At a friends wedding last night at the Parsi Agiary I am surprised to see so many well wishers for KBC. I would have thought that language being a problem with the community, they would refrain themselves. But no. Elders and the young all seemed so excited and complimentary. It gets embarrassing to face such situations and the only solution seems to be to remove myself from the instance rapidly.

‘Town’, ‘City’, South Bombay (SoBo), South Mumbai (SoMu) call it what you will, shall always remain different from the suburbs. Have not been able to figure why, but yes it remains different. It is cleaner, less congested and with greater civics. The promenade and the facade of Marine Drive, the old structures built years ago, but with a semblance of uniformity, is being threatened by higher rise buildings. There is talk of bringing all those, almost art deco structures down, because of age and constructing newer ones and higher ones. I wonder what the drive would look like ? Would it rob it of its present staid look, or would commerce take over and the Queens Necklace become modern and glass and metal bearing edifices. There is still an old world charm about the Marine and many would want to retain it. But truly, it is not something that can be decided by a handful of well wishers. Other forces and circumstances take over and one has to succumb to it.

Marine Drive - that most identifiable location for the city and metropolis, a place where one has spent hours and days in the hope of fulfillment of a dream. Where the winds from the sea have washed away within you all the forces that had been of some disturbance. Where you sat by the boardwalk and contemplated, wondered, hoped. Where you spent a few nights as a homeless being, alone and without a word of support. Where the benches became your most trusted friends - they never refused you a seat and never asked you any questions. The latter was the best. When in despair, it is the most difficult to abstain. But the bench remained an eternal companion - quiet, non interfering and providing the solace and peace which was much required at the time ….

During one of my very early visits to the city in the 50’s, living by the Drive on one of the deco structures, I had lain awake the entire night, peering out of the window below into the street, wondering when the cars and people would stop. They never did. And it was an amazing site for someone just out of his middle class home in Allahabad.

And later when it was time to venture in films, the same drive, the same surroundings, but now a guest at my Father’s adopted sister’s residence. Ganga Vihar and the most caring loving and accommodating human ever, Shankara Bai, the Mother like figure who looked after us during those early years. Now sadly left for her heavenly abode, but every gesture of hers still vivid in the mind as you drive past it during visits to SoBo.

Those daily walks to the ChurchGate Station to catch the ‘fast’ into the suburbs to canvas for work in the studios. To meet producers and directors and asking them to cast in film and give us an opportunity in front of the camera.

The walks by the pavement and passing by all those elegant and expensive restaurants, where film celebrities often visited for their coffe and high teas, and hoping and expecting that they would notice and offer. Stupid and ridiculous thoughts. Why would they ever want to do that ? They knew nothing about us ! And then those bravado expansive loud exclamations later in the middle of the night among friends - ” One day I shall be sitting there, and the city shall be pasted with my banner faces ” ! I have often wondered where and how did we ever get the courage to make that statement ! And then …. when it did happen, we clammed up. Interested that it all came up, but too embarrassed to speak about it.

The changes then. Slowly and surely. Picking up that Star & Style Magazine from one of the stalls on the floor of the pavement and discovering your name in print in Deviyani’s column. Deviyani, that gossip journalist, dreaded and respected for her writings, was the ultimate in media presence in the film world. Slept with that first mention with the magazine under the pillow. Protecting and loving it. And now … discarding those issues as they appear on print and net and radio and mobile ! Life’s dichotomy amazes me !!

” Before you can write a check, you must first make out a deposit slip ; before you can draw money out of a bank, you must put money into a bank ; before you are entitled to a living, you must give the world a life ; if you want to make a first class living, learn to give the world a first class life. “

With love and more ~

Amitabh Bachchan