My Big blunder with Big B

Superstar Amitabh was making a thumping return to Bollywood after a voluntary 5 year hiatus from the silver screen in the 1990s.

Understandably, media frenzy ensued and it was made clear that there would be no individual interviews, instead Big B will grace a press conference to announce his comeback film Mrityudaata. As a trainee reporter, I was covering the media briefing. But I wanted more than the `general offerings and so quietly went to him after the crowd dispersed to request a one on one with him.

Big B, accepeted my request and called me the next day. I did my homework, went over, got the interview and scrambled back to my excited editor who was basking in the fact that Big B chose to talk only to us (never mind it was monosyllabic!). Like a star that day, I left the office after filing the copy and spend a restless night to see my big story. Next morning when my eyes fell on the newspaper, I felt the ground below my feet slip away. There was my story with a screaming headline: `I do not regret my affair with Rekha!’:Amitabh

I read the interview again. And to my horror the headline was nowhere in the copy! Then? My mind raced back to the previous day’s discussion with my editor. I had told him about a specific question that was posed to Mr. Bachchan. ‘Do you regret the phase when you were embroiled in controversies like the bofors issue, your debacle in politics and your link up with Rekha. …..etc etc’. Bachchan had looked at me and calmly replied. “ No I don’t regret”.

So there it was!! I got the connect. My super excited editor interpreted his own version! What ensued in the office that day was pretty much expected. Jaya Bachchan had called up our Editor-in-Chief in Delhi. And all through I felt if my career in media takes off, I will be 100% banned by the entire Bachchan parivaar.

Months later, Bachchan invited the media to cover the launch of his new album Eir Bir Phatee and more surprisingly his PR Gopal Pandeyji personally called me to meet Big B. Anxious, and nervous, I urged God to spare me from being humiliated before the huge media assembled there if that was their intention. So I went over and timidly went up to Big B and re-introduced myself while acting as if I was an amnesia patient! Bachchan acknowledged my presence with a nod and said he remembered me too well. Oops! So I knew where all this was heading! But I was wrong. Bachchan didn’t bother to harp on the past and instead requested me to complete the interview.

But I wasn’t ready. I became emotional. I wanted to explain him what went wrong that day. Bachchan studied me carefully and agreed. Why did I do that to him? Was I aware of the damage it did to his image worldwide and the pain it caused to his family? He cooperated with me, because I was a young fresh, talent who wasn’t touched by the commercialism of the business. He told me all these and much more. His equanimity drove me into terrible remorse and I explained what came about. He spoke wise words and I aptly listened. It was a treat to listen to him. I returned home with a good feeling that day. I also learnt an important lesson. Never compromise your humility for name and fame! Much later I had once asked him about being compassionate but he smiled and said it’s immodest to describe one’s qualities, “ People who have felt the compassion, know it”, he had said. I do, Mr. Bachchan.

Greatness is a strong Libran quality. People may not be aware but Bachchan is a noble-minded and generally a peace loving person, a side preserved only for his near and dear ones.

No wonder Amitabh Bachchan has held a top spot in Bollywood at times even in spirit. He has taken all the knocks and stood his ground. That’s the power Amitabh Bachchan.

Salman and I

If you really want to read about stars, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is how they are in real lives! I cannot claim to them entirely but what’s fascinating is that stars are extremely vulnerable, and likewise very touchy. Some are even quirky! Such a thing can be dangerous, if there’s no solid support system to take care of this supple sensibility. But in Bollywood there are some beautiful families who provide that essential locum for the stars to retain their sanity.

The first in my list of vulnerable and quirky stars is Bollywood’s most loved, and ‘Wanted’ star today. Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan (well, that’s his original name) the strong, robust and tough ‘Dabangg’ of Bollywood for me is like a little boy-adorable, uncomplicated and truly childlike. It’s never easy to make friends with him. Not because he is guarded like the rest of the stars but because it takes lot of `fights’ between you and him to be absolutely trusted and then welcomed into his core group. But then again one has to be willing to endure the stupid fights, his sarcasm, hurtful and cutting comments in the first few meetings to cross the famous Sallu bridge. Obviously, any self-respecting individual will defend his/her pride and take a call whether brat Sallu is worth all this stress! Usually and almost everyone in the process gives up this exercise half way through, reasoning better deals. I understand. It’s pretty tough.

But I didn’t quit. They were two reasons behind it. A) I had a huge crush on Sallu, since my school days. B) I couldn’t digest the fact that he could take delights in behaving gruffly with me and get away. Hell, I had to balance this match. So I did it and very gradually. Once, our fight was so upsetting that I stopped talking to him for almost two years. Everyone knew about our fights. My colleagues, because I would return to the office very upset, and Salman’s friend, because he would tell them and they would call me.

I exactly cannot recount how we ended up being friends and how I developed a warm rapport with his family especially his sister Baby (Alvira) who is one of my very close friends. In many ways I would credit her for successfully clearing the air and developing a warm and trusting friendship between Sallu and me! (as of today).

Sounding clichés, but Salman would call me late in the nights sometimes, and I would dole out pep talks to him on the phone. It could be matters hinting at girlfriend fights or rivalries in the film industry. I would listen and gently guide him out of it without getting deeper into the matter. Salman took comfort in this approach of mine, while I felt proud to be a superstar’s confidante! How many of us can boast of such expensive indulgences?

However, let me clear a thing here. Even though I liked him, I never allowed this to come between me and my work. I was far from a star struck journalist writing mushy stuff about her idol. In fact it was my write up in 2002 that landed Salman in prison for the famous hit and run case. I filed that exclusive report where Aishwarya Rai confessed of being physically abused by her ex beau Salman. Next day, after this news grabbed national headlines, Sallu apparently had too many pegs down and the rest is history…!

Those days Sallu and the media were at great war. I was the only journalist who had an easy access even then. We met post his prison stint and he painfully looked at me with many question in his eyes. Was I not suppose to be his friend? That day I looked at him blankly!

I have spent hours at his house and have been privy to many of Salman’s day today interactions and private conversations with his family. He’s an absolute mama’s boy. But at the same time, he ticks them off he doesn’t approve of something. He would rather spent his hard earned money amongst the poor than squander it buying extra expensive stuff that usually is the norm of a star family. Salman doesn’t believe in all this!

Knowing him for more than a decade and half I can easily write a book on Salman Khan, the real star. And I will probably do it someday. Inshallah