प्रातः काल ६ बजे दिन का कार्यक्रम आरम्भ हो गया . सोचा इतने दिनों से बाहर रहा हूँ , gym जाना आवश्यक है , सो चला गया . अच्चा लगा !

फिर ESPN की शूटिंग थी चैंपियंस  league के लिए तो स्टूडियो पंहुचा . लकिन रस्ते भर इतना traffic था की २ घंटे लग गए पहुंचते पहुंचते .

काम करना था cricket  के दिग्गजों के साथ - Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Symonds,  और अपने चहीते Saurav Ganguly .

सब के सब बहुत ही मिलन सार और हसमुख . और baaton baaton में काम समाप्त हो गया . सौरव दादा के साथ थोडा सा ज्यादा समय बिताया . बहुत सरे विषयों पर बात चीत हुई , और थोड़ी बहुत बंगाली भी बोली गयी . कोल्कता आने की बात हुई और उनके साथ संपर्क करने और उनकी पत्नी के खोले गए restaurant में आने का वादा हुआ .

वहां से आते आते काफी समय लग गया और विपुल शाह से अगले फिल्म के project के बारे में meeting करने के बाद , Mani Ratnam की फिल्म ‘इरुवर’ देखी, जो की ऐश्वर्या की पहली फिल्म थी .

बहुत ही सुंदर फिल्म . मोहन लाल का काम बहुत अच्चा लगा , और साथ में जितने कलाकार थे , Tamil Industry के सब ने भी अद्भुत काम किया है .

कल सुबह ५ बजे काम पे जाना है इस लिए शीग्र ही अपनी बात समाप्त करूँगा .

आगे और वार्तालाप होती रहेगी . स्नेह प्यार सद्भावना !!

It is a fact beyond doubt that coming home is indeed a most pleasant experience, but one that suddenly robs one of the peace and quiet of being away in a region where the daily chores of existence do not hinder your life. From the moment you step into normal routine, the time required to sit and think and contemplate and dream, just disappears. Mumbai the city, wakes you up in the morning and pushing you out on the streets compels you to get going, or make way for those that want to get going ! Look over your shoulder to check where or what you are up to and someone has whizzed past you. Its the pace and temperament of the metropolis that does this to us. So even though after a hard days work I would wish to sit down and compose myself for a long and interesting conversation with my extended family, I am finding myself punching the computer faster and hurriedly in order to get to bed so I can get about 4 hours of rest before the next day starts at 5 am !

The Taj Hotel by the Gateway of India, site for the most heinous terror attack, is celebrating its ‘coming back on its feet again’ moment and have wished for me to record a voice over commentary for the occasion, which, on the request of dear Suhel Seth, that firebrand columnist, I shall be attempting at 6 in the morning.

Finishing, hopefully within the hour, I shall return to gymming to get into shape for my upcoming film ‘BUDDAH’, which is not the saint Gautam Buddha, but BUDDAH as in the old man in Hindi. I had spoken about it earlier on and now it is fructifying with Puri Jagganath the ace director from Telegu Cinema, the one that directed the original ‘Pokhiri’ which was remade with Salman as ‘Wanted’. This film shall go on the floors by October-November of this year, almost simultaneously with KBC. Then I shall take on Raj Kumar Santoshi’s film and after that Prakash Jha’s ‘Aarakshan’, which is a story on ‘reservation’.

There is a press conference at noon for ESPN along with the cricketers and as soon as that finishes I shall rush to Mehboob Studio for the shooting of the remaining portion of the ESPN promotion. That over it will straight to office and meet up with Sony on finer details for KBC and if by then there is any energy left, I shall take some time out to have a home cooked dinner !!

In between all this is the travel time from one location to the other and so all the paper work from office, correspondence, and the essential responses to phone calls shall be conducted, not to forget the recordings for the Bachchan Bol ‘Vog’ .. AND … the Twitter on the Black Berry.

Feeling exhausted !! ha ha ha .. Think of me !! Welcome back home Mr B !!

But in the middle of all this got an opportunity to see “Iruvar” - Mani Ratnam’s ode to a most prolific story on the happenings in Tamilnadu, its politics and its society during the 50’s and 60’s and 70’s. Aishwarya’s first film. And the magnificent Mohan Lal playing the crucial lead character, along with a host of brilliant performances from very talented Tamil Industry artists - including Tabu, Revati and many other greats from Chennai. Absolutely brilliant direction by Mani Sir !

It is such a fulfilling experience after seeing cinema in its finest form !

I am afraid this one has been a more informative post than one that should really have been a conversation - an after dinner conversation. But for that I shall need the calmness of a secluded lake, snowcapped mountains, a flowing river perhaps, or just the chirping of birds in the distance, at a remote countryside village.

A dear friend of mine was subjected to a few poems which I had jotted down a few posts ago and I have been advised to write more. I do not know whether that was an indication of approval, or one that stated - ‘keep going till you get it right’ !!

My love with you in abundance .. my concern .. my regard .. as ever ..