harish’s hair into a two plaits by parting the hair to the middle. The newly straightened hair glided through her fingers as she worked, giving it a glossy finish. Just as she finished, Pooja entered the room with the tea tray.

She stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening in surprise. “Wow, Harish, you look... different.”

Bhushan grinned, “Doesn’t he? Aunty here barely had to do anything. He’s already halfway there!”

Pooja set down the tea, her excitement bubbling up. “This is perfect! Harish, you’re really starting to look the part of Sitara.”

As they sat down to enjoy the tea and biscuits, Bhushan handed Pooja a small list of items they would need for the transformation. “We’ll need some special makeup products and hair accessories, but it’s nothing too complicated. And don’t worry about heavy makeup—Harish already has such delicate features. We just need to highlight them.”

Savitri added, “Yes, a light touch here and there, and he’ll look every bit the elegant woman on screen. His natural beauty is doing half the work for us.”

Pooja smiled gratefully, feeling a deep sense of relief and excitement. “Thank you both. I knew I could count on you.”

As they finished their tea and stood to leave, Bhushan turned to Harish with a grin. “Get ready, Harish. You’re going to surprise everyone. You’ll be unrecognizable, but in the best way possible.”

Harish, still processing the whole situation, gave a small smile. “I trust you, Bhushan uncle. Let’s make this happen.”

As Bhushan and Savitri left Pooja’s house, Pooja looked at Harish, her eyes filled with excitement and determination. “This is it, Harish. The next step is yours. You’re going to become Sitara, and together, we’re going to take the industry by storm.”

Harish nodded, feeling the weight of the transformation ahead of him. His journey had just begun, but with Pooja by his side, he knew there was no turning back now.

And so, the preparation for Harish’s role as Sitara continued, with each step bringing him closer to the ultimate reveal that would shock the entire industry.