Mahaan swargiya Shri P K Bajaj-Sirjee-- hamare dilon mein sadaa zinda rahenge !! By Sr. Journalist Chaitanya Padukone

It was very saddening and shocking when I received the message from Shri Ghanshyam-jee on last week Thursday afternoon that the film-magazine Mayapuri and LotPot Publisher-Chief Editor Shri Parmod Kumar. Bajaj ( whom we respectfully also called "Bau-jee)  had passed away! Om Shanti!

But for me, swargiya Bajaj-Sir-Jee will always be Alive both in my fond memories and in my heart. This year as a mark of respect and mourning I did not participate in any of the Holi Utsav 2026 celebrations in Mumbai.

As is known, mahaan Shri P K Bajaj was a leading inspiring figure in Hindi film journalism and headed the S.L. Publications group since the mid-60s. His demise has created a huge creative vacuum and has left the film fraternity and publishing world in grief. . Film celebs like Anupam Kher, Chunky Pandey,  director Madhur Bhandarkar , film-makers Pahlaj Nihalani, Ashok Tyagi,and many more have conveyed their respectful condolences to me.!

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Under his dynamic leadership, Mayapuri maintained its unique iconic identity and reputation as one of the most popular film industry magazines for past over 52 years with its amazing informative and entertaining content. Every week  loyal Readers would get to read latest film industry news, nostalgic flash-back articles-stories on film-legends, analysis, top-star interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories. Numerous young acting and creative crew aspirants were inspired to pursue careers in film after reading Mayapuri and under the leadership of Shri P K Bajaj the magazine gave excellent coverage to upcoming new star-aspirant actors and directors His dynamic father, Shri A.P. Bajaj, founded the magazine, and son Shri P.K. Bajaj took forward its legacy, establishing the esteemed publication group's maximum credibility and popularity. 

His dynamic son,publisher-editor Shri Aman Bajaj, now leads the group of Mayapuri publication,LotPot publication, Mayapuri Cut digital, and digital bolly.com.

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As a free-lancer regular eminent film-journalist-columnist attached to Mid-Day newspaper since 1983 and later on with  DNA newspaper, I  first met and interacted with Shri P K Bajaj  ( 18 years ago) at the film media late evening event of Aamir Khan starrer movie 'Ghajini' (2008) at Hotel Taj Lands End Bandra, Where both Bajaj Sir and I spoke to the film-hero Aamir Khan and after the party, we both left together in my personal car towards Andheri area, , During our conversations, modest-nature Bajaj-Sir requested me to contribute film and film-music based exclusive articles written in English to his magazine, Which I agreed and in 2009 perhaps first time Mayapuri published English articles written by me in January 2009 about R D Burman Memorial Chowk in Santacruz which were inaugurated by legends Asha Bhosle-Didi and Gulzar-saab in presence of various other celebrities.

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Thereafter Shri P K Bajaj Sir was regularly in touch with me on phone and from August 2019, Bajaj-Sir requested me to contribute regular topical news-articles and research-based exclusive articles ( (like the 'Come September' English song used in many Hindi movie songs)  in English bollyy.com which were translated in Hindi for Mayapuri  Since I had high respectful regards for Devata-samaan Bajaj-Sir I did not even ask him about monetary payments. But later I told him that I do not wish to take any payments from him.. Almost every Wednesday evening  Shri Bajaj-Sir would send me the screen-shot in advance of the proposed Cover-Title page of Mayapuri ( published every Friday evening) and ask for my creative inputs or suggestions, which I would always give him.

The frank-nature yet 'bade-dil-wale' Shri Bajaj-Sir was my well-wisher and he always encouraged me and told me that he always appreciated my creative Punch-Lines 'tadkaa' ( thats what he called them)  in all my news-article headings and first paragraph of my news-articles which I would send to him every week.  .

Shri Bajaj-Sir with his caring nature was delighted to know that I was invited as a participating eminent Speaker- Delegate at the Global Festival of Journalism by Dr Sandeep Marwah-- the Founder-President-Chancellor AAFT for the international event Which was held in NOIDA-Delhi in the AAFT Campus on February 16, and 17th in year  2023. So Bajaj-Sir insisted and requested me to personally visit the Mayapuri Editorial Office both on the way from the airport and while returning to the Delhi Airport. It was such a wonderful  memorable experience of 'apnapan'  for me to meet and courteously interact with P K Bajaj-Sir, MD and CEO Aman Bajaj-Sir,, Shivank Arora-Jee and then with all the Editorial staff and especially Shri Ghanshyam-jee.,

I will always Miss his incoming regular phone calls, long conversations and watsapp messages from swargiya Shri P K Bajaj-Sir ------who will always be Alive in my fond memories..

My sincere Best Wishes to dynamic MD and CEO Aman Bajaj-Sir,  innovative Shivank Arora-Jee and dedicated Shri Ghanshyam-Jee.,and Entire Editorial Staff that they carry forward the great, grand, glorious legacy of 'cultural phenomenon'  Mayapuri LotPot Manyapuri Cut and digital bollyy.com with greater enthusiasm, passion and diligence and ensure that The Mayapuri- SHOW MUST GO ON and ON--Always!