Saturday, March 29, 2008

2 Weeks to go...

It’s been exactly one whole year from the day I gave my first shot for h-e-d. Time flies, memories linger on...

It's been a rollercoaster ride with each day bringing new situations and experiences. Each schedule bringing with it a new vibe, new locations, new people and with it a sense of discovering a new part of me. It will not be sacrilegious of me to believe that I have been absolutely honest and sincere to my work and lived every moment on h-e-d to the fullest and that is a special feeling!

I vividly remember my first shot which comes in the early part of the movie. It felt like a continuation of something I’ve been doing. At complete ease, in character and with the right amount of energy, that I surprised myself. At the end of the day, I only hoped and prayed that I could replicate the same feeling each day I came to the set. I think I achieved it on more occasions than less.

When I look back at the different schedules on h-e-d – Kamalistan/panchgani, Leh/shimla/manali/kalka, Switzerland, Mahabaleshwar and the climax at Yashraj studios, I somehow recall my first at Kamlistan on the train set and at panchgani with great enthusiasm. These were times, when energy was at its best, when there was an effort to imbibe and learn everything and anything as each day brought new learning’s and as an actor, I enjoyed the natural earnestness and rawness which I subconsciously brought along and which eventually helped me in shaping Shekhar.

I only wish that I could continue bringing the same enthusiasm and zeal to every other movie I work in hereon because that is what makes the journey worthwhile. The journey is almost about to end now on this one and it’s about time to bring out the work in progress. The first teasers hit screens worldwide on the 11th of April’2008 with ‘You me aur Hum’ and I have no idea how that feeling will be… One year in the making, a year and 3 months since I signed on to it, a year and a half since I first auditioned for it and 24 years since I wanted it so bad.

Nasrun minallahi wal fatahun kareem

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Climaxed!!!

Leh...Manali...Shimla...Switzerland...Mahabaleshwar...Yashraj studios...Finally its over...

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Farewell my friend!

“Hey nakuul. Felt really good to hear from u yaar. The battle is still ensuing in its full rage buddy but d spirit remains untouched. After all for a soldier there is no fight to d end because…There is no end to d fight. But triumph I shall no matter what it takes.” (04/10/06)

There are some bonds which cannot be explained. This is one such…

I met him three years ago and was instantly taken in with his warmth and passion for life. My first memory of him was when I fired him for not bending low enough to take that correct shot while handling the camera and asked him the reason for that. All he said was, ‘I can’t…cant,’ with an expression on his face that was a mix of pain, despair and embarrassment.

Me, being the unrelenting me, prodded him further, only to find out that this normal looking twenty year old had suffered cancer and had recently recovered and won a battle which could have cost him his leg. That was the reason he could not bend his knees and he explained this to me in a very matter-of-fact manner. I thought I did pretty well to hide my shock and disbelief at that moment but could not help but feel small for being so insensitive.

On hindsight, I feel that moment brought the two of us together in a strange way. We got talking and realised our common passion for bodybuilding, movies and books. After the shoot he sent me a copy of our music video and promised to be in touch. I remember him being very hopeful for me and wished me a great future with my acting career. It could have ended there, but he kept in touch, every once in a while, calling/texting to give his feedback on a new commercial or a video and hoping to hear about any movies on the anvil.

There are some people you just want to stay in touch with for absolutely no reason. He was one of them. I remember meeting him not more than six times in these three years, the last being when he boarded his flight to leave for New York.

The enemy had resurfaced. He called me one day and usually chatted up about ‘me’, which he always did. It was always, ‘you’ for him. In the conversation, very nonchalantly he told me about a sudden change in plans. The cancer was back and this time it had attacked the entire body. He had a battle on hands. A battle which he would fight to win! How does one respond to something like that?

We kept in touch while he battled with clinical trials in New York and I started work on my first feature. He called every once in a while to check on my progress when it should have really been the other way around. He never once mentioned the immense pain which was killing him. But that is what makes him, what he was…Optimist to the core! A fighter! A soldier! That’s what I called him always!

Our last conversation will stay with me forever. We spoke about life, rebirth and karma. Maybe he knew it was our last conversation… A week later, came the grim news. An inconsolable common friend called saying, ‘We’ve lost him. Please come see him one last time.’ Once again, I did not know how to react.

I went to see him one last time at his place. Amongst the inconsolable and extremely emotional family and friends, he lay there in the midst, looking calm, at peace and victorious. We had lost him. But he had won…

(The quote at the beginning of the piece, is an sms, he had sent me which will stay with me forever. For all the lives you’ve touched… God bless you Rajiv!)

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Kasam

Kasam hai khuda ki,
Kasam na todiyega,
Kasam khakar janaab,
Kasam se na mooh modiega...

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Some more...

Apni manzil dhoondne nikle hain
Hazzaron armaan liye chale hain
Milne ko woh aaj hi mil jaati
Lekin is kaaynath ke apne hi kuch neeyam hain…

__________________________________

Humari gustakhi thi woh
Warna kya khuda se unka hi pataa mangte…

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Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Meri Shayari -1

Dil ka haal mat poocho yaro
Yeh ek khuli kitaab hai
Darde dil phir bhi jee lete hum
Lekin haal-e-dil kaisen bayaan kar pate…


Thursday, August 16, 2007

A Series Won or LOST…’Chuck’ De India

The morning pictures in TOI left me with mixed emotions – pictures of the Indian cricket team celebrating after beating England in England in a test series after 21 long years.
Happy? Jubilant? Proud? What am I suppose to feel?

On the eve of India’s 60th year of Independence, the day we won against the Colonial regime, in our hearts we have again gone back 60 years and given our own countrymen a reason to believe that we are not ready yet…Not Ready to compete with the best, Not Ready to have faith in our abilities and Not Ready to back ourselves.

No country and I believe this, no country with half the talent and ability of our team would have squandered a chance to go for the kill and win a test match ‘away’ from home. To draw the match from the verge of winning it comprehensively is as good as loosing it. Infact by deciding not to ‘follow on’ the opposition, we nearly threw it away.

Strangely, I had a premonition of this, the evening before and I did tell a couple of friends that Dravid choosing to bat again is a strong option considering the result of the India-Aussie test match in Kolkatta, in which India came back from nowhere, after being made to follow on and won it. Infact both Dravid and Laxman were the backbones of that famous win. That coupled with the fact that we our not the greatest 4th innings chasers, recent case in point – the loss in West Indies when we have had a paltry 120 odd to chase.

I am sure these were the reasons and not the ‘fatigued’ bowlers as suggested. If you call bowling 55 odd overs amongst the 3 pacers a lot of work, then why play test cricket. Test, as the name suggests is meant to be a test of your physical and mental endurance over a period of 5 days. The point being, we would rather (which is the smallest of chance) risk drawing or loosing the match then having played like the cowards we did. Not really the best example to gift to your nation on the eve of it sixtieth year of Independence!

Chuck diya India!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Annonymous is not fun!

And i thought only I read my blogs..actually even I don't! But it would be really good to have you leave your name on the COMMENTS SECTION and not sign as annonymous. It just makes for easy correspondance!
Happy ID 60...
Chak De India!
Nemo - if its you..dude, i expect a 'Me' on there.. but funnily i think it's you cause only you and me are on it..haha..

Monday, August 13, 2007

Chak again...

I had to do this...Saw my second show of Chak. Only twice have I seen two shows of a movie in the theatres (KalHoNaHo was the first), but never before two shows in the first weekend of its release. Chak in the stalls at Chandan is an absolute must-see. Its an experience! Every dialogue is met with applause and every goal with loud whistling and cheering.

Phenomenal! I might do a 3rd time on this one...

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Mujhe 'ChakDe' de de de...

Every once in a while comes a movie which makes you sit up and take notice. ChakDe is hardly that!
You just don't sit up and notice, but rise and applaud to the 'Team ChakDe'.
CD is easily my most favourite film of the year and the best I ve seen after Rang De and Lage raho. Uncanny nah! Rang De...Chak De.. Hoping that with Haal-e-De (purposely forgetting the 'L' in the end), I can safely complete the trilogy of my favourite films and films which audiences will love. (fingers crossed) :-)
Where do I start...Never before have I seen a script and screenplay in hindi movies which is made to order with all the ingriedients which contribute to a full on, masala, commercial yet emotional, heart wrenching and inspiring tale, coming together and gelling so perfectly well. Take a bow Mr. Jaideep Sahni (writer)! The funny thing is that it is as predictable as any underdog story which you have seen yet so finely executed/written/acted that you sit up and cheer for every goal when Team India slugs it out with the aussies.
Shahrukh as the disgruntled coach of the Women's hockey team has made Kabir Khan come alive and how! The scene where he says,' Hockey mein chakkey nahin hote' or 'Is team mein ek hi gunda hota aur woh main hoon' or the time he makes his 'sattar minute' speech and the best of all, his expression and body language when we save the final penaly shoot out goal! Dude, I owe you one! You Inspire! ( I am being dramatically understated)
But to be honest the real heroes of CD are the director - Shimit Amin and the superbly casted 16 girls, who come from nowhere and remain with you at the end of the movie. Just like the gang of RangDe. A special mention to the actors who played Bindiya Nayak and Chowtala. superlative! and cannot not mention Preeti Sabbarwal...Gosh! ;-)
ChakDe...Makes you want to go the movies again. Makes you want to make great movies...movies which make you happy, movies which make you cry, movies which make you think and most importantly movies which entertain. And above all movies which make you want to live an 'inspired life'.
Oye Chak De!