The following morning Uma Rele had contacted maesto Shri Narayan Mani and sounded the idea to him and he was charged so the following morning, on Dhanteras the three of us assembled at Nalanda, Juhu to take the idea further. That morning Narayan Sir walked into the room in a sunshine kurta carrying mithais for all of us, we knew we were at the cusp of something auspicious.

Without further ado all of us divided our roles and responsibilities. I had to write the script, Uma Rele would conceptualize the ballet, Narayan sir would choreograph the music and Vaidehi would short list the dancers and the dance forms.  The task looked easy but it was complicated beyond imagination. It called for departmental coordination and also collective coordination, especially since all of us were keen to include as many dance forms into the ballet as possible.  

Vaidehi, the youngest amongst scheduled deadlines for all of us including herself.  The trio informed me that no work can begin unless we have the script ready. I had never written a ballet in my life and had no idea how I was going to do it. What shall we call the ballet? I asked all of them. What is the Hindi word for ‘self-expression?’ I asked and after a quick google came the answer, ‘Sva-Abhivyakti’.

To be concluded

An idea can be born anywhere and anytime and we must never underestimate the power of coincidences. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. There is a reason why people meet and a reason why they dream an identical dream.  Nalanda Dance & Research Academy is not an unknown address for me, so I was flattered when scholar, dancer and founder of Nalanda, Dr Kanak Rele invited me over to discuss her forthcoming book Me & My Mohiniyattam.

A few days later was her book release, a joyous occasion surrounded by dancers. A few months later was the Ganpati festival and I was invited home for the deity darshan.  We were getting to know each other and stimulated in each other’s company but as yet unaware of God’s plan for us. Then I was launching my new book, Letters to Self and invited Dr Uma Rele, Principal, Nalanda Dance & Research Mahavidyalaya and her dancer daughter, Dr Vaidehi Rele for the event.

It was a glorious evening and when at the end of the event, mother- daughter were leaving, Uma Rele casually asked me if I had thought about adapting the translation of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s poems into a dance ballet. I hadn’t but now that she had put an idea into my head, I was super excited and that was the beginning…

To be concluded

My reason for narrating these stories is because most of the time, the audience is unaware of what their idols are going through in their personal lives. Just because they look dazzling on screen, dance energetically and smile on their Instagram posts, their fans assume that their lives are rocking!

It isn’t and so, next time you see any actor sizzle on the screen, don’t assume that they are leading rosy lives. Almost all of them are fighting battles like you and me every day and just because they don’t show it or don’t talk about it, it does not mean they don’t endure pain!!

Hrithik Roshan has proved time and again that with determination, you can overcome every obstacle in life. Happy Birthday Hrithik, you are an inspiration.

What followed was Kaho Na Pyaar Hai and with stardom came confidence and innumerable challenges. Every new film demanded special training, if it was skateboarding, snowboarding and sand surfing to play the thief in Dhoom 3, Hrithik hired three different masters to train him in sword fighting, Urdu dialect and Sufi dancing for Jodha Akbar. For Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish where he played magician Ethan Mascherenas, he trained under an expert and also spent time with a paraplegic patient to understand his mindset and inconveniences.  His contemporaries often lampooned his homework but his co-stars and his directors valued his commitment and appreciated his detailing.

Hrithik Roshan got emotionally attached to his every character and superstardom did not diminish his passion for his new assignments. When he travelled to China to train for action during Krrish, he suffered a serious leg injury. Any other actor in his place would have returned home but Hrithik Roshan was adamant about staying back and completing his treatment. There is another, more dangerous story of how while shooting for his film Bang Bang in Thailand, Hrithik fell off a cliff and suffered a near fatal head injury. He was rushed to the ICU and had to undergo immediate brain surgery, that kept him out of action for a long time but he remained positive all through and once recovered, Hrithik bounced back to the studios.  

To be continued…

When he was twelve, his maternal grandfather filmmaker J Om Prakash cast him in a cameo in Bhagwan Dada where Hrithik had a talking scene and performed flawlessly to everyone’s surprise. The shooting made Hrithik realize two things: One, that with determination he can overcome all his shortcomings and two, when he grows up, he will become an actor like his father. 

In his early twenties Hrithik was diagnosed with a rare ailment, Scoliosis that restricts body movements. For a year, Hrithik observed all precautions but slowly decided to take control and resumed his normal routine that included a run on the beach. One day, while he was running it started to rain and Hrithik instinctively slowed down to make sure there were no health complications. He continued to run and watch his body for signals and when all seemed well, slowly gained pace. When at the end of the day, there were no pains, no cramps Hrithik knew he was ready for his debut and told his father.

To be continued…

Hrithik Roshan, has always said that “If you believe in yourself, you are able to overcome obstacles” and he has proved this time and again in his life. In recent times, more and more actors are opening up about their mental health problems and Hrithik Roshan is one of them. In a recent statement he has admitted that when he was shooting for War, he felt so anxious that he believed he was going to die! Who would believe this because what all of us remember of the film is his vibrant song and a devastatingly good-looking hero, leaning against the door and seducing the camera.

 Appearances are deceptive and show business is never what it looks! Behind the greasepaint and the dark shades, every actor is fighting his demons, the courageous admit to them, others push the dark secrets beneath the carpet. Hrithik Roshan has always admitted to the various challenges he encountered since childhood. As a little boy, he was made to feel different by his classmates only because his right hand had two thumbs. As he grew older, the isolation increased to an extent that Hrithik began to stammer and this was a cause of concern for the family.

To be continued…

The new year has begun and some of our Bollywood celebrities like always are enjoying an extended holiday bringing in their birthdays. Vidya Balan born on 01 January has always escaped to an exotic location with her husband Siddharth Roy Kapoor. So, did Deepika Padukonne who ushered in the New Year with her family and friends at Alibaug followed by a quieter birthday on 06 January with close friends. For Bipasha Basu it was a special birthday on 07 January celebrated with her new born and for Farhan Akhtar his first with his new wife Shibani Dandekar Akhtar on 09 January. There have been times, during the making of Lakshya and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobarra, when Farhan Akhtar and Hrithik Roshan have celebrated their birthdays together but this only happens when they are shooting together.

Tomorrow is Hrithik’s birthday and the actor deserves a special blog so get ready for stories of courage associated with the superstar.

To be continued…

Pan Nalin’s much-loved coming-of-age Gujarati language drama Last Film Show (Chhello Show) is in the news for being shortlisted in the Best International Feature Film category at the 95th Academy Awards. As the Oscar fever builds up, the film has now emerged as an odds-on favourite and is being seen as a top contender for the nominations. After Priyanka Chopra lent her support for the film and hosted a screening for Academy members in Los Angeles, Variety’s renowned Awards Editor and Senior Vice President Tim Gray has listed the filmamong his top 5 predictions for the Oscar nominations.

Lead actor 13 year old Bhavin Rabari  is creating ripples too and it is because the film tells the story of a cinema-obsessed boy, Samay (Bhavin Rabari), in rural Gujarat and his coming of age as he moves forward to realise his dreams. The film is inspired by director Pan Nalin’s own childhood and his friendship with a local projectionist and has been praised by critics worldwide ever since it had its premiere at the TriBeCa film festival.

Produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur Dheer Momaya and Pan Nalin and released by Samuel Goldwyn Films in the US and by Roy Kapur Films in India, Orange Studios is releasing the film in France, while Shochiku Studios and Medusa are bringing it to Japanese and Italian cinemas respectively.