This was in 1996 September when I moved to Mumbai after watching the SRK classic “Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman”. I had joined New Indian Express as Asst Business Manager, The City of Dreams welcomed me in ,I was exuberant and bubbling with enthusiasm.
Apart from handling supplements for NIE, I was also given charge of this magazine called Gentleman and had to take care of servicing various clients and media agencies in Mumbai.
Meeting Big B in Mehboob Studios, Bandra
Around Nov-Dec, I write to the office of Mr.Bachchan for a meeting without any expectations. I’m surprised when I get a letter (through courier) from his office ABCL signed by Big B. They call me to the Mehboob Studios in Bandra on a Saturday. I pull my friend Ejaz Ahmed since he is a die-hard fan of Big B and kept nagging to take me. I guess Big B was shooting for Mrityudaata.
I do a lot of roleplays and don’t want to look fatuous in front of Big B and I’m called at Sharp 2 pm. The Angry Young Man Aka Big B is seated on a plastic chair and extremely polite to answer a few questions. This is later recorded on a small cassette player which I lost during many transfers of mine he is so courteous and makes you feel comfortable, that he even enquired as to if I like this place and its everyone’s dream to come and work here and make it big and said smilingly this place will make you happy one day.
We left happy! And it later stuck that we didn’t even click a picture.
Around Jan 1st week in 1997, I’m surprised to get a nice New Year Greetings signed by him followed by a call. The Point is at his level there was no reason to entertain a tyro like me, big stars and people who have arrived in life don’t carry any attitude and he was a standing example
SRK in Goregaon
The 2nd One around same time I had a chance to meet SRK. Fresh out of several hits, I used to be in touch with his Anwar (those days) . After many follow ups I get a call to meet him in Goregaon Studio around 630-7pm He was shooting for Dil to Pagal Hai – the song sequence Ghoda jaisi chaal. He was such a cool person, I was invited into his room (not Caravan) and he instantly said “Chai Peeyaga Kya? “ . I Said yes – this was in a glass tumbler cutting chai. He said please wait here enjoy your Chai (all in Hindi) I will be back in a jiffy and he was all in complete extol for the producer. Since he gave him a couple of hits, he had tremendous respect for him. This went on and on until 1130-1145pm. He came around 1145 types and apologized,said we can speak now. This continued for about half hour and then I left.
Later I quit New Indian Express and joined the Navabharat Group and I continued my acquaintance with SRK, there was a rumor that he got injured near the airport during the shoot of Yes Boss. I instantly called his mobile to enquire and I receive a call promptly on the landline of Navabharath office in Fort. When my colleague picked up the landline to answer, he said SRK here can I speak to Shankar, the lady said if you are SRK im Juhi and insolently banged the phone. He called again spoke to the team and then we chatted for about 5-6 minutes.
I took a while for her to realize she banged the phone on SRK and we all had a hearty laugh and she was in glee!
Both such cavernous figures, at the Apogee of their careers even today both the mega stars are extremely humble, patient, genial and carry equanimity. That’s probably one of the reasons why they are still so high and remain the way they are.
Wishing Big B and SRK a belated happy birthday and many more to come.
