5 rather complicated scenes shot inside a most exotic casino called ASPINALLS. 3 to 4 cameras used in each shot in a somewhat restricted space. No room for error in pages and pages of dialogue. Life can be hard, even in this business !!

But… a joy really to be working with a crew that respects efficiency and time and a colleague who is professional to the core.

Its been a joy to work with Sir Ben. Generous and polite, prepared and competent and cooperative with every breath. It is no wonder then that we have finished what would have involved us all for several more days.

I notice in the comments that many have some observations to make and for them let me elaborate.

My clothes not being ironed as well as Sir Ben’s is one such. Well … without knowing the character of the role I play or the story it is advisable not to come to any conclusions. Sir Ben and I are not exactly getting ready to walk a fashion ramp, so help me God. We are elder academicians ; me more than him. I am a Math professor, generally known to be absent minded, hesitant in public and not generating too much care on clothing. Sir Ben is greatly more smooth and suave in the film. My circumstances at the time of the scene are unknown to you before you see the film, so I would suggest that to look at it in isolation would not be appropriate.

The same goes for the remark for my hair not being good and that I should have a better hairstyle. But.. please understand he is a character that is a bit disheveled in life. These aesthetic improvements that you desire can be understandable for a KANK, certainly not for a Teen Patti.

To the photographs now and a few pieces of information. Many among you asked for the meaning of the metal piece photograph. When I noticed them, I enquired whether they were used for the horses to be tied to in the days when carriages were used as important modes of transport. But no that was not what it was for. They were shoe cleaners !! To clean the sole of the shoe by scraping it over the metal device, from any kind of mud that could have got stuck to it, as you walked to the main door of the college. Due to the rain and the slush on the lawns, the shoes became stuck with a large volume of sticky mud. This was scraped clean by rubbing your shoe over the metal device.

What a lot of interest in the art of cleanliness.

Yes and the ‘keep off the grass’ was deliberate. I just needed to show that people all over the world are no different - on a sunny warm and clear afternoon, they will take the liberty of stretching around on the lawn.

Yesterday’s work was more mobile and in different parts of this beautiful campus. Just as well. We got to see parts of the College without setting off on a guided tour. Like the calm and gentle river that flowed into the campus, flowing through it like it belonged to the St John’s fraternity. It could have been the river Cam. The number of students punting in little typical boats certainly seemed to suggest that.

A large contingent of Indian students were part of its alumni and it was good to meet with them and to know their vocations and interests. The day had ended with a decoration; an academic decoration scene on the lawns with the College forming the background. It was majestic, the way the entire setting was done up. I had a long and meaningful speech to deliver by the end of the evening. Three cameras were in use and it was felt that I should enact the speech in one long 5 min shot. Which I did.

Except… just in the last few seconds, the magazines of all the three cameras, ran out.

The most trying and frustrating moment for any actor. Anyway, most of that first take was retained but we did have to do it again. We were on sync sound, so distant aero planes, traffic on the street, excited students on the river, punting their way through the calm waters of the Cam had to all come to a silent stop before wide eyed sound engineer was absolutely certain there were no extraneous sounds he would have to deal with post the shooting.

Respect for sound having gone through the ceiling after the victory at the Oscars for Resul Kutty, sound engineer for SlumDog, there is now a general warning on set that all sound related matter had to be treated with dignity and respect. And may I add that there has never been any argument or debate on that issue. Especially post Slumdog OSCARS.

There is so much to say and so little energy left in this Teen Pattied body of mine that I am again wanting to find my way to the pillow.

Here some more gems from my mobile from today at the shoot - ha ha ha

The roulette and black jack tables were placed in such an informal manner you actually felt they were part of your home. Lovely soft and lounge furniture, artifacts and glass work strewn all over ; cozy and warm atmosphere to get rid of all your excess millions !!

When I had graduated from University and had acquired my first job in a firm in Kolkata, the first burst of young independent abandon had enveloped us into all the possible adult actions prevalent then. You smoked your first cigarette without conscious restraint. You enjoyed the intoxication of your first drink and you went to try your luck at the races at the prestigious Calcutta Race Course. The exuberance of freedom and the bindings of social shackles suddenly ripped away, also gave rise within us a certain pride of maturity . A maturity we often boasted of not just within our circle of friends, but others as well. Suddenly holding a cigarette in your fingers and a drink in your hand publicly, was not considered morally wrong. For many it still remains, for me I realized its futility and gave it all up. But during the time it was taking a position of importance in your social status, you talked about it with some randomness. Getting up with a hang over the following morning after a rough night was ‘in’. As were your winnings and losses at the races.

I had another freedom. I wrote my escapades to my parents. Particularly about my first visit to the Race Course. My Father wrote back. Never admonishing my acts or deeds - after all I was now a self earning adult. He once merely with great gentleness penned a letter which simply said -

” Nothing that you earn materially should come to you without being soaked in the sweat of your labor.”

I stopped going to the races or to any form of professional gambling from then on !!

My love,

Amitabh Bachchan