I'm a Master in India

"You want us to film in your hometown, Uttar Pradesh?"

"Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, known for its strong religious consciousness and abundance of talented people."

After showering, Ron was now in a state of clarity, his mind sharp and thoughts clear.

Uttar Pradesh is remote and sufficiently underdeveloped, making it an excellent market for religious films.

As for film censorship, there's even less to worry about; it's his hometown, like a base camp.

"It's far from Mumbai, and I've heard the countryside in India is quite dangerous," Lena said worriedly.

"My dear, of course I won't leave you there alone. I'll go with you," Ron said, patting her shoulder to comfort her.

"You're going to Uttar Pradesh too? Is everything alright here in Mumbai?" Mary knew he cared deeply about Sur Electrical.

"The monsoon season is coming, and business here in Mumbai will enter a low point.

I plan to go to Uttar Pradesh to take a look, and if suitable, I'll build a Sur Electrical branch factory there."

Mumbai's monsoon season lasts three to four months, affecting both the tourism company and water cooler sales.

He could use this time to go back, build a factory, shoot a movie, and visit relatives – killing three birds with one stone.

"That's a good plan," Mary nodded in agreement.

"Yay, I love traveling!" Lena cheered.

"I plan to leave in late June, so you need to hurry up and prepare for the movie during this time."

"Oh, speaking of that..." Mary turned over and grabbed the photo album from the bedside table, "I need to select my male and female leads."

"Do you have anyone in mind?" Ron asked.

"For the female lead, I'm leaning towards Urmila Matondkar.

We've met a few times in Bollywood and had good conversations."

Ron looked at the photo; he didn't recognize her, but she was very beautiful.

"She looks very young.

Judging by her skin tone, she should be a local from Maharashtra, and her caste isn't low."

"She's only 19 and started as a child actor.

Her father is a teacher, and her whole family lives in Mumbai," Mary introduced enthusiastically.

"Sounds like she has good qualifications, but is she willing to star in our film?

Don't forget it's a religious film, and it has some adult elements."

"She just starred in a thriller, but it was just a supporting role.

Here, she'll be the lead, and those sensitive scenes can use a body double.

Most importantly, she is a Hindu."

"Wow, it seems you've thought it all through," Ron guessed she had been planning for a long time.

"I'm still not sure about the male lead," Mary said, flipping through the photo album she had borrowed from old Lal, looking troubled.

"Don't be too anxious; after all, we haven't even finalized the script yet.

The characters serve the script."

"Didn't you say you had appointments with a few screenwriters?" Lena suggested from the side, "Maybe it's time to meet them."

Ron and Mary exchanged glances and nodded, "You're right."

Vikram was a freelance writer of average fame; the screenwriters he introduced were even less known than him, all nobodies.

The most experienced one had written a horror script that was filmed, but it didn't make much of a splash at the box office.

As for the rest, calling them screenwriters was less accurate than calling them one of the many strugglers in Bollywood.

The agency Ron and Mary co-owned was in Juhu, where they rented a compound with a gate and a two-story building.

They met the screenwriters there and, honestly, weren't very satisfied.

But one screenwriter pleaded with Ron for a chance to perform his script on the spot.

His name was Ravi, from Punjab, and he dreamed of becoming a Bollywood screenwriter.

Ron, feeling indifferent, agreed to his request.

Ravi threw down the script and began to build his emotions; he knew his story well.

So, when it was time to evoke emotion, he would laugh loudly or cry bitterly; in action scenes, he would punch, kick, jump, and leap.

"Karna is running.

He runs and runs and falls down, rolling over once... but he's still caught."

Ravi ran and shouted in front of Ron and the others, then fell straight down, did a somersault, and then lay limp.

Ron couldn't help but laugh at this scene; Bollywood screenwriters really throw themselves into it, often showing great passion for their stories.

Mary and Lena didn't laugh; they admired Ravi's sincerity for film.

"Is the story you wrote about the myth of Goddess Durga?" Mary asked.

"Yes, madam, it's a story about Goddess Durga manifesting and overcoming evil!"

Ravi vividly recounted how a rural bride, with the help of Goddess Durga's manifestation, revealed her divine power, defeated the villains, overcame numerous obstacles, and finally lived happily with her husband.

Durga is a major goddess in Hinduism, also known as Durga.

She is considered one of the two fierce manifestations of Parvati, Shiva's consort.

She is martial and worshipped as a demon-slaying goddess.

Legend has it that she has nine manifestations, one of which observes a strict vegetarian diet; the tradition of vegetarianism among Hindus comes from this.

During a long drought on Earth, this manifestation of Durga descended to the human world, and her tears nourished the dry land, watered the vegetables and crops, and saved people from the suffering of famine.

She has a considerable number of followers among Hindus and is one of the main characters in mythological stories.

Ravi choosing her as the theme for the movie was actually a good choice, as even many pastoralists worship Durga.

After hearing the story, Mary and Lena were very interested; it perfectly matched their initial vision.

Films with a female-centric theme are easier to control; male-led films are much more dominant, and those Bollywood male actors might not listen to their direction.

"You can leave the script; we'll discuss it with the director and then notify you," Mary decided.

"Sir, Madam, this is my honor!" Ravi was as happy as if he were dreaming.

He got the job he had longed for, becoming one of Bollywood's big filmmakers.

Indeed, Goddess Durga had manifested for him; his prayers had been answered.

In Bollywood, such an answer usually means your script has been selected, and filming is just a matter of time.

After Ravi left joyfully, Ron turned to Mary and asked.

"You like this script?"

"Of course, this story is cool.

I'm going to be the producer myself."

Mary was very invested in this endeavor.

"It's best to find a local producer as well; they can serve as a religious consultant to prevent us from violating taboos during filming."

"You're right, and the director too; this script should be shown to him as well."

Ron had nothing much going on recently; the Sur Electrical factory was on the right track, the tourism business wasn't picking up much, and Neha could handle it.

Luca had also taken Anand and Rajiv to Brazil; this time, they shipped a large boatload of goods, which was a big deal.

Business in Mumbai was uneventful, so he fully dedicated himself to preparing for the film.

Entering Bollywood was not just a casual venture for him.

If he did it well, he could make a lot of money in the future.

There was no hope for India's industrial conditions; it was hard to say how far his Sur Electrical could go.

Technology and Indians were even more incompatible; even if there were top talents, their ultimate path was emigration to the United States.

Petrochemicals, steel, and transportation – these traditional industries were controlled by a few major families, making it difficult for outsiders to get a piece of the pie.

As a newcomer, Ron had to find ways from other areas.

The 90s, as the golden age of development for most countries around the world, saw the emergence of many booming new industries.

The entertainment industry was one of them, with low barriers to entry, a wide audience, and quick money.

After slightly adjusting his work focus, Ron and Mary immediately arranged to meet Shiv Kumar.

Shiv Kumar was from Bihar and was enthusiastic about religion.

He swore off alcohol and meat but 'willingly degraded' himself by making several adult films, which coincidentally were all very successful at the box office.

As someone from Bihar, it was very difficult to make a living in Bollywood.

If there was one group among the millions in Mumbai that was most despised, it was definitely Biharis.

"Biharis are all thieves." This is a saying known throughout India.

They are synonymous with rural laborers, poor lads, and thieves.

Ron had heard people arguing that if Mumbai could expel all Bihari immigrants, it would surely prosper like the island nation of Singapore.

Biharis shamelessly came to Mumbai seeking survival.

Wherever they went, their bad reputation followed them like Cain's mark.

Mumbai and Bihar are two extremes of modern India; the former represents well-being, and the latter represents disaster.

India's national cricket team captain, Azharuddin, after playing a match in Bihar, found his cricket cap stolen and said the exact same thing: "Biharis are all thieves."

Under such prejudice, Shiv Kumar's experiences in Bollywood were predictable.

He simply couldn't get good directing jobs and could only make low-budget films.

"Most Biharis are illiterate; our literacy rate is less than 20%, two decades lower than the average literacy rate of Indian states.

An illiterate young man from a Bihari village comes to the city to work; he is an honest person but can't find a job and has to wander around.

If someone is willing to pity him and give him a meal, that person is a great benefactor to him.

But there is no free lunch in the world; one must repay the kindness received.

If this person is a bad person with impure motives, say a smuggler, they will inevitably lead you down a criminal path.

If you receive kindness but refuse to repay it, or even escape from the den of thieves, then the bad person will naturally cry 'stop thief!'

That's how Biharis got their bad name!"

As soon as they met and had a couple of beers, Shiv Kumar began to complain about the prejudice Indians had against Biharis.

He was from the high Kshatriya caste, and it was still like this.

It goes without saying for those from the Shudra and Dalit castes.

"Director Lal admires you very much," Ron comforted him.

"He's a good person, and you're a good person too, Dr. Sur," Shiv put down his glass neatly, "Is it an adult film again this time?

Where's the script?"

Mary handed him the script she had prepared earlier; she had Ravi refine it again in the past two days.

"A religious film! I like this!" Shiv was a bit surprised; in his mind, low-budget films also had their tiers.

Adult films were the lowest, horror films were in the middle, and religious films were the best.

"Uh, we hope to add some adult elements," Ron explained.

"Of course, I would do that even if you didn't say so," Shiv held the script, unable to put it down.

"We have a candidate for the female lead; do you have any recommendations for the male lead?" Mary asked.

"I don't, but I know who does."

Shiv immediately pulled them along, wanting to visit a Bollywood 'encyclopedia'.