I had some idea about his formidable personality, and I knew all about his great films, but I never had the opportunity to watch or meet him! I was a reporter at ‘Screen’ and used to interview small-time actors and filmmakers for birthdays, weddings and funerals! I was surprised when my Chief Reporter, Mr. R.M.Kumtakar told me one morning that I had to interview Dr.V.Shantaram!
Fixed the interview for 11 am the next morning. I went! And I had to be in his office exactly at 11 o’clock, because he was punctual!

I literally ran to reach Rajkamal Studio in Lalbagh! I was taken to Dr. Shantaram’s office and the first thing that attracted me was a cage of lovebirds, which I was later told was made of gold. I walked into his office to find him sitting like an emperor and after looking at his gold wristwatch, the first thing he said was ‘Young man, you are 1 minute late! I tried to tell him how difficult it is to reach anywhere on time in a city like Bombay when one spends hours in the crowd and traffic, but he made me feel comfortable and after asking for two cups of tea (which came in silver cups) tha), he started telling the story of his life!
He was telling me, how he used to carry cameras and other equipment on his shoulders from studio to studio in Kolhapur, and how He started producing films! I caught him looking at me from time to time and he finally said what I wanted him to say. He said, “Young man, you have neither brought any tempo recorder, nor are you taking any notes, then how will you remember everything I am saying.” I simply told him that I would like to inform him of the complaint. Will not give any chance!

We talked for more than two hours, he even came to drop me outside, but still there was a look of disbelief on his face!
I Wrote the article which was published in a full page, and I had forgotten everything after writing it, I was having lunch in my canteen when Mr. Kumtakar came to me and said, “Dimaag kharab Shantaram ji ka phone hai.” I told him I was having lunch now and asked him to ask Shantaram to call him later. Mr. Kumtakar was pulling his hair, and going crazy, until I accompanied him to his office. By then, I was under the impression that Shantaram was my friend’s driver, and it was he who was calling me. I took the phone and the voice on the other end said, “Good afternoon Mr. Ali, I am Shantaram, I don’t know how to thank you for writing such a wonderful article! I would like you to come again and have a cup of tea with me and please tell me how you remember all this.” And I said, “I mentioned a few words and all I did was tell him everything I knew, he laughed out loud and that was the beginning of an unusual bond between us, this was my conversation with great legends It was also the beginning.

We were having a party for the film industry at the Express Tower, and it was the first time that Mr. Ramnath Goenka, the founder of the Indian Express, had attended a party, I was standing in the crowd in the lobby where the guests were Got down from the cars and reached the elevator. I could see Dr. Shantaram’s huge and posh car approaching the lobby. And hardly had he stepped out of his car when he saw me and called me and said, “Mr. Ali, have you forgotten me? Come and meet me, I’ve wanted to see you for a long time.” He embraced me as if we were long-lost friends, and I don’t know why at that moment I remembered my mother, who I thought was emotionally thrilled to see her son in such great company. Will happen!
We kept meeting on various important occasions and not once did he show me any sign of being Dr.V.Shantaram, one such occasion was when his autobiography in Marathi, ‘Shantaram’ Plaza was released in cinemas and I clearly remember how Jeetendra who was shooting multiple shifts a day across the South, took out time to attend the event. Eventually Dr. Shantaram named him Jeetendra, and gave him his first offer to work as an extra in his film ‘Sehra’. And then cast her with her daughter Rajshree as his leading lady along with ‘Geet Gaya Patharon Ne’ hero Jeetendra?

I was once walking on the footpath outside the three theaters Oscar Amber and Minor in Andheri, when I saw a blue car coming. I was beyond words and any idea that this car contained the great Dr. Shantaram! I can’t imagine to this day how an 84 year old man can see me on that footpath, recognize me, and ask me for a lift in his car.
Another incident What I will never forget is that afternoon when Prince Charles visited his studio, and having a glimpse of his films and how turned out he was, Dr. Had asked Shantaram whether all the women standing in a gallery dressed in colorful clothes were his wives and Dr. Shantaram who had three wives was smiling and looking at them he had said, ‘Only three, not all.’

At the age of 85, he was very active and energetic and used to go for a walk every evening around his studio where his son Kiran used to follow him without saying a word and who once told me, ‘Look at Lalbagh. ‘s grandfather is going’. It was at this ripe age that he started a new film called ‘Jhanjhar’ with Padmini Kolhapure and V. Shantaram’s grandson Sushant Ray and only a few reels of it were shot!
a In the evening, he collapsed in his bathroom and was admitted to a Mumbai hospital from where he never came back alive!
His funeral at Sion Electric Crematorium was attended by a large number of people Which included all the big stars, ministers and others!

Today, after so many years, Rajkamal Studio is just a skeleton of what it was and the only memories of Dr. Shantaram are his two cars and his office decorated with photographs from his films and his albums!
And in one corner stands the monument built in his honour!
This is life, and I hope that some of my great friends of today realize this truth and Let them know what can help them live a better and more meaningful life!