Now many may not know the significance of the design, but those that do will appreciate the reason and perhaps the humor behind it. Shabana, apart from being one of our most versatile and finest actresses, is also an activist, a temperament she has inherited from her socialist minded parents, the great writer Kaifi Azmi and his wife Shaukat Azmi. Kaifi Saheb being responsible for some of the most intense and lyrical songs composed for some of the most important films of our industry. And Shaukat Apa, a great stage personality in her own right ; she being associated with that very dedicated theatre movement IPTA - the People’s Theatre soon after Independence.

For those that wish for  closer reference, the song ‘itne baazoo itne sar, gin le dushman dyan se ..’ from ‘MainAzaadHoon’ was a Kaifi Azmi masterpiece. And what a moment the picturisation of that song was.

We wanted to picturise it in a stadium. I told Habib Nadiadwala the Producer, lets do it in Goa. Habib and I have had this connection with stadiums. We did the ‘Yarana’ song on my suggestion in the indoor stadium in Kolkata - ‘Sara Zamana ..’ and ‘chu kar mere man ko ..’ and then this.

We gave an add., in the Goa press that we were to shoot in a particular football stadium, hoping that a few people would turn up, sufficient to take shots of people singing along with us in the scene. 100,000 thousand turned up and hundreds had to be turned away because the facility could not take any more. Police had a law and order problem and amidst heavy lathi charge and resentment and slogan shouting from those that could not get in, we began the shooting.

I told Habib, it would be impossible to hold a large crowd for the entire duration of the shoot - it was a night sequence - so I gave him an idea. I told him that I would perform live on stage a concert as in the tour programmes that we did recently in the ‘Unforgettable Tour’, take a break in between and do the shots of the song where we wanted audience participation. So we booked Kalyanji Anandji and his orchestra, that had always accompanied us on tour and began the shoot. I would come on the stage and perform a number, then set up the camera facing the audience and start rolling the song of th efilm and get the audience to sing along with us, raising their hands on ‘itne baazoo itne sar ..’.

I stood on a raised platform on the stage almost conductor like, and activated the hand and singing movements. As soon as the song began, 100,000 hands went up in unison to the rhythm of the scene. It was an incredible sight. We had placed 4-5 cameras to catch every possible angle and as the crowd began singing with us, our DOP Mr Bhatt, Vikram Bhatt’s father, just could not control his tears of emotion, stood back and let the cameras roll. There wasn’t a dry eye among the crew and cast at this most moving moment !

So … where was I ? Oh yes … Shabana, her father and the evening of her 60th birthday. A warm pleasant evening, that ended up in the early morning hours ! I of course came away early - there was the blog to write !!

And today as I prepare for my next venture, Raj Kumar Santoshi’s next, I look back and think - its been a while hasn’t it. Wigs and beards being designed, make up tests being conducted and simultaneously gearing up for the recordings for Kaun Banega Crorepati ! The nerves are on edge, the stomach is going berserk with anticipated tension … and generally … its back to the bright lights !!! Come on baby !! Bring it on !! Lets do it !!!

Up in the front row, among eager onlookers and guests … and the ladies on the ramp !! Spot me ??

Pensive among a vibrant range of bright colors ..

Nachiket between us … the wife wears a sari designed by him …

…… and later holds fort !!

Nachiket Barve, a young fashion designer, son of our family doctor, had his show on today, where he was displaying his work and we went there to give him company and to applaud his creativity. Vibrant and bright colors, young and unique, innovative and smart. Its the first time for me to be at one of these events and indeed how delightful it was. Felt I was live on FTv, sitting on the gallery among many enthusiasts as the slender and pretty models displaying the wares of the designer walked past on the ramp. I had done the same - walked the ramp - for our dear friends Abu and Sandeep on two occasions and had felt it to be the most difficult of tasks. It is tough to keep a straight expressionless face when you know thousands of eyes are meticulously watching every move of yours. How on earth these graceful and dainty looking models manage all this in those high high heeled shoes is another miracle. But they did, and did it well and there was applause and well wishes and a killion photographs - killion, because it sounds greater than the ultimate zillion and with the amount of flash that flows out of the cameras, it could kill any average human - we wound our way back to the basement or the escape route of most celebrities through kitchen and parked cars, to our own, and out on the streets without getting into any fanfare.

At home later, Chelsea thrashed Backpool 4-0 in an awesome display of vastly superior football and the wife had very kindly cooked, what has now become one of my favorites in the absence of rice which I have left eating - kus kus !!

Fully fed up I am now in no shape and desire to sit up any longer !

Good night dearest ones … as many among you plan holidays to India. Wishes to those that had birthdays and were overlooked by me due to my increasingly involved schedules and my condolences to those that have recently lost the near and dear …

Not being personal and individual in acknowledgement, does not indicate for me that I have overlooked response. No indeed not ! I have seen and read and understood. Its just that I have not been vocal. I will. In time. Soon perhaps.

Love to you … and more !!!

Amitabh Bachchan

ps .. it is Sunday !!!!