I look into the mirror this evening and notice a similar smile. A smile without reason or cause. It is a smile not pleasant with body or mind, but one that harbors a tinge of melancholy… no that would be too dramatic … not exactly melancholic, but somewhat unexplainable. I feel and sense goodness. I brim over with a peculiar confidence, yet feel labored in admitting it. There is the joy of achievement, accomplishment, but the harshness of irreverence to it by the world and society. Yet when it does get acknowledged the awkward embarrassment of it, leaves you with a wish it almost should not have been there.

A very strange state to be in, if it can be called one.

I have just returned from the Silver Star charity event, for the Mobile Diabetic Unit being presented to me by the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Gordon Brown for my city Mumbai at a rather well attended sit down dinner evening at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London Central. The Prime Minister speaks gloriously of me in his speech and my contribution towards such noble causes. He jokes about how his television audiences at a recent event went out to 4 million people and how the release of my latest film in a few days would reach out to 500 million ! His generous praise makes me wonder what it is that I may have done to receive such accolade from one of the most powerful and important people in today’s world. During the photo opportunity with those that have contributed towards the event he has a kind word for everyone. He talks of the diverse cultures that exist in his country and how the Indian community has made such valuable and vast contributions. He acknowledges the rapid manner in which India progresses and looks upon it as a marvel and finally how working together towards a common cause can bring about results that would be the envy of many.

There are diplomatic representatives from several countries, there is distinguished presence of those entrepreneurs that started off small as immigrants to England and through hard work and labor established themselves now as large corporates and vibrant businessmen. There are the affluent in British society that modestly contribute to the evenings proceedings and there are some interesting entertainers that bring a mood change to the evening. And there is Shilpa Shetty and Sanjay Dutt.

Keith Vaz the MP from Leicester is the major domo of the evening. It has been his initiative and drive that runs the charity so efficiently and who has been a true friend over many years.

The Prime Minister comes in and leaves without too much fuss on security and protocol, much like any other visitor for the evening. It is his birthday and a cake and a single candle is brought along. As a group of entertainers breaks out into the ‘birthday’ ditty, he covers a self conscience smile with words on his sons. They would have been happy to have been here he remarks and obligingly cuts the cake bearing the front door and address of the official residence 10, Downing Street among the icing on top.

The Royal Lancaster Hotel, venue for the event. Royal Lancaster Hotel, our accommodation during the shooting of the climax of ‘Dostana’, Zeenat Aman, Shatrughan Sinha, Salim-Javed, Dharma productions, Yash Johar, all come alive suddenly. And my parents, both here with me for a holiday that I have brought them along for. Their room down the corridor on the far end from mine. All their friends and relatives coming by during the day to meet them. Students from his time of teaching in the Allahabad University now settled here in lucrative jobs. Milap Mausi ji, my Mother’s elder sister from Jullunder, now living here with her sons and my cousins, the Sikh side of my blood. The shootings every day at a remote airfield. Stunts on helicopters and cars, a huge novelty then. Make up trailer vans on location, a luxury then now a common necessity and visits in the night after pack up to the newest disco place on a roof top surrounded by green planters and owned jointly by an Indian gentleman who had spent most of his life in Europe, having left his home in either Bihar or UP. I had met him in Calcutta, now Kolkata when he had walked into the office I worked in, Blacker & Co on some work. I remembered him because of the peculiar way he spoke Hindi. The tone Bihari but with large dosages of French and German accents. Unique.

The drives around London in common friend Khalid’s Rolls Royce - such a kick, picking up many young lot studying in London ; Tony Jethmalani son of the eminent lawyer and legal luminary Ram Jethmalani, being one of them. Hanging from helicopters in the day, hanging at disco at night. It was the late 70’s. Life was still carefree and without stress. And when the shoot was over, accompanying Prakash Mehra from London to USA for the very first time. Canada, New York, Los Angeles .. heady days !! NRI’s in masses at cinema theatre’s where I was taken to show my face, by distributors of our film. Marketing at its initial stages !! Now a very refined art. System is the same, its presentation different. The hordes at a down town cinema hall in LA and my first meeting with the effervescent Kirit Trivedi who rescued me from the clothes tearing, hair snatching ladies pouring all over as I am pushed out from the aisles by security, in some haste - Kirit screaming expletives and guiding me in hectic pace to a white Rolls, dumping me in and taking off at the speed of knots virtually on two wheels, up the wrong side of the road !!! From that day on Kirit became a part of us and still is. Concert concepts, events, unique ideas all came from him. My very first stage concert, the world tour in 1981 and 1983 all his baby and all forming the origins of events for stars on a global level now.

Ahhh… !! Those were the days !! The energy and the excitement and the thrills of those unimaginable moments. Never to be seen again and never ever recreated till today. The frenzy and madness and the constant inventiveness of each day as we went along from city to city. Never before, never again !!

Ironically one of our tours was called ‘Now or Never’ !!

So much to say and so little the time !! Time now to say good night and with wishes for the Big B Group and the FmXt that trooped in to the Hotel this afternoon to devour some quality moments … thank you for spending time with me … love you …

And before we go -

Mumbai Mirror Apologize !!!

Mumbai Mirror Apologise !!!