Rambagh Palace at 5 am is even more ethereal than its illuminated self in the darkness of night. The illuminated ochre of the lights, on the verge of being washed away by the glowing ochre of the rising sun.

There is a spattering of broken early morning clouds, catching the hue of the golden giver of energy, that emerges at a lazy pace distantly.

I stand and watch the spectacle amongst the chirping of birds, as the city awakens. Don’t get to see much of this in Mumbai. There is a glow alright, but one that emanates from behind the cemented high rises of metropolitan existence.

Titch, walks in promptly by 6:30 to pick me up. He wishes for me to visit his modest home on my way to the airport. Why modest, I react, home is home.

We all live in modesty. People may perceive differently on that, but born and brought up in small town middle class, I am not an alien to that. My means may have improved, accepted, but the mind is still modest.

I am more comfortable in such environs than perceived affluence.

Titchs’ little and bubbly grand daughter runs up to greet me. She is considerably more effusive than our earlier meeting when they had come over to Mumbai. But soon after the pleasantries are over she falls off to sleep in her grand mother’s lap.

Titch and I talk of several other matters. Other colleagues, the state of the nation, ethics, morals, Government insites; he being Chief Secretary for years in Rajasthan.

The flight back is near empty. Recession and economy taking a toll ? The air hostesses on JET are welcoming and polite. Do some photographs with them and the pilot in the galley and then a smooth landing at Mumbai.

Straight to office and meetings with varied personnel.

A few have come in from France and are professors in institutions that teach cinema. They are preparing a paper on India, its growing entertainment industry and what of the future and its sustainability. Another finance meet, where I am completely at sea and then off to shoot.

Rain !!

Drenched to the core, dried in ready time and then back in front of the camera to end up by 9 PM and off to homely environs.

The papers in the morning are flooded with front page images of the festival, my presence, the interaction and with great restraint and care a positive assessment of my visit..

My love,

Amitabh Bachchan