My So-Called Bollywood Life(66)

She opened the box and removed the first trophy from the bubble wrap. The plaque read FIRST PLACE—MEHTA FILM FESTIVAL and the date. The figurine was a star on top of a base that looked like a film reel.

“I can’t believe I’m really doing this,” she said. “I went from nothing to chair, then to nothing again, and now I’m part of a team that’s hosting a festival.”

“You mean you’re leading a team,” Jai said. “This is the key to your NYU application.”

Winnie grinned. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re so right. Things worked out after all.”

The door burst open, and Bridget came to a stop right before she would have slid into the desk. “You have to come and see this.”

    “What? What happened?”

Bridget dragged Winnie through the door and into the lobby. “Winnie, look.” She pointed to a woman standing near the info table, talking to Winnie’s father, Eric, and Mr. Reece. Her hair was styled in a bohemian-chic cut, and the musical bangles on her wrist moved with each boisterous laugh. Winnie could hear her British accent from across the room.

“Oh my God,” Winnie said. “Is that who I think it is?”

Jai came up behind them and leaned his head in between Bridget’s and Winnie’s before whispering, “Who do you think it is? Because I have no clue what we’re looking at.”

“That’s Gurinder Chadha,” Bridget said reverently. “She’s supposed to come for the student film festival, but she’s here. Today.”

“This is your chance to really make an impression on your idol,” Bridget said. She gave her a little shove from the back. “Go get her!”

Winnie smiled her least-crazy smile when she approached the group. “Mr. Reece, Eric. Dad.”

Her father squeezed her hand. “Winnie, meet Ms. Chadha.”

Gurinder Chadha looked real, but in a surreal way, as if she had walked out of her TV and stood before her.

“My daughter is the one who organized the event,” Winnie’s father said proudly. “She took care of everything.”

    “It’s an absolute honor to meet you,” Winnie said. “I’m surprised, since we assumed you were attending the Princeton Academy Student Film Festival in a few weeks.”

“I was in town. Your teacher called and said something exciting about a flash festival. Since it’s all the rage, I decided to come.”

“Well, we appreciate your time.”

“My pleasure. Is your movie in the lineup, Winnie?”

“Unfortunately, no,” she said.

“Winnie has been a leading member of the Princeton Academy film club for years,” Mr. Reece said. “The previous faculty advisor, Ms. Jackson, raves about Winnie as well. She may not write, direct, or produce, but Winnie knows more about film than most theorists I know.”

“You’re applying to NYU?” Gurinder Chadha said.

“Yes, ma’am. South Asian film studies.”

“Interesting. If you are applying, your qualifications must be very impressive.”

Winnie had to squeeze her hands into fists at her side to prevent herself from waving them in the air like a lunatic. “Well, other than the film club and film festival at school, I’ve attended NYU’s summer film camp, and I’ve had a few of my movie reviews published.”

“Ms. Chadha, Winnie is being modest,” Eric chimed in. “She’s worked at this theater for months. She has a special gift that I know very few people possess these days. She can splice film.”

    “That’s marvelous,” Gurinder said. “I have never met someone younger than the age of forty who can splice film.”

“Well,” Winnie said, “I love holding film strips and piecing them together. I feel like I had a part in putting the movie on-screen.”

Gurinder reached into her small clutch and removed a business card. She handed it over to Winnie. “Let’s talk after the festival, but I want to give you this first in case I forget. I’m in the process of starting a new project, and I could use someone who knows how to handle thirty-five-millimeter film. There is also a bit of theory involved. Would that be of interest to you?”

Winnie looked at Eric, Mr. Reece, and her father’s smiling face before responding. “I would be honored.”

“And if you know of any students interested in producing…”

“You should check the second short in the lineup. Dev Khanna is going to be a star.”

Gurinder made a note on her phone. “I’ll pay close attention, then,” she said.

“We can show you around,” Mr. Reece said, motioning to Winnie’s father. “We are the chaperones tonight, it seems.”

“Great,” Gurinder said. “Let’s get going!”

Winnie thanked Gurinder one more time before she rejoined Bridget and Jai. “I can’t believe she’s here,” Winnie whispered. “I spoke with Gurinder Chadha. She’s my hero. Have you guys seen Viceroy’s House? Bend It Like Beckham? I need to get her autograph. My hands are so sweaty! I hope she didn’t notice.”

    “The surprises aren’t over yet,” Bridget said. “It looks like you have one more person to talk to before we get started.” She pointed over Winnie’s shoulder.