Gym in the morning had a spring about it after a very long time. The cardio was good, the weights, the crunches and finally the breathing in yogic postures - energized and bracing. And soon after, a visit to the Swaminarayan Temple with friend Jiggi Bhai. Guruji was in town and Jiggi felt it would be nice if I visited him to take his blessings. Spiritual blessings never harmed anyone. I had visited him earlier many years ago on a similar trip. A quiet pious and soft spoken human. I had also visited the famous and grand Akshardham Temple complex in Delhi. A vast area dedicated to this spiritual institution. An architectural wonder, run by devoted and disciplined Swami’s. All of them working for equality and peace and education, following codes and principals that bring benefit to society. The trust had also produced a documentary called ‘Mystic India’, where I had done a voice over. The film covering numerous areas of Indian culture and mysticism through the centuries.

There are over 800 temples of this institution all over the world and thousands and thousands of believers and devotees. Guruji spoke mostly in Gujarati, gave his blessings and various little tokens of affection and love for the family. I sat there humbled and silent. Others goaded me to ask Guruji for something or to share with him any issue that I wished to bring up. What does one say in situations like these. What does one say in the presence of divinity. You sit, you remain quiet, you listen and leave at an appropriate time.

Meetings followed thereafter. They all sound the same and suggest the same ideas and discuss the same issues. It seems at times that our acumen was greater than their’s. That indeed by speaking to them they extracted more out of you than you from them. Happily this one did not last long. Assessments will be made, ideas concretized and then a profile put together for a presentation. Till then … we .. lumber on.

It was turning out to be another static day. I was to record a song for RGV’s film ‘RANN’ and so after a hurried lunch went across to dear friend Aadesh Srivastava’s music and recording room. Had not been there in a while and it was comforting to note that there had not been many changes. All my more recent songs that I had sung had been recorded there and in the middle of the night always !! We worked on the song for a while and shall be working on it more. When you have non singers like me wanting to exercise vocal calisthenics, it takes a while. But while there, Aadesh played some of his recent recordings and discussed his plans to add philharmonic orchestras to them. Ambitious I thought, but after hearing them, there is no doubt that they shall be of some exceptional character. He wants the London Philharmonic to accompany, has spoken to them and now the modalities of such an exercise are being worked out. The great singer from Kolkata, Rashid Khan has rendered the songs along with singers and vocalists from Los Angeles and there is accompaniment by chorus and female singing. But quite the most attractive pieces in the album come from a violin soloist; a lady from Southern India but now working in the West and contributing her might in some of the more important film scores that have made a mark recently.

It is such a joy for me to hear all this and I offer my services in whatever manner, to be associated in the production of the album, as it narrates through the strength of Indian Classical and Western Philharmonic. What, an awesome combination the fusion of these two strains of the music world, would do..

We are all together again at the dining table. And over lunch and discussion introduce Shanouk to his new toy, a thoughtful gift from a well wisher, of a bouncing bone designed like a tennis ball… well two tennis balls really !! He was a little indifferent in the beginning but soon warmed up to it and diffidence took the place of a complete protective attitude, making it difficult to pull this bone like structure, from his large and fierce looking mouth. And once out, he was slamming his over 6′2″ of solid body flesh to win it back. Thank you well wisher, for keeping my dog happy and content and curious over his new possession.

Tomorrow is an early call …. and an early call means …an early turn in for the night ..

Notice the complete absence of any IPL mention .. the MUMBAI INDIANS lost !! AAArrrgraahhhhh !!

With love and much affection,

Amitabh Bachchan