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by Sharad Rai
My journey into journalism hadn’t fully begun yet. After leaving the Indian Navy Dockyard (Mumbai), I would often visit the "Madhuri" office, which was located a short distance from the Times of India building, with my friend, Man Singh Deep (now a film producer, but then a journalist). At that time, Vinod Tiwari was the editor of the film magazine Madhuri (who later became the head of entertainment at Sony TV). Vinod encouraged me to write, and I wrote a few articles for daily newspapers under the pen name Sharda Rai ‘Soni’. Soni was my pseudonym.
Those were the days of unfulfilled dreams for me. I wasn’t satisfied with my job in defense and was drawn to meeting people in the film industry. Back then, the Pompous and Gazebo restaurants on Linking Road in Bandra were popular hangouts for struggling film artists. Every evening, the film fraternity gathered there, exchanging news about what was happening in the industry. During the 80s and 90s, mobile phones weren’t common in India, and anyone who had an MTNL landline was considered a star. This spot became the go-to place for everyone to share the latest film gossip.
It was here that I met many important people for the first time, including Nida Fazli, Junior Mahmood, Master Raju, Bablu Mukherjee, Raj Shekhar Upadhyay (who played Jambavan in Ramayan), and director Sunny Kapoor, who became my friend during those days. It was also here that I met Shrawan of the famous music duo Nadeem-Shravan for the first time.
Over time, this hangout spot shifted from Pompous to the Sahakar Bhandar restaurant, which was conveniently located near the railway station. “Let’s meet at Sahakar Bhandar” became a common phrase among aspiring film industry people. It became a regular spot for anyone who wanted to make it in the industry. I would often head there directly after leaving my defense job.
It was at Sahakar Bhandar that I met Raman Pandey, who later became Ravi Kishan’s father-in-law. Raman Ji, a prominent and influential PRO (Public Relations Officer), introduced me to many others. Ravi Kishan also lived nearby, where his family ran a dairy shop. At Sahakar Bhandar, I met several journalists and PR professionals who worked closely with the film industry, such as K. M. Srivastava, S. Khan, Z. A. Jauhar, A. S. Mehta, Shivji Gupta, Kishan Sharma, Vikrant Jafari, Mantruj, Gulrez, Tanveer Zaidi, Shiv Kumar Tiwari, Anil Pandey, Prem Shukla (now a BJP spokesperson), and many more. Most of them were journalists with a deep connection to the film world.
I also met several PROs like Brajesh Dubey, Dinesh Patil, B. K. Verma, Gyan Sharma, and Raju Karia. Sajad Ali and Ojha published the Film Directory, while producers and directors like Suresh Khanna were regulars. Photographers like Munir Khan, Raju Upadhyay, Jagdish Aurangabadkar, and Suresh Jethwa were also often seen around. This was the place where press people and promoters would gather to exchange the latest news. The restaurant also served as a meeting point for struggling boys and girls trying to make it in the film industry. From 5 pm to 10 or 11 pm, this was the most famous spot for film lovers and aspirants. There was a unique pleasure in meeting and talking to people here.
It was during these days that I found myself sitting in Shashi Kapoor’s office in Janki Kutir, Juhu, one evening, right across from Prithvi Theatre. The interview time had been allocated for another journalist (whom I choose not to name), but I had told my colleague that I would ask the questions. Sitting before me was the very star I had seen on screen countless times. Back then, Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan were a hit pair, with Shashi Kapoor featuring alongside Amitabh in almost every other film. In fact, fans were crazy over one of Shashi Kapoor’s famous dialogues from the movie Deewaar: "Mere paas maa hai..."
Here I was, sitting across the very star who had delivered that iconic line, and he was now casually asking me, "How many spoons of sugar in your tea?" This was a surreal moment for me. As we spoke, he shared with me a philosophy of life that left me astounded. Shashi Kapoor, with his calm demeanor, seemed like a true master of the art of living. He spoke about his father, Prithviraj Kapoor, his brothers Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, his wife Jennifer, his sons Kunal and Karan, and his daughter Sanjana—each of them leading their own unique lives. He beautifully explained what true zest for life truly meant.
In that conversation, I realized something profound: film stars were not just performers, dancers, or entertainers. They were deeply sensitive, intellectual individuals as well. I had never seen a film personality with such wisdom and understanding of life before. For the first time, I understood that they could be more than just their on-screen personas.
As we were leaving his office, Shashi Kapoor walked with us to the gate of the cottage. Pointing to the next cottage, he said, "Shabana ji lives here." He immediately corrected himself, saying, "I mean, the family of Kaifi Saab (Shabana’s father, the poet Kaifi Azmi)."
This interview, which I got through another journalist's assignment, changed the course and direction of my life. That very day, after returning home, I announced that I was quitting my job at the Naval Dockyard and moving forward with a career in journalism. This decision was final. After that, I freelanced for Madhuri magazine and several daily newspapers, while also completing the academic education I had left behind. After pursuing my post-graduation in Hindi literature from Mumbai University, I registered as a research scholar, and my studies continued while my writing career flourished across various publications and magazines in the country.
I wrote in every genre—stories, crime, short stories, and on films. But honestly, I found peace and satisfaction only when writing about films. Perhaps that’s why I kept writing about movies, and perhaps it’s the true addiction of a film lover.