As Fauji continued, life for Adil Ali slowly began to change in ways he had not fully anticipated. The recognition he received was not overwhelming, but it was steady and noticeable. A few advertising agencies reached out after noticing his face on television, especially his calm screen presence and natural expressions. Within a few weeks, he was signed for two small commercials; one for a local snacks and another for a local clothing campaign.
The work itself was simple compared to his disciplined training, short shoots, quick setups, and minimal dialogue. Yet even with limited screen time, he earned more than he had ever expected at his age.
From his first snacks commercial, he was paid around 15,000 rupees, which felt like a significant amount for a newcomer in 1989. The clothing advertisement paid slightly less, around 10,000 rupees. Combined with his payment from the TV serial and its reshoots, he now had nearly 60,000 rupees in total. It was the first time Adil had ever earned money through acting.
He wanted to give it all to his father, but Arif refused. Instead, Arif helped him open a bank account at Bank of India, making use of his position as an employee there. Adil deposited all his earnings into the account, choosing to keep them safe until he could properly decide what to do with them. He had briefly thought about investing the money, but his father advised patience, telling him to wait until he turned 18 next year, when he would be legally ready to handle such decisions himself.
Despite this, his daily life at D. G. Ruparel College remained unchanged on the surface. He still attended lectures regularly, still topped his classes, and still maintained his disciplined routine. However, subtle differences began to emerge. Students who once ignored him now turned their heads when he entered classrooms. Some greeted him more enthusiastically than before, while others observed him with curiosity. A few classmates joked that they were sitting next to a "future superstar," while some boys grew quietly competitive and distant.
Adil did not dislike any of it. He responded to everyone politely, never allowing attention to disturb his focus. But he did notice the change in atmosphere. Group discussions would sometimes pause when he walked past. Girls from other departments would linger near corridors just to catch a glimpse of him. Professors occasionally mentioned his television appearance during lectures, half in amusement and half in pride. Yet Adil continued to treat everything as background noise. His real attention remained on his training, his studies, and the long path he had set for himself.
One afternoon, everything changed again. The phone rang in his home while Adil was upstairs studying. His mother, Meera Sharma Ali, answered the call. At first, her tone was normal, but after a few seconds, she became attentive. A man's voice on the other end asked specifically for Adil Ali. The request immediately caught her attention.
"Who is speaking?" she asked cautiously.
"I am calling from a production office," the man replied. "Please connect me to Adil Ali. It is regarding an audition opportunity."
Meera's expression shifted instantly. She placed her hand over the receiver and called out loudly toward the stairs.
"Adil! Phone call for you!"
Within moments, Adil came down, slightly confused. Meera handed him the receiver with curiosity written all over her face. Adil took the phone and said calmly, "Hello, this is Adil speaking."
There was a brief pause on the other end before the man introduced himself and explained the purpose of the call. He informed Adil that he had been shortlisted for an audition for an upcoming film directed by Mahesh Bhatt. The film was titled Aashiqui. The casting team had seen his performance in Fauji and his earlier commercials and believed he fit one of the roles being considered.
For a moment, Adil did not respond. The words simply did not fully register at first. Mahesh Bhatt, Aashiqui, Audition. His mind repeated them silently as if trying to confirm their reality.
The man continued, providing details of the audition date and venue. It was scheduled for the following week in Mumbai, at a production office associated with Vishesh Films and Gulshan Kumar's T-Series. He instructed Adil to prepare a short emotional scene, though full details would be provided on arrival.
Adil finally managed to respond. "Yes… I understand. Thank you." He placed the phone down slowly. For a few seconds, he remained completely still. Meera looked at him immediately. "What happened?" she asked with concern.
Adil blinked once, as if returning from a distant place. "Mom…" he said quietly. "It's an audition." "For what?" she asked quickly. "A film." Meera froze for a moment. "Which film?" Adil exhaled slowly before answering.
"Aashiqui." He went on "They wanted to introduce a New face. They saw my performance in the serial and director liked it and asked his assistant to contaced me"
Meera's eyes widened instantly. Although she didn't know much about it. Even she understood that this was not a small opportunity. For a brief moment, silence filled the room. Then suddenly, Meera's face lit up with overwhelming joy. Without saying another word, she stepped forward and hugged Adil tightly. "You are going to be in a film audition!" she said excitedly. "This is amazing! My son is going to be a filmstar."
Adil, still slightly stunned, stood frozen in place. Meera pulled back quickly, still smiling. "I am going to call your father immediately. And today, I will make something special for dinner. This is a celebration!" Before Adil could fully process what was happening, she had already begun dialing Arif Ali's office number with excited hands.
Adil slowly walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. His mind was still trying to absorb what had just happened. The word Aashiqui kept repeating itself in his thoughts. He remembered clearly from his previous life that it was a musical romantic drama that would become a massive success. Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal were associated with it, and it was being directed by Mahesh Bhatt. The production backing of Gulshan Kumar made it even more significant. It was a blockbuster with a low budget. He leaned back slightly, still staring at nothing in particular. An audition for Aashiqui.
In his previous life, this film had created history. And now, somehow, he was being called into its casting process.
From behind, he could hear his mother's excited voice as she spoke to Arif on the phone, repeating everything rapidly, her happiness impossible to hide.
After some time, Arif Ali returned home earlier than usual. The moment he stepped inside and heard the news, he looked at Adil for a long moment without speaking. His expression remained controlled, but there was a visible shift in his eyes.
"So," Arif finally said, removing his shoes slowly, "you have been called for a film audition."
"Yes," Adil replied. Arif nodded once, then placed his bag aside. "Mahesh Bhatt is a serious filmmaker."
Adil simply nodded. For a moment, Arif remained quiet. Then, very softly, he said, "This is not small."
Meera, still full of excitement, immediately pulled out ingredients from the kitchen. "Today we are celebrating properly," she declared. "No routine dinner." Arif looked at Adil again. "When is the audition?"
"Next week," Adil replied. Arif nodded thoughtfully. "Prepare well. Not for fame. For performance." Adil responded quietly, "I will."
That night, the house was filled with a different kind of energy. Meera cooked enthusiastically, humming softly as she moved between the kitchen and dining area. Arif occasionally asked small questions about the audition, but remained composed. Adil, however, stayed unusually quiet. He kept replaying the phone call in his mind.
'Aashiqui.'
A film that, in another timeline, had become a landmark in Indian cinema. And now he was part of its beginning.
Sitting alone on the couch, Adil stared at the ceiling for a long time, still processing everything. His life had already changed once with Fauji, but this felt different. Bigger. More uncertain. Not because he doubted himself.
But because for the first time, he understood clearly that he was no longer just observing the world of cinema. He was now stepping directly into it.