Letter to a Fellow Taurian

Hello,
It was my long time wish to get back an autographed letter from Vijaydeep, 3rd Floor, Iris Park, Juhu, Mumbai-49, but it did never happen, though I remember sending self addressed envelope there atleast once. All I could console myself at that time was that it must be your secretary Rakeshnath aka Rikko, who probably scanned and put my envelope in the trash along with 1000s other such requests coming to you daily. I am sure it never reached you else how could you ever disappoint one of your most diehard fan, right? A true Taurian can never.

Now once again, maybe after 15 long years, I am trying to send this letter to you through my blog instead of a stamped letter and saving the effort of trying to find your latest "postal" address. Also there is no need for self stamped envelope this time, as you are most welcome to drop "comments" in the blog itself and finally there is no fear of Rikko Jee coming in between and deciding which letter is worth your time.

I wont waste time in introducing myself, you can always find it through my profile.

One thing which my profile does not indicate though, is that I am a person who tries to remember all the important and eventful dates happening in and around me. But I am surprised at myself as I really dont remember exactly when I came to know about you first. I vaguely remember about the movie "Uttar-Dakshin-1987" being discussed by some of my high school friends and them mentioning that new actress in that is real good. Though later on I would know that it was "Abodh-1986" which was your first movie..not that it was a great one, but just on the lines of "Saath Hindustani" being the first one of Legendary Amitabh. It helped me score couple of points in local quizzes during those days!

In my school days I never got the opportunity to watch any movies other than religious one like "Lav-Kush" or children's film like "Safed Haathi" by Tapan Sinha (result of the strict,disciplined and "typical middle class bong" way our parents brought us up where the word "cinema" and "children" couldn't coexist), and probably that made me too curious about tinsel town and I just devoured anything I came across about it from print media, radio, later on TVs and of course friends whose parents were more liberal. So though I came to know about Mohini, Munna and Lothia Pathan, and your first superhit song of "ek-do-teen" through different sources, I never saw it in theater. But I did see few clips of that in one of those special bus with Video players,while going to a "baraat". And I was wondering why people are going crazy over this movie and this actress with pimples...though I agreed songs were indeed catchy! I had just entered my freshman year that time.

Couple of months later you gave us Raam-Lakhan-1989. And I was still holding the same opinion. This time me being a college student I was able to go to theaters on select occasions. While my friends were glued to every shots of yours, but I found Dimple Kapadia (and her pairing with Jackie Shroff) more impressive than you with Anil Kapoor that time (remember that lovely song "mujhey tumsey hai kitne gile"). In the similar time I heard about Dayawaan-1989 (remake of Nayakan) being another hit of yours. Later on I would read your interview somewhere that you consider this movie has one of the boldest scene you ever performed which you regret! I was still not fascinated about your charisma but it was all about to change...very soon!

It was the beginning of my sophomore year, when for the first time bollywood came out with the "teaser concept" for a movie promotion. Still remember the ads in Times Of India "The most powerful film ever made!" and after couple of day's continuing the ads and teasers, we came to know about Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Parinda-1989 is about to hit the marquee. The whole day scholar group went out to Samrat Talkies near our house to feel the power on a matinee show...and yes that was the day..I became a fan of yours. Unfortunately I dont remember the date. Keeping aside all the other aspects of this real "powerful" film, you were so so impressive and natural, poised,good looking in each and every part of this movie,I just cant explain. That was the day I realized why people have started comparing you with Madhubala, why there are page long articles about your "million dollar smile". Me who always took "pride" in the fact that I am out of the league, different than average, suddenly found I am part of them and I am thinking like them! I lost my "exclusivity" that day....and I became like million other fans you already had!

Since then I think I started liking your each and every movie (not necessary I saw them all..but I did read/discuss about them all for sure). After couple of average movies you started delivering hits in a row like Tridev-1989 (the Oye Oye still rings in my ears), Kishen Kanhaiyya-1989 (you showed your comical skill), and then with Dil-1990 it showed that you possess a great on screen chemistry with Amir Khan too (though I was hurt when Madhu Mehra falsely blames Raj). I liked your song and dance from Jeevan ek Sangharsh-1990. In that year itself then you gave two great performances and branded yourself forever as one of the greatest dancer of Indian Cinema.
One was Sailaab (1990) the famous koli dance of "humko aaj kal hai" and the other one from Thanedar (1990) "Tamma tamma loge". I was so amazed by your footwork. Only couple of weeks later "Jumma" would overshadow "Tamma", but believe me dancing with "beer mugs" was no where, compared to your number with "chairs". Forgive me, if I am again daring to compare two legends!

With Prahar-1991 you made an example of a lead heroine working without any makeup, 100 days-1991 (watched it during my vocational training at BHEL and saw how you excelled in a thriller too), Sajan-1991(what can I say about it..touched so deeply, Maybe it was sheer age, as I was trying to associate Pooja, Aman and Akash with real life persons in and around me), Beta-1992 (another great one from you, you must be knowing the fact when people went to watch it for second time just for Dhak-Dhak, well I think you created another benchmark there),Khalnayak-1993 (Watched it at Nagpur while train was 10 hrs late going to Bangalore for my 1st job. you looked great! and also who could have suited better than you in that Ila Arun's famous song) , HAHK-1994 (I was in Delhi then, watched at Satyam theater, now a major cineplex I heard, personally it wasnt something I liked but as long as you are there it was worth a watch always) , Anjaam (With SRK..first time. "Chane ke key khet mey" was great, and your resolve to get the revenge was ultimately portrayed), Yarana-1995 (that nusrat fateh ali number "mera piya ghar aya" was a great hit, but movie was a flop though), Mrityudand-1997 (my first movie at Singapore..nice to know that can see you outside India too!), Koyla-1997 (still wonder why did you sign for that "bundle" movie?) , DTPH-1997 (fantastic,watched with fiancee...and Family at Bhopal just one day after engagement. After marriage I got the VCD of it and both me and my wife being great Fans of yours watched it innumerable times since then. There is stark comparison of you versus Karishma, but to me you were always number one!), Pukar-2000 (havent seen it...but read you performed a song at Alaska wearing nothing but a black chiffon...wasnt it cold?), Gajgamini-2000 (M F Husain's experimental stuff...I am still to find someone who says has watched it without falling asleep). Devdas-2002 (I think this is the last movie I saw of yours.....and you were simply superb. People tried to compare Ash with You and I simply laughed at them.)

What else, unlike other "typical" fans, I never ever filled my room with huge poster of yours, but you know I came across something unique and very rare, at Sonam Photo Studio of Raipur. There I got your passport size photograph (black and white) and I carried that for long with me. Then at my first job I met another person would later become a very close friend of mine. And with in hours after meeting we found you are the common link for both of us..and soon I realized he is much a bigger admirer of yours than me! And you know what, on his birthday day couple of months later, I presented him that photograph. He was just speechless....and I believe he still has it with him. I did not feel bad about parting with this valuable possession of mine as I knew I was giving it to a true fan of yours.

When in late 1999 the news broke about your marriage plans to an NRI doctor based in US. many of us welcomed this news and felt good for you but at the same time were wondering if that means your retirement. But you soon made it clear that it was just the marriage but not a farewell to Bollywood. Though you were on and off from limelight, Bollywood and Media never forgot you and whole country celebrated when you became a mother and soon after your homecoming with husband and son.Then for a brief period there were look alikes of yours who tried to fill the vacuum like Niki Aneja or Antara Mali....but tell me can the legends be ever replaced. Meanwhile Ram Gopal Verma tried to make you immortal in his own way by making a movie bearing your name. ..See how everyone missed you!

So, it was a heartfelt welcome news when it was reported that you have started shooting for Yash Raj Films "Aaja Naachle-2007" scheduled for release later this year.

I wish you all the best for that and am sure it will be a great and memorable re-entry of yours in bollywood after a long gap of 5 years.

I would also like to wish you another thing " A very Happy Birthday to you, today being 15th May"

From: Your "taurian" fan who also shares the birthday with you.

---
references: sheer memory and internet movie data base (imdb)