Star encounters

“You keep asking others. Why don’t you share your experiences?” asked colleague Neena Sharma. I slipped down memory lane.
1983. Absolutely raw out-of-college Madrasi enters the never-sleep city Mumbai. Joins “Free Press Journal” daily as a sub-editor on Rs600pm salary. Does not know Hindi. Shy, but wielding a strong weapon: Confidence.
“Hey, I want to interview some Bollywood star,” I told colleagues. The immediate reaction was laughter. “You Madrasi. First speak Hindi. Will you have the guts to interview a film star?”
“Maybe you should start with Rajesh Khanna. He is coming back with new films,” said one. He was starring in “Avtaar” and “Souten.”
Took up the challenge. Rang up the number they gave and told by the voice, “Come to Bandra residence.” I took a bus the next day.
(Vague memories): There was a huge black door which was not locked. I entered and saw Rajesh Khanna watering the plants. Being a raw journalist, I approached him straight and said loudly: “Mr Khannaaa..”
Two stout guys rushed towards me and pushed me into a room.
“Who are you?” they asked in Hindi.
“Journalist.”
Thank God, they felt easy. “Come to Esel Studios tomorrow. There’s a shooting,” said his secretary.
Took a Hindi-speaking paste-up artist Shashikant Nikshe along with me. Again by bus to Trombay.
Watched the “Durga” film shooting. (Hope my memory is right) Hema Malini was standing in a blue sari in a court room, while Khanna repeated his same dialogue twice or thrice as a lawyer. Hema was looking serious and so I was not keen to talk to her, except saying “Hello Maam.” My friend kept saying, “We have come to meet Mr Khanna. Stick to that.”
During a break, Rajesh Khanna called both of us. He talked in fluent English. One question I remember asking him was about “Haathi Mera Saathi.” “It’s a film without language barriers and about elephants. No wonder, it was a super hit,” he replied.
I asked about his wedding trouble. I distantly remember him replying about his then wife Dimple, “She’s just the mom of my two daughters.”
The story appeared in Free Press Bulletin under the title: “They want me back.”
For aspiring journalists, here is a word of caution: I have not been paid for that article as of now. And yes, Khanna was smoking branded cigarette, but he did not offer us one.