Falcon 2000 Private Jet

40,000 ft east of Udaipur on way to Mumbai

( Before all else greetings for Manish Parmar for the 6th Jan … his birthday, but more importantly our deepest condolences to Naresh Bhatt on the passing away of his Mother … we grieve with you in this difficult hour and our prayers are with you and the family )  

Did I not say sometime back when posting in similar circumstances that the best creative ideas, for some strange reason, come at high altitude when flying from one destination to another ? Well this flight is an exception ! Nothing even remotely creative occupies those cells in the upper regions of this weary body today !

Compulsively, and because we have been able to beat the fog in Delhi, by taking off earlier than scheduled, I am punching in words because I may be late tonight and perhaps not be in a position to write later.

We are flying at reduced speed. No, its not a compulsion keeping fuel saving consumption in mind. Mumbai Air Traffic Control does not permit private aircraft to land before 7:30 PM and I guess we are going to be reaching there ahead of time, hence !

Its been a rushed day … so what else is new … rush to the gym, rush through the shower, rush to the airport, rush through horrid traffic, rush to be able to catch the time slot given for take off, rush through to waiting personnel at Delhi airport for the event, rush to Sopaan, rush through a change of dress, rush to Pragati Maidan the site for the AutoExpo, rush through the mass of people come to see the unveiling that I perform for the DC Avanti, the super sports model indigenously made by a private designer, rush out of same maddening crowds, rush back to the airport in Delhi, rush to aircraft amidst mobile operated photographers, and now after landing, rush to YRF to see the trial for cast and crew of Abhishek Bachchan’s new release –PLAYERS !!

The day would hopefully end past midnight and then it’s a 5 AM call tomorrow morning … of which, in the post of tomorrow night !!

The DC Avanti after the unveiling … smashing car .. has the look of a Ferrari or the Lamborghini ..

The well wishers on my arrival at the venue .. at the back one can see the sloping pyramid like structure .. it was the building where we shot the climax of ‘Trishul’ .. the first unit to be allowed to do so .. how time flies !!

Winters in Delhi are divine and always bring back memories of the years spent returning back from boarding in Nainital, Sherwood College. Of University of Delhi and the student years. But mostly that early morning chill coming in from the netted windows of our home at 13, Willingdon Crescent and the great urge to step out into the cold for a run. Out through the gates of the house down the crescent running parallel to the impressive boundary walls of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, residence of the President of India, built by the British during the Raj to house the Viceroy in all his regal splendor. I am told it is still one of the largest palaces in the world, magnificent in structure and design. Had I ever imagined as I ran past it, along the reddish ‘bujjery’ – crushed soil to lay the soft path along the tar road – that I and many other of my family would be decorated by the highest honors of the country within the portals of this Palace ?

University was such anticipated pleasure each day. Not the study. Just the meeting of friends, coffee canteen on campus, moving from one College to another, gathering together for inter collegiate games – cricket, hockey, basketball … and that most important of all … a ride on the Lambretta, the popular scooter, that had just been introduced onto the roads of the city, popularized among students by that delicious film from Hollywood – ‘Summer Holiday’. Possessing a scooter was the biggest luxury within the fraternity. In a College of a thousand there were perhaps just four ! You may well imagine the value that the owners of this transport. The envy being trebled, because they got the best girls to ride pillion, whilst we and most of us ‘we’ luxuriated in the the more common man mode of travel – the DTU bus. Or was it DTS ? Somewhere down the line names and corporations changed.

Owners of this precious Lambretta, were always royalty and treated like so. Their coffee and cokes and cutlets – the most consumed eatables at canteens – were invariably free. The hope of being able to use their two wheeler to impress the girls being prime reason. And when they did give the scooty out, the gas was on account of the driver !! Maintenance was a bother. None of us had the means to service or repair breakages, so invariably they would be driven in terrible condition. But who cared so long as it was moving.

I had the benefit of having possession of one from a close friend, during my final year and actually drove home in it and to the University the next morning , which was like …. Heaven !!

Heaven yes ! But in what circumstances ! A few feet out of the campus the accelerator wire snapped and left me stranded in the cold evening of a Delhi winter. So not wanting to be daunted by the situation, I pulled the wire out of its casing that ran to the grip where the handle was, and drove on with the wire in my right hand pulling and releasing it to gain speed or bring it down. A sight perhaps not normally seen. But I remembered that moment and used it in a film of mine called ‘Roti Kapda aur Makaan’ made passionately by Manoj Kumar, where I played a young army officer who had lost his right hand. In the climax I had to ride a motorbike for the action sequence and I rode it with my left hand keeping the accelerator wire in my mouth to pull at it and release it for speed !!

Life comes round in strange ways !!

The voice recorder on the plane has announced to us that we need to fasten set belts, put away all equipment and put our seats upright for landing ….!!

Its been a pleasure being with you … thank you for flying with my Blog, Ef ..

Good night and have a pleasant stay ..

Amitabh Bachchan

ps : and yes just back from the trial show for PLAYERS and it has to be said that it was a most enjoyable film. Fast paced, with not a moment when there is’nt a twist in the tale and great presentation and action ..

Have had two most praiseworthy messages from the people who were at the press show and that is most encouraging. Of course the ‘regulars’ will write disparagingly about the film, but we at least know by now that they work on an anti agenda … may the Lord bless them and give them the courage of their diminished conscience !!