Shyam Parekh and Jumana take me for a stroll on the Kanoria Lawns and I am fascinated by the atmosphere at Gujarat Literature Festival.  Men, women, young and old have come draped in warm shawls and hang around the place soaking in the ambience. Some have just exited from a sparkling session and are discussing the author; some are relishing bhelpuri, while some are browsing at the archives to discover precious books.

There are a lot of children attending the festival this year and Jumana informs me that they have special workshops for children this year. It was a conscious decision by Gujarat Literature Festival to emphasize on art and installations this year. I am intrigued by a tree bark and on coming closer discover it is an installation promoting environment by Priya Anand Pariyani. Pariyani shares that she is an untrained artiste who was fortunate to find a master who encouraged her to follow her heart.

Her guru explains that from a tree comes paper and it is the thoughts jotted on blank paper that become prose, poetry and books cards so unless we respect tree, we value paper and preserve nature, we cannot preserve books. This installation is to spread the message of saving the environment, he concludes.

I am deeply moved and privileged to have such an insightful interaction with the artiste and her guru and I am certain that every time I pass a tree I will remember Pariyani’s this installation.

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The gate at Senate Hall Gujarat University is cheerfully decorated with colourful umbrellas. The volunteers are all wearing red silk jackets so that people can recognize them easily and seek assistance. In a corner is the registration desk and beyond that are the session halls segregated by narrow pathways to move around the lawns.

Beyond the sessions are other activities be it the Hutheesingh Amphi Theatre, Beyond the Gallery or the Kanoria Lawns. Most of the workshops are at Gujarat University but since the venues are all close by nobody is complaining, in fact enjoying the hop-skip- and-jump process, meeting new authors and connecting.

Today’s session at Gujarat Literature Festival is on the relevance of Film Reviews and joining me in the panel are Shishir Ramavat, Shailendra Vaghela, Jayesh Adhyaru and Jignesh Vasavda. The house is packed and the question-answer session thoroughly enjoyable.  Post the session RJ Siddharth leads us to the green room where all of us relish some green tea.

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It is that time of the year when Ahmedabad comes alive with various festivals and among them is Gujarat Literature Festival. In just five years’ time, GLF has gained a distinct identity and become a hot favorite with both, the authors as well as the audience. In my opinion, the festival is special is its core team and the immense enthusiasm they generate to the entire team because of which there is boundless energy in the atmosphere.

But before I get to the venue I have an important stop at Dainik Bhaskar incidentally the print partner of GLF. I have just started a column in the widely circulated Navrang the magazine supplement of the newspaper. When Krishnakant Unadkat, editor of Magazine, Bhaskar comes to know I am coming to Ahmedabad he insists I stop by at his office for a cup of tea.

I am glad I did because I discover the mechanics of bringing out a daily supplement on varied subjects: Health, Women, Children, Cinema, Spirituality, Commerce to name a few and this can only happen when the team has super chemistry and for this credit goes to the editor.

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In 2002 when Badhai Ho Badhai was released it did not make the impact that was expected, from either the critics or the box-office. Anil Kapoor’s obese look did not go well with the audience and he was relieved that he had used padding and not gone and put on weight because that would have been really depressing.

Satish Kaushik and Anil Kapoor did not make any more films together but continue to remain good friends. Subhash Ghai withdrew partnership with Anil and Satish films but continue to remain good friends with both Satish and Anil.

Shilpa Shetty who was still a struggling star at that time did not become the overnight sensation as predicted by her co-star and her director but working on the film strengthened a bond between the three that continues to this date. Shilpa is friends not just with her co-star after so many years but his entire family. Last seen she was celebrating her Karwa Chauth at Kapoor household with other star wives. This is show business, this is life and I think it is fantastic!

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At 5 pm, Satish Kaushik sits before the monitor and gives cue to his artistes. They are shooting a suhaag raat scene between Shilpa and Anil. Anil clad in a white kurta and jasmine flowers rolled over his wrist has to swagger into the room and frighten his bashful bride. The shot is Okayed in the first take!

Kaushik explains that Badhai Ho Badhai is a social drama, “There is a lot of emotion and as usual my story takes up for a woman’s cause.” Shilpa seated beside her director says it’s a privilege to be working with Kaushik and Anil Kapoor. Anil Kapoor pats his own back and they move on to pan the next shot.

Its 7 pm and time for a snack break. While the camera unit gets ready for the next location, Kaushik takes me on a stroll on the sets, points to a spacious terrace festooned with trees. He points to the blooming flowers and informs that all the plants are artificial “But they look so real that even I forget that the garden is not for real, that’s the magic of cinema.”

Kaushik leads me upstairs and proudly shows me the other rooms, stops to examine the balcony surrounded by bougainvillea flowers and announces with a certain sadistic pleasure announces that even the bougainvilleas are plastic. We return to the original sets and by now the lighting is done and the shot is ready. This time, it is a more serious scene. Shilpa has to render a long speech and expose the fraud Anil Kapoor. At the end of it, Anil is embarrassed and renders a long explanation.

Outside, the skyline is pitch dark and covered with fog. It is 9 pm but the unit has a long way to go. Anil Kapoor escorts me to my car, says usually it is 10-10 shift but with the long celebrations on the sets it will be a late night, not the best way to start a New Year but what to do?”

What happened when the film was released a year later? Will tell you tomorrow, stay clued in…

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Clearing my old files on computer I came across this one where I visited the sets of Badhai Ho Badhai on New Year day in the winter of 2001. Reading the details made me very nostalgic and I thought it would be a good way to begin the 2018 blog.  

It is a windy afternoon in the hills of Film City. The occasion is the silver jubilee celebration of Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hain and Mukta Arts, producer of Badhai Ho Badhai along with Satish Kaushik and Anil Kapoor is hosting an exclusive luncheon party on the lawns adjoining the sets. All the distinguished personalities are present.

Music director Anu Malik, Ramesh Taurani of Tips, Anil’s close friends Indra Kumar and Ashok Thakeria and of course the cast of Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hain and Sirf Tum. The heroine of Badhai Ho Badhai, Shilpa Shetty is in a talkative mood. She elaborates on her role in the film. “I play a mad-hatter; I think an extension of my director, who is very funny.”

Satish Kaushik, wearing a red cap says he likes shooting where there is no stress. “We work 360 days a year, we cannot be stressed all the time, special at the beginning of a new year”. David Dhawan, Rumi Jafri, Manmohan Shetty are seated in a corner, as usual discussing business. The spirits are high and finally, around 4 pm, after a lot of food and endless rounds of print and electronic interviews, the party is dispersed.

There is more… wait till tomorrow….

I’m unable to recall serious separations of film actors during the sixties decade but in the seventies two couples with great love stories parted mysteriously. Rajesh Khanna -Dimple Kapadia and Raakhee- Gulzar.  Khanna proposed to the Bobby star in a dramatic fashion and Dimple was over the moon to become Mrs Superstar Khanna.  A decade and two children later, Dimple realized that life was not a film.  She was back to where she belonged, the cameras! Khanna and Kapadia lived separate lives but were united in crisis and it was Dimple and son-in-law Akshay Kumar who nursed an ailing Khanna in his final days.

For Raakhee it was love at first sight with writer director Gulzar who has apenchant for Bengali culture, cuisine and women. Both were soaring in their respective careers and began building their love nest in Pali Hill. The real reasons for their split is unknown after all these years but rumors say Gulzar disapproved of a working wife and Raakhee a big star of the seventies was unable to steal away from the tempting offers. The duo separated after the baby. Raakhee stayed back in her maiden home, a few bungalows away from Gulzar. After so many years Gulzar and Raakhee are best of friends.

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Dilip Kumar had a late marriage and to a woman many years his junior, Saira Banu.  When they got married everyone said it will not last a year but it has lasted over 50 years.  There were many challenges but the two continued to be soaked in the fragrance of love- Saab and his Begum stuck together for decades and remain madly in love till today.

I don’t know why but while the heroes were able to conquer the storms in their lives, the heroines fell as victims. The beautiful Meena Kumari married director Kamal Amrohi. They separated, came together, married again, separated and came together for a film Pakeezah. Madhubala, a top ranking heroine of the 50s married singer Kishore Kumar against the wishes of her family and paid a price! Kishore Kumar married and divorced once, lost interest in Madhubala after marriage and neglected her.  When she fell seriously ill he dropped her at her parents’ where she died a sad, lonely death.

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