India won again ! Tonight at the CommonWealth Games it struck up a fantastic opening event, defying all the criticism and pain of the last days. The show was spectacular and we need to be proud of all those that put in hours and years of hard work under most trying circumstances.

Actually a number of things went right today.

In the cricket India almost went past the first innings total of Australia in the test at Mohali. Dhoni being given out to a catch which I thought was not on. Sachin missing his century again in the 90’s. We will be on to day 4 tomorrow and unless the pitch starts taking some kind of spin, the match looks like its going in for a draw.

Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0 and both the goals being stunning. Drogba’s flick inside the D and a bullet by Alex from a free kick sealed the opponents fate. And Abhishek and Aishwarya must have loved the game sitting as they were at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s home ground.

There were other accomplishments too for the day. An extended and forced sleep into the late hours, till you could feel the three wheeler rickshaw almost ride over you. And then to have successfully convinced the rest of India, hopefully, that Boroplex Antiseptic Cream was the best product in softening the skin. And this with the help of none other than Mr Raju Hirani, who has made it a habit of convincing the rest of India, that he is one of our finest directors. His ‘Munna Bhai’ series and the ‘3Idiots’ being the three most trend setting and record breaking films in the history of Indian Cinema.

Raju Hirani and I were shooting an endorsement film for Emami, which I brand ambassador.

Endorsement shoots are interesting and fun. Trying at times, but fun. It has always intrigued me of how the agency that develops the idea for the campaign, thinks up a sixty second film which has the capacity to attract an audience of millions, when we struggle hard within three hours to attract just a small percentage of those millions to come and see our films !

So I admire those minds that work in such circumstances and come out winners and truly believe that they are the superior thinkers of the land. A quality that must indeed find greater representation and presence, in the country’s polity.

Of those that venture bravely beyond the product films they make - and there are many that do - it has always been heartening to note that they have come out always with ideas that have been, if nothing else, different. R Balki is a more personal example, but many more exist and flourish and may their tribe multiply.

Shootings of such endorsements reek of the minutest details ever. A fold in the shirt, that little unwanted quiver in the body, a strand of leaf fluttering way back in the plastic foliage involuntarily, just that little warmth in the formation of the spoken word, an emphasis on the expression. All meticulously being monitored and debated by the ‘chandal chaukdi’ as I humorously address them, a bunched up gathering of humans of both species, that sit on judgement on every little creative act being performed by the ‘ambassador’. And its never an outright agreement on the quality thumbed out. Soon after the act of the shot is over, there is great interchange of expressions towards each other, in a most disturbing silence. Whispers abound, gentle talk ensues as you wait anxiously whether we could move on. Then after great centuries have passed, a gentle nod to the concerned person is expressed and we all go into ecstasies that the shot was approved.

Sometimes nothing at all is expressed and which is the signal for another take. The settings are always small and limited, as are the spoken words, so, technically there is a kind of relief even when we are asked to repeat a million times. But yes, the satisfaction of having given some genuine hard work, fails to come within our domain, and that could be disconcerting.

The Sunday crowds and the elevated steps to give the audience a better view prevailed as did the photo shoot again for POWER. The make up for one, was different and two there seemed to be greater happiness all around. Take a look  -

Selling the cream with Raju Hirani and looking glum about it .. or is it a stifle !

More cream in colder circumstances .. a change of attire and a mirror for reflection .. not mine but for the product !

Sunday crowds … and a bit dark in the evening ..

POWER … the other look that went wrong yesterday .. a pilot in uniform … looking neat I think

And finally got that elevation on my Sunday crowds as desired … there was loud roar of appreciation when I did go up !

Tomorrow the first day for the shoot for POWER … tomorrow also Rajnikant coming over to Mumbai to , traditionally as he said. show us ROBOT … which incidentally has become a storm all over the country. Just exceptional its business and its talk all over !! Happy for Rajni and of course for Aishwarya … the film has broken all time records !!

Love to you all and more ….

Amitabh Bachchan