Found Sharda, ‘isi khushi mein’- Polly Part II

Sharda and family

Sharda has two kids now, one boy and a girl. She smiles gracefully in photos now, with her husband and kids in fb pictures. Earlier she would giggle uncontrollably. We must meet soon.

So, anyway, we were in Class VI at the railway police station, explaining our end of the story when ‘Nazaaqat’ made that comment about ‘this hullaballoo just another way of making income’, when the officers got really angry and fined us. We requested them to reduce the fine, but they would not listen as they had to teach us a lesson. I do not know if ‘Nazaaqat’ learned. So, we reached Hind Motors late and also returned home late. But in between we had tons of lovely Bengali food and laughter. Polly and her family were unbelievably good hosts.

Sharda, Polly and Shadma in the middle, as they've discovered what my didi Barkha had done in Antakshari

Naughty Sharda was pretty hard working, unless she could avoid it… She generally brought aloo phulka in tiffin after cooking the same herself! She looked after her younger siblings and diligently helped out at home.

But in school, we got the best of her witty comments and giggles and also physical fights in good spirit. You ask her and she will tell you all about the comments made by one ‘bhaen’ (van- cart rickshaw) guy to our ‘bhaen’ (van- cart rickshaw) guy in Ballygunge, a village where Shadma had taken us for a picnic.

We were going from Shadma’s property in the village to the really large and ancient well near a dargaah. The mode of travel was a cart fitted with cycle, commonly pronounced as ‘bhaen’. Apparently, Polly and I were bringing the ‘bhaen’ down at the back and the driver could not cycle at optimum speed, according to Sharda who interpreted as well as related the passing van-driver’s comment, “peechhe mein weight jaada ho gaya hai”… We do not know what had really passed. But there were Nauras, Shadma, Sharda, Polly and Nazaaqat at least, if not Sushma also on the van…

Sharda and I, clicked by her niece Jil

Sharda suggested we make Polly jealous so she visits soon

I finally reached Mulund East yesterday to meet with Sharda at her home (It takes 2 hrs 30 mins from Malad West, where I live!). She came downstairs to greet me! Sweet, soft-spoken and ever so graceful, she fed me with delicious home-cooked food after apologizing umpteen number of times that she had not made anything special as I had made her cook special Gujarati delicacies twice already without turning up. I didn’t even bother to put her at ease, hungrily lapping up tasty alu-bhaji, daal, gazab roti, Tikiya on chutney toast, more chutney, ‘chhaas’, ‘mithai’ and unbelievable ‘Srikhand’. Some of it was prepared by her girls, (She wishes her son would learn cooking too) her own daughter and her ‘devrani’/sister-in-law’s daughter. Sharda introduced me to the latter and their ‘bua-saas’/aunt-in-law also.

Sharda's niece and nephew Jil & Deep.

Sharda still looks after her younger sisters who are married in Mumbai, what with her mother and younger brother gone in an accident. She sent me off with a beautiful necklace and some home-ground white dhokla-powder. An ideal human being, beautifully living in the joint-family set-up in separate floors of a building, where the children celebrate togetherness, busy to the T, I am so looking forward to our next meeting.

Family Fortunes ep- Can See Law of Attraction Working!

Ritesh, Rajat, Vivek & Dolly, ready to play at Family Fortune- Game show for Big Magic Channel.

It is funny how my brother and I discovered on youtube,  the American game show called ‘Family Feud’ hosted by the funniest Steve Harvey around six months ago… and three months ago I came across this post for audition for a similar-sounding show on fb…

After make up dada & hair didi sent me back

Like many aspiring actors in Mumbai, I had given auditions for roles of various kinds and had been waiting to start a new innings in front of the camera. 

Being close to my brother and my Theatre Teacher, Baba Sir, had taken me to a couple of studios/ set locations in Mumbai…

After Make-up and Costume; added blazer for shoot.

But I finally faced camera outside of my home cookery videos, when having fun with friends. 

Our participation in this show called ‘Family Fortunes’, hosted by adorable Mantra proves that when a dream is treated with fun, things manifest quicker. 

Ritesh's leg as he kept apologizing to the rickshaw wala

Dreams or desires spring forth involuntarily, but the mood or vibrations that we emit (if any less than happy/positive) can and should be changed constantly… The action that happens through us then and the result that emerges should not be judged; then it should all be considered His work… The Gita gyan, all over again… Many thanks

Friend Ritesh on left, brother Vivek on right.

to Esther Hicks.

So, when the call finally came about shooting for the show as the channel had liked our audition, three of our gang of four were out of town! 

But the casting people at Ideas Box were understanding and a convenient date was fixed. Amid doubts by two people about their availability, I kept watching more of the funny show, the American as well as the new Indian version of it.

Finally, a picture of Ritesh (like bhai, a hard working AD, Sindhi guy, grew up in Calcutta, met Vivek on a film set) and Vivek after lunch at Joey's Pizza. Rajat had already left as his parents are in town.

Rajat is a sincere actor who apologized before hand if he effed up on the show. So did my brother and incidentally, they both gave top answers.

Here is our episode aired on Big Magic Channel. BTW, we won the game and the jackpot! The amount is minuscule when you compare it with the U.S original show, minus the taxes and divide by four, but still highest till date from the beginning of this Indian series and I believe, we won because the amount was not so big in our minds and hence, 'believable' and achievable... Magic is in belief and by being happy we allow magical things to manifest:)  

Click here for Family Fortune Episode- Dolly & Friends

MAMI & Moving Fwd

Director Ruchika Oberoi & Team 'Island City'

So, I was invited to sit in the reserved gold class section by my shy friend Sagar Desai (you might have heard his work in Ankhon Dekhi and other award-winning films also) the music director of the film and I got scared, went to the 3^rd row from screen and sat down. The movie was fantastic- ‘Island City’, a must watch. It is playing again today, please try to watch it. This morning my right foot aches, the ankle… because I refuse to move forward- the metaphysical reason for the ailment. I hope it gets better soon so I can go again, tomorrow is the last day of the film festival.

Garam Hava Director- Padma Shri M.S. Sathyu and Actress Geeta ji.

Garam Hava (1973) was phenomenal! It was a privelege to watch the movie and I also got to interact with the Director, Padma Shri M.S. Sathyu and the lead actress Geeta ji.

I also liked Marry Me, a film by an Indian origin- German girl. A girl who wished to work on her dislike of the regressive culture actually ended up making a Bollywood film for German audience, with honesty! I loved characters and actors- ‘Karim’ and ‘Sujata’/Nani- Ms. Bharati Jaffery!

Rishi Kapoor & Nitu Singh

My first visit to Mehboob Studios happened because of MAMI again, where they had a Master Class by Rishi Kapoor ! Interviewed by Rajiv Masand and Anupama Chopra, Rishi Kapoor revealed how Nitu ji kicks him on the shin when he talks too much; Anupama Chopra said she has to do the same with Vidhu Vinod Chopra)...

Interview of Gurinder Chaddha by Huma Qureshi was very enjoyable and so was the Mr.India Reunion (unfortunately I do not have a picture of that, but I assure you, Anil Kapoor is just adorable!)

Security at PVR Andheri, pic by Manoj B (resembles Anjum Sir)

I took my tiffin on both the venues and kept them by the security. They were nice to me. I am really glad for that and thankful to Barkha who used to give me tiffin when I went for OSEAN in Delhi back in 2008. Where I had seen Irrfan Khan’s Dubai Return and A Tale of Three Friends (Teen Yaari Kotha, Bengali)… Those days it was difficult to make films and get them passed and released. Now it is much simpler.

I am glad I can see that.

This was my first visit to MAMI. I found it to be very organized and Book My Show people were extremely helpful. It was lovely to meet some really nice people. Things are definitely looking up :) I wish the mobile toilets become much better at Mehboob Studios soon. 

The lesson for me and my friends from all of the above is to be honest to your work and dream on. Stand straight, you will know, when the head comes at the position when you become free the neck down, where the respiration happens easily and you walk with accent on the hips. Otherwise, the knees and ankles suffer. Have faith. Now, do what you feel is right and keep a constant watch on your mood. The law of attraction picks up on your vibes.