Have any of you experienced that feeling of joy that is so
immense that you are unable to express or even react appropriately? Something
like the maximum amount of happiness that tiny heart inside of you can hold? I
don’t think this even comes close to what it was for me. But I am going to try
my best to put it all into words. This is the only way I can try and let it sink in! It looks all too surreal at the moment. But it did happen! :D
Okay here I go. I am going to pen down my life’s most
memorable day so far. The most precious 35 minutes ever. Yes I met Amitabh
Bachchan again!
This was technically my fifth meet with him. I do realise I
am very blessed. :)
At my first meet at the Penguin Annual Lecture in 2013, I got to see him for real, got to hear him talk, recite, joke, got to communicate with him in person. But I did not get to shake hands with him or get a photograph clicked. I was already waiting for another chance. It was June 2014. There were a few of us. Got some 5 minutes with him. Short but truly special. I got around a minute or even less. Got 3 hugs, an autograph and a photograph to capture the moment forever. Then in October 2014, he was shooting at a restaurant at Haus Khaz Village. I got a few seconds and a hug. He had to rush.
My fourth meet with him was very different due to the fact that I had coordinated it for all us Delhi EF (His Delhi fans from his blog. He calls us all his Extended Family!) That was my longest meeting with him so far. A total of 20 minutes for around 25 people. Got just about a minute. But again, it was different. He was pulling my leg, cracking jokes with me & he remembered me so clearly. I was bowled over. I could feel some kind of rapport developing. Can you imagine how elated I was? :))
So now we come to my 5th meet. This can’t be
compared to any of the others. This time, I was in Bombay, at his office, with
just my family with me. Fatima from South Africa, a fellow EF and one of the
most amazing people I know, got it fixed for me. There were a few hiccups
initially. It looked dicey. I wasn’t sure if it will work out. But eventually
it did. His secretary gave me a final nod while I was going through security
check at the airport! :) She was so considerate about a time that would suit us as well. Why is everyone
around AB so nice?
Okay so we landed up at his office at around 12.35 pm, on
October 2nd, 2015. The meet was planned for 1 pm. But given how
punctual he is, we had to reach before time. :)
His office is grand. The guard at the gate had already been
told “Rubina” is coming with her family. He let us in with a smile. Amit ji’s
security guard, another sweet fellow was right there. I have known him for a
while now. He was happy seeing us all there. He knew I had been waiting for a
proper meet with sir and finally it was happening. We were directed to a room
on the 2nd floor. Let me tell you the interiors are jaw droppingly
stunning. So aesthetic, classy, elegant. Just like the man himself!
Someone from his staff was already waiting for us upstairs. Such moments just leave you speechless. He asked us if we would have some tea/coffee. I know the tea at his place is too good, but amid those jitters, all of us decided to have nothing! ;) We clicked quite a few pictures, with his numerous pictures & portraits in the room. It was the first time my parents & sister were to actually “meet” sir. But I was apparently way more nervous, what with the trembling & shaking all the while! Lol!
Someone from his staff was already waiting for us upstairs. Such moments just leave you speechless. He asked us if we would have some tea/coffee. I know the tea at his place is too good, but amid those jitters, all of us decided to have nothing! ;) We clicked quite a few pictures, with his numerous pictures & portraits in the room. It was the first time my parents & sister were to actually “meet” sir. But I was apparently way more nervous, what with the trembling & shaking all the while! Lol!
After the photo session, we took our seats at the round
table. I had not even settled when he just threw open the door and entered with
a “Namaskaar”. It was 12.51 pm. He was coming straight from the gym. He always
has this habit of entering with a bang. It leaves us no time to think of how to
greet him hahahaha! Mom & dad replied with a star struck “namaskaar”. My
sister Sarina, standing behind me, got starry eyed, a bit lost but promptly
shook hands with him. :)
And then he looked at me. I looked back, shivering like a
leaf there! ;) This is what happens with me every single time. I freeze! This
time around, it was he who brought me back to the senses. He reached out
gesturing for a hug. And I went off with my favourite dialogue “Aapko main yaad
hun sir?” He laughed “Of course yaad ho Rubina. Come here”. And then, he gave
me a slight tap on the shoulder (which meant-you naughty girl) and I got the
warmest hug ever! After this, I was dazed & not in my senses anymore. But i
was there! ;)
For a few seconds no one spoke. I had to break the silence
so I told him he was wearing orange which was my favourite color. He asked
“Bachpan se orange favourite hai”? I said “Hanji sir. Bachpan se I have two
favourites, orange & Amitabh Bachchan!” :D His smile was so sweet!
My mom then told him how I wanted to sit in his lap when I was around 2. He laughed so hard, banging on the table. Haha! Embarrassing for me but yeah I was a very cute child so I can’t help it :P
He asked Sarina about her studies. We discussed about her college, my college & his college too. He talked about Delhi University the way he remembers it. It was all so candid. I was smiling so hard my cheeks almost hurt.
I told him I am from Hansraj but wanted to be in KMC (since it’s his college). He said Hansraj is better. I said KMC is the best! And he was like *hmmphh what a silly girl* hahahaha.. So you can see I was so nervous that I kept blabbering. This was the very first time I was actually getting to speak to him & I had to make the most of it!
I asked him if he had some shoot this morning. He told us he was to leave for the shoot after meeting us. Dad asked him about gym and he said “Gym toh karna padhta hai. Nahi toh sharer kharab ho jaayega”. It was something very casual, both what he said and the way he said it. You don’t expect such responses from “celebrities” but he is just one of a kind. He chatted with us as if we were friends meeting up after a long time! I loved it!
My mom had been keeping unwell the last few months. I had shared it with him quite a few times. And he was so considerate to remember and ask her if she was fine now. Again, this is unexpected unless it’s Amitabh Bachchan who has an elephant’s memory & is the most caring man I know!
Dad went on to ask him about his upcoming show Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi. He explained the concept in such detail, and with a lot of interest. (Okay he is just the BEST!) He told us it is about recognizing & rewarding real life heroes, through an innovative show! So looking forward to this one!
My mom then told him how I wanted to sit in his lap when I was around 2. He laughed so hard, banging on the table. Haha! Embarrassing for me but yeah I was a very cute child so I can’t help it :P
He asked Sarina about her studies. We discussed about her college, my college & his college too. He talked about Delhi University the way he remembers it. It was all so candid. I was smiling so hard my cheeks almost hurt.
I told him I am from Hansraj but wanted to be in KMC (since it’s his college). He said Hansraj is better. I said KMC is the best! And he was like *hmmphh what a silly girl* hahahaha.. So you can see I was so nervous that I kept blabbering. This was the very first time I was actually getting to speak to him & I had to make the most of it!
I asked him if he had some shoot this morning. He told us he was to leave for the shoot after meeting us. Dad asked him about gym and he said “Gym toh karna padhta hai. Nahi toh sharer kharab ho jaayega”. It was something very casual, both what he said and the way he said it. You don’t expect such responses from “celebrities” but he is just one of a kind. He chatted with us as if we were friends meeting up after a long time! I loved it!
My mom had been keeping unwell the last few months. I had shared it with him quite a few times. And he was so considerate to remember and ask her if she was fine now. Again, this is unexpected unless it’s Amitabh Bachchan who has an elephant’s memory & is the most caring man I know!
Dad went on to ask him about his upcoming show Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi. He explained the concept in such detail, and with a lot of interest. (Okay he is just the BEST!) He told us it is about recognizing & rewarding real life heroes, through an innovative show! So looking forward to this one!
Then came what remains my favourite bit of the entire time
spent with him. That very morning, we had read an article about how “Amitabh
Bachchan turned musician & composed the title track of the AKRHZ song.” I
told him he has done a splendid job. What followed was:
AB- Arey ye sab technology ka kamala hai. Mujhe kahan aata hai music.
Me- Nahi sir, you sing amazingly well.
AB- Arey you don’t know Rubina, we have all those huge machines, such advanced technology. Kisi ko bhi sur me gava sakte hain. Mujhe samajh nahi hai sangeet ki.
Me- Sir fir toh duniya me sab log gaana gaa lete!
AB- Arey main keh raha hun na it’s all technology. Main “besura” hun bilkul!
Me- Say what?!?!? Okay sir I will repeat what I often tell you on twitter: “You have no idea how amazing you are!”
AB- ummm... *thinks of any argument left* Aap biscuit lengi? :P hahahahahahaha! He is the most adorable man ever!
AB- Arey ye sab technology ka kamala hai. Mujhe kahan aata hai music.
Me- Nahi sir, you sing amazingly well.
AB- Arey you don’t know Rubina, we have all those huge machines, such advanced technology. Kisi ko bhi sur me gava sakte hain. Mujhe samajh nahi hai sangeet ki.
Me- Sir fir toh duniya me sab log gaana gaa lete!
AB- Arey main keh raha hun na it’s all technology. Main “besura” hun bilkul!
Me- Say what?!?!? Okay sir I will repeat what I often tell you on twitter: “You have no idea how amazing you are!”
AB- ummm... *thinks of any argument left* Aap biscuit lengi? :P hahahahahahaha! He is the most adorable man ever!
I then shared with him how uncertain the meet was, for a
long time. But finally, thanks to Fatima it all worked out! He said: Wo toh
daant deti hai mujhe. Miloge ya nahi? Main mana nahi kar sakta! ;) AB adores
her!
The discussion shifted to his films then. All four of us told him about our favourite Bachchan films, special memories associated with some, little anecdotes, how loving him runs in our genes, and what a dream come true this was, to be able to talk to him about it!
I then said to him what I had been personally meaning to, for long. I told him Amit Malhotra from Silsila was my first ever crush! Yes I said that to him in person! He already had an idea and blushed a little. Haha! Just the cutest ever!
I told him how my relatives & friends used to laugh at me every time I said I am going to meet AB someday. Once I showed them the blog & twitter, they realized it was actually him connecting on all platforms. His “guffaw” was enough to make me grin!
Sarina told him how she got a fracture after spraining her foot at the Penguin Lecture, while she was climbing down the auditorium stairs in excitement. He asked her if everything is fine now :)
I told him how I wished to be born in the 60s/70s watching Deewar, Sholay, Laawaris & all other masterpieces of his, on the big screen. Yeah well it was kinda funny and his expression said “haha pagal ladki” :P
The discussion shifted to his films then. All four of us told him about our favourite Bachchan films, special memories associated with some, little anecdotes, how loving him runs in our genes, and what a dream come true this was, to be able to talk to him about it!
I then said to him what I had been personally meaning to, for long. I told him Amit Malhotra from Silsila was my first ever crush! Yes I said that to him in person! He already had an idea and blushed a little. Haha! Just the cutest ever!
I told him how my relatives & friends used to laugh at me every time I said I am going to meet AB someday. Once I showed them the blog & twitter, they realized it was actually him connecting on all platforms. His “guffaw” was enough to make me grin!
Sarina told him how she got a fracture after spraining her foot at the Penguin Lecture, while she was climbing down the auditorium stairs in excitement. He asked her if everything is fine now :)
I told him how I wished to be born in the 60s/70s watching Deewar, Sholay, Laawaris & all other masterpieces of his, on the big screen. Yeah well it was kinda funny and his expression said “haha pagal ladki” :P
It was time to give him the little gift we had got. My dad
had conserved an old Bhopal newspaper from the year 2007, that had a special
interview of Amit ji, published on Babuji’s 100th birth anniversary.
We had to keep the original with us, of course! :D We got an exact photo copy
done & framed and presented it to him. He loved it and even read the
article for a few minutes. I have never seen a person of his stature, as busy
as him, pay so much attention to others. That small gesture was enough to let
us know he appreciates our efforts. That is AB for you. He will reciprocate in
a manner you cannot ever think of, and sweep you off your feet! J I had got “chikki” for
him as it is the only sweet thing that he eats. He took it immediately and said
he will definitely have it! :)
And now he asked us to click some pictures. Himself! *bowled
over again*
I captured memorable moments of my family, and went last myself. Told him how I used to dream of getting a picture with him with that particular wall of his office in the background! The flash of my mobile camera was throwing tantrums that day lol! It flashed sometimes & did not the other times. AB found it so funny. He said “Kya phone hai ye bhai?” haha!
My parents were quite sober when being clicked. And then he called me, “Rubina, come come!” :D
I was acting almost mental. You can’t blame me though. He asked me which side of his I wanted to stand on. I actually did the right left right thing & finally decided it was the left I wanted to be on! Yes I had lost it. And I was anything but sober. I gave him the biggest possible hug! :D
And then I gathered courage to ask him for a selfie. It’s been on my bucket list for 2 years now! He readily agreed. I told him he is tall so he needs to click it. He took my phone, figured out what button to press (he is smart & very tech savvy)! Then he pressed it a few times in a second, hoping to get many pictures, just the way it happens in an iphone. Sadly, mine is an HTC. It has a slow shutter speed so no matter how many times you press it, you get just one picture which takes a little second to drop into the folder. He did not know this and was like “sach me kya phone hai ye”.
And then, when I shifted a little away assuming the selfie is done, he almost scolded me “Arey don’t move when I am clicking! Just stay! Don’t move okay?” This took me by surprise. I could see our equation changing over the years. He wasn’t formal with me this time. And I cannot even begin to tell just how that feels! I genuinely felt he is fond of me. I could be imagining haha.. But my family told me they noticed the very same thing. I loved the way he scolded me playfully, loved how he wanted my photo with him to come out just right, loved the way he talked, poore haq se. I was exhilarated, beaming from ear to ear!
We finally had a groupfie which is the cutest picture of the lot! His expression is so endearing anyone could fall in love with him!
I captured memorable moments of my family, and went last myself. Told him how I used to dream of getting a picture with him with that particular wall of his office in the background! The flash of my mobile camera was throwing tantrums that day lol! It flashed sometimes & did not the other times. AB found it so funny. He said “Kya phone hai ye bhai?” haha!
My parents were quite sober when being clicked. And then he called me, “Rubina, come come!” :D
I was acting almost mental. You can’t blame me though. He asked me which side of his I wanted to stand on. I actually did the right left right thing & finally decided it was the left I wanted to be on! Yes I had lost it. And I was anything but sober. I gave him the biggest possible hug! :D
And then I gathered courage to ask him for a selfie. It’s been on my bucket list for 2 years now! He readily agreed. I told him he is tall so he needs to click it. He took my phone, figured out what button to press (he is smart & very tech savvy)! Then he pressed it a few times in a second, hoping to get many pictures, just the way it happens in an iphone. Sadly, mine is an HTC. It has a slow shutter speed so no matter how many times you press it, you get just one picture which takes a little second to drop into the folder. He did not know this and was like “sach me kya phone hai ye”.
And then, when I shifted a little away assuming the selfie is done, he almost scolded me “Arey don’t move when I am clicking! Just stay! Don’t move okay?” This took me by surprise. I could see our equation changing over the years. He wasn’t formal with me this time. And I cannot even begin to tell just how that feels! I genuinely felt he is fond of me. I could be imagining haha.. But my family told me they noticed the very same thing. I loved the way he scolded me playfully, loved how he wanted my photo with him to come out just right, loved the way he talked, poore haq se. I was exhilarated, beaming from ear to ear!
We finally had a groupfie which is the cutest picture of the lot! His expression is so endearing anyone could fall in love with him!
He gave us all, autographs, signed some precious AB stuff
for me. I told him I get really excited when I realize he remembers my name. He
repeated what he had said during our last meet “Bhoolunga kaise? Itna pareshan
jo karti ho mujhe” and then winked! Hehe.. He knows I am going to do that all
the time! :D
Before leaving, he thanked us for coming, which just blew my
mind! I mean it was a privilege, an honour for us. And here he was, thanking us
for coming. He usually leaves me speechless. This time I was both speechless
& in awe, through the entire duration of the meet!
He asked us about our return flights and invited us to come at the gates for Sunday meet (We call it the Sunday darshan) I felt horrible for saying no since it wasn’t possible to delay my flight! :( But I promised to be there on a Sunday! :)
He bid us adieu (I didn’t want him to leave obviously, but he had to), wished mom & dad, shook hands with Sarina and then looked at me with a “No bye bye hug?” expression haha! I thankfully reacted this time & gave him the best possible hug! :) And he left.
He asked us about our return flights and invited us to come at the gates for Sunday meet (We call it the Sunday darshan) I felt horrible for saying no since it wasn’t possible to delay my flight! :( But I promised to be there on a Sunday! :)
He bid us adieu (I didn’t want him to leave obviously, but he had to), wished mom & dad, shook hands with Sarina and then looked at me with a “No bye bye hug?” expression haha! I thankfully reacted this time & gave him the best possible hug! :) And he left.
He left the room, and he left us all spellbound. I was sure
I cannot love him anymore than I already do. But he proved me wrong yet again.
My admiration, respect & fondness for him just rises by leaps and bounds
everytime. He gave me the most PRICELESS day of my entire life. And I have
pictures & this written account, to help me preserve this for posterity!
This meet was extra precious, since this time around, it was
not just my dream that was fulfilled, but my family’s too!
