Returning to Bombay in early June 1991, Adil felt as though his peaceful European vacation had ended in the blink of an eye. The relaxed mornings by Lake Como, the streets of Milan, and the time he had spent with Monica Bellucci became beautiful memories as reality once again welcomed him with its usual speed. Yet, strangely, he enjoyed it. This was the life he had chosen.
His old routine returned immediately. He woke up before sunrise, exercised, practiced martial arts, and then spent the rest of the day balancing meetings, promotions, and commercial shoots. But before immersing himself completely in work, he found himself reconnecting with the women who had become an important part of his life.
Only two days after returning, the telephone in his room rang. The moment he heard Monica's voice from Italy, he smiled unconsciously.
"Adil!" she greeted cheerfully. "I hate you."
He laughed. "Interesting way to greet your boyfriend."
"You left me," Monica complained. "Milan is boring now."
"You survived twenty-six years before meeting me."
"Yes, and those twenty-six years were boring too."
Adil laughed at her answer.
For nearly an hour, they spoke about ordinary things. Monica talked about her modeling assignments, acting classes, and how she had begun learning a few Hindi words just to surprise him someday. They talked until the expensive international call finally had to end.
"Promise me you'll visit soon," Monica said softly.
"I promised before. I don't break promises."
Monica smiled. "Good. Because I love you too much already."
Three days later, another call came.
"Mr. Europe finally remembered India?" Aishwarya's familiar voice teased him. Adil smiled. "I only returned a few days ago."
"And you didn't call me." She complained.
"I've been busy." Adil replied.
"Hmph." Aishwarya said. He could almost imagine her pouting from the other side of the line. Then her tone softened. "I missed you."
Adil smiled unconsciously. "I missed you too."
The answer instantly brightened her mood. She spent the next hour asking endless questions about Europe, Switzerland, Italy, and his adventures. Before hanging up, she suddenly said, "Don't become too famous and forget me." Adil laughed. "Impossible."
His secret relationship with Madhuri also resumed naturally. Promotions for Saajan meant that they often met, though always under the eyes of cameras and reporters. They maintained their promise of secrecy.
One afternoon, after completing an interview, Madhuri quietly sat beside him and handed him a cup of tea.
"So, Mr. International Traveler, Europe finished?" she asked.
Adil smiled. "Yes."
"And?" Madhuri said.
"And what?" Adil teased.
She narrowed her eyes. "Idiot."
He laughed. Seeing nobody nearby, she leaned closer and whispered softly. "I missed you."
Adil looked at her beautiful face and smiled. "I missed you too." Her cheeks immediately turned pink. "Good answer," she replied with a smile before quickly returning to her usual composed expression as several crew members approached.
Then she looked at him expectantly. "So, where are the things I asked you to buy for me?"
Adil froze for a moment. He had genuinely forgotten about them. Suddenly, he remembered the system reward.
Trying to act calm, he said. "Wait a second." Then he rummaged through his bag, which was on a stool and said, "I didn't buy those junk foods. They're not good for your health. Instead, I brought you something healthy."
He handed her the Beauty Potion.Madhuri looked at him suspiciously, as if trying to confirm something. From his awkward behavior earlier, she had already guessed that he had forgotten. Rather than being annoyed, she found it amusing.
Not pressing the matter further, she accepted the bottle and said, "At least you still have some conscience." She took a sip of the potion and frowned slightly. "It tastes strange."
"It cost me a fortune," Adil replied with a helpless smile. Madhuri nodded and held the bottle carefully and said. "Thanks."
By the middle of June, work became even more hectic. The release dates of both his films had been officially announced.
Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, starring Adil Ali and Pooja Bhatt, would release on July 12, 1991.
Saajan, starring Adil Ali, Salman Khan, and Madhuri Dixit, would release on August 30, 1991.
Promotions for both films had begun in full force.
Since Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin had Adil as its male lead, Mahesh Bhatt involved him in nearly every major promotional activity. Magazine interviews, photoshoots, radio appearances, and press conferences became part of his daily life. Songs from the movie had already begun gaining popularity on radio stations, and posters were appearing across Bombay.
At the same time, Lawrence D'Souza had begun promotional activities for Saajan. The chemistry between Salman, Adil, and Madhuri quickly attracted attention.
Salman, as always, provided entertainment.
During one press conference, a journalist asked him, "Between you and Adil, who is the bigger romantic hero?"
Salman immediately pointed toward Adil.
"Me? Romantic? This so called Indian most handsome man, stole Madhuri ji and all the poetry. I only got heartbreak."
The room burst into laughter while Madhuri rolled her eyes.
"Ignore him," she said.
Salman dramatically clutched his chest.
"See? Even off-screen, nobody values me."
With two films nearing release, Adil's popularity had already started rising rapidly. Though neither film had released yet, industry insiders already viewed him as one of the most promising young stars in Bollywood.
Advertising companies soon took notice. He signed his first major television commercial with Bombay Dyeing, earning ₹2 lakh.
Soon after, Gold Spot approached him for a youth-oriented soft drink campaign, paying him another ₹1.5 lakh.
A third offer came from Uncle Chipps, whose television commercial was aimed at college students. That deal earned him ₹1 lakh.
In just a few weeks, Adil had earned nearly ₹4.5 lakh from advertisements alone.
After investing ₹10 lakh, he had only ₹4 lakh left in his bank account. Following his vacation in Europe, his balance had dwindled to just ₹1.5 lakh. However, thanks to these commercial endorsements, he now had ₹6 lakh in his account.
Commercial shoots turned out to be easier than films. Most lasted only a day or two, and directors loved working with him because of his discipline and punctuality.
One evening, while watching television, Meera suddenly shouted. "Arif!"
His father rushed into the room. Asked. "What happened?"
She pointed excitedly toward the screen. "Our son!"
On television, Adil appeared smiling while holding a bottle of Gold Spot.
Arif stared for several seconds before laughing loudly. "He is already a filmstar and you are so happy on just a commercial."
Sameer, who was visiting, burst out laughing. "Adil, you've become famous before becoming famous." Adil only smiled.
July was approaching. Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin would arrive on July 12.
And fifty days later, Saajan would follow. His true test wasn't commercials, interviews, or magazine covers. It would begin inside dark cinema halls, where audiences cared about only one thing. Whether the man on the screen deserved to become a star. And very soon, the entire country would have its answer.