| Heart to Heart with SRK |
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HEART TO HEART WITH SRK
Delayed by heavy rains and hampered by floods in Bombay we had no
choice but to delay our trip to Bombay, than we got everything set for the
second time but than the epidemic in Bombay delayed us yet
again,
We were supposed to get to Bombay on the 13th August but
some friends I spoke with they said delay your trip a bit more it was beginning
to look like we were never going to make it to Bombay.
But eventually waters receded and epidemic disappeared and out of the
blue everything just lined up perfectly we took off from London on the
14th of September arriving around 11.00am on Thursday 15th
Sep into Bombay, it was a nice, sunny, hot and humid morning and the usual
hustle and bustle of Bombay was in full swing,
I was amazed that there was no sign of any flood damage anywhere to
be seen and people were busy with working through just another day in their
lives.
Bombay has always impressed me with strong will of the people and its
resilience to so many ups and downs.
This is the power house of India including Bollywood; this is where
it all happens a city which creates your dreams, this is the city which is home
to so many of your favourite stars of the world, this is the city which honours
the most loved people in the world its just an amazing city, its very much too
fast, too furious but with a laid back attitude it may sound contradictory but
its very much the reality.
We were supposed to drive straight to the Marriott Hotel in the heart
of Bombay but as we came off the Aircraft and turned the phone on had a text
message from my friend Shabina Khan designer to the heroes that our booking is
now at Taj hotel Lands end in Bandra practically next door to Shah Rukh Khans
house, the reason we did not wanted to stay there was because Shahrukh was
supposed to be in Delhi from Thursday till Monday and we were arriving in on
Thursday and returning on Sunday so there was no chance of meeting up with the
king ……………and I did not want to stay near his house and not being able to meet
him it would have broken my heart.
After receiving Shabina khan’s text message I though I will ring her
once we get into the hotel nice n easy but as soon as we sat in the limo which
she had sent for us Shabina rang and I asked why did you switch the hotel and
she said because SRK is in town and I thought it would be easier for you to be
nearer his place rather than in town .oh wow I was really pleased to hear
that.
We got into the Taj hotel and headed straight for 2 meetings wall to
wall before going for a quick sleep as I had not slept on the plane, once I hit
the sack no one was getting me out of bed………….our next meeting was at 1800 so I
woke up at 1730 got ready and looked through my 17th floor suite and
I could see SRK’s house from there
So as soon as I finished getting ready I texted him to say we are in
your neighbourhood and would like to meet up within seconds SRK phoned up he was
pleasantly surprised and asked me when we got in I told him few hours ago and he
said his plans for Delhi got cancelled but he is taking the kids to Goa tomorrow
morning for the weekend and said why did I not tell him I was coming to
Bombay?
I told him since he was not going to be in town there was no point
he said well what are you waiting for get yourselves over to my place we have
pakorasa and tea ready for you I was so pleased that the 1800 meeting we had
with a CEO of a multinational company was instantly cancelled I rang up the CEO
and apologised and told him will call you as soon as I finish this meeting and
explained and he understood after all SRK is the King. When he calls you drop
everything and you go.
I was with my partner from London, we came out of the hotel and there
was a massive Bandra fair and a week of celebration going on around mount marry
which is a holy place for Christians so from Taj hotel to SRK’s house which is
no more than 500 yards it was jam packed with people so we decided to walk
instead of getting our driver out we slowly walked across to the entrance and
the security guy opened the window and I told him that I have come to se Shah
rukh he obviously did not believe me and said bhai sahib Shahrukh is not at home
I said I just spoke to him and the guard still did not believe
me.
he thought I was just kidding so I called the house phone and told
SRK that we are at the door and he rang them straight away and these guards were
very sheepish and apologised saying sorry sir all day people have been saying to
us that they have come to see SRK and he had thought we were just trying to get
into the house by saying that.
we accepted his apologies and trotted up the slope it was very
pleasant evening and SRK’s kids were playing in the front garden so we trotted
along to the front garden and started talking to the kids one of SRK’s
assistants came and told us that SRK will be coming along in a minute we sat
down the garden looked really nice and since it was just after the rainy season
it was lush green with lots of flora and fauna.
We were chatting away with Suhana who had just come back from some
evening classes and I was amazed at the knowledge this little cutey had in her
head she was telling everyone how things work it was just brilliant to hear a
young mind learning things so keenly we were just getting to know Suhana’s
knowledge and SRK walked down the front steps of MANANT and he looked the king
every inch it was just a grand entrance he has class and he has style and above
all he has grace of a king.
He walked up and first came to me and hugged me a nice warm hug only
a true friend can give and greeted my friend too and we sat down started
talking’ it was supposed to be a few minutes meeting as he had other
arrangements for the evening but it continued well over 3 hours one conversation
led to the another and no one realised where the time went.
Of course I know SRK well enough to say I do but every time we meet
he impresses me more he is just full of surprises whilst discussing business I
was very impressed with his sense of fairness, justice and he is not at all
interested in money to him its just a by product he loves making movies and all
the business which goes with it.
His thrills and kicks come from when he pleases his fans and the
world at large I know almost everyone in bollywood there is to know but no one
but no one loves making movies the way SRK does, he could make many more
millions but money has never been his overriding concern he likes to do business
with people where both parties benefit or what he calls a win win
situation.
Having known him well enough I can tell you that many a times he has
given large sums of money to people he has done business with but did not
achieve the desired results so he just tells them not to worry and funds them
quietly.
He does favours for many people in the film industry just to help
them out for free or for practically for very little fee as I said money means
nothing to him he loves the people he loves his fans he loves his family and a
special small circle of friends and that’s what really makes him
happy.
We sat around in the garden and chatted on every subject under the
sun and sipped rather tasty tea and pakorasa we had some serious issues to
discuss but this amazing man never falters from his fairness
stand.
Sitting there in front of him was a very unusual experience he was
playing very many roles simultaneously in front of us he was being a very kind
father to his children, he was being a perfect host to us, he was being a
brilliant friend to me, he was being a gentle son in law to his mother in law
whom had just trotted along to the garden.
He was being a shrewd business man and above all he was being a
human being and he is the only person in the world who can play these roles so
brilliantly and make everyone happy whom so ever touches his life.
There are some reports in the media about SRK but let me tell you
this guy has more strengths than 100 directors and more acumen than a 1000
studio owners or movie makers.
Shahrukh can move mountains purely through his inner strengths the
special gift he has from GOD helps him achieve things many of us can’t even
think of dreaming.
Shah Rukh only believes in GOD his firm faith is that God is the
beneficiaries of all humans and not us to each other.
His faith in GOD is unshakable and he is only afraid of GOD and no
human beings or situations created by humans,
I have seen God’s HAND HELPING HIM, GUIDING HIM why does he need
help of mere humans.
Shahrukh believes that GOD has sent him to earth to spread happiness
and help make millions of people’s lives richer and he is proud of his role and
is grateful to GOD.
Many people in this industry just do not have enough depth to
understand Shahrukh, he is not just a man Shahrukh khan is a phenomenon when GOD
is protecting him how can us mortal humans do anything against Gods
hands.
Shahrukh was made to make millions of people happy and he is doing a
brilliant job of that he is a true ambassador of GOD’ people seek God’s shadow
in him I believe in him I have trust in him he is the one who will move
mountains to bring happiness to many that’s his aim.
Our conversation was not reaching any ends and cups of masala tea
kept on flowing as though it was our fuel.
SRK sat there in front of me looking so relaxed and chilled out
looking at him would have reminded you the new song ‘just chill’ and he was
being a true picture of that totally relaxed and utterly cool with his flowing
long hair a his black jeans and black shirt ………….i am sure many of you would
have given an arm and a leg to see him like that.
He smiled often and we shared a few jokes too but we also had few
serious things which we discussed in full intensity.
Eventually a little drizzle started and it became difficult to sit
in the garden so we went inside the house there we sat a further a while and the
QUEEN G (GAURI) came in from upstairs and greeted us warmly it was just like
being at home we discussed a few things and SRK had some other people came in to
see him so we bid farewell and he came to the stairs and said I am back Sunday
afternoon and if you are still around maybe we could meet up I was really
excited but unfortunately we had to return to london on Sunday and missed
meeting SRK again.
Its never enough time whenever you meet him you always want to stay
longer but you have to move on don’t you? life has to go on.
I hope you enjoyed reading these words as much as I enjoyed meeting
SRK and writing for you.
Shahid malik
23rd Sept 2005
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