My Friend, Parikshat Sahni's Dream Fulfilled

Ali Peter John

I had known Ajay Sahni which was the original name of Parikshat Sahni, the only son of one of the greatest Indian actors, Balraj Sahni who was a cult figure and an institution in himself. Ajay Sahni studied direction and editing in one of the best film schools in Moscow and then came back to try his talent in films.

But, before he could find a break as a director or an editor, he had started getting work as an actor and even though he was not very comfortable in the early stages, he soon picked up and was recognised as an actor with his own identity. He was recognised as one actor who could play characters with a depth. I will not go into the details of his career at this stage, but I will certainly at the right time...

I discovered a brilliant short story writer in him when one of his stories, ‘The Bitch' which was published by the late Khushwant Singh in his illustrious magazine called ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India'. The story had cast such a spell on me that I could never forget it and I don't think I ever will.

I had my second opportunity to know the writer in Parikshat as he was now called on the day Sanjeev Kumar had died. They had worked together in a film and some critics placed them both on the same pedastal and some even said that Ajay Sahni was a better actor....

We were returning home after attending the funeral of Sanjeev Kumar when I felt like putting the writer in him on test.I asked him to write a piece on Haribhai as Sanjeev was called. I wanted the piece within a day and the writer who was a hesitant and reluctant worst now decided to write and he had written a very warm piece about his very dear friend....

It was only around last year that we met after a long time and at a time when biographies were coming out almost every week, I asked Parikshat why he couldn't write a book on his father as he knew him. Again, he was a reluctant writer and I don't know why or how I kept pushing and prodding him to write, till he finally agreed.

I could never imagine that I could inspire someone as experienced as him, but I kept going. He showed me every chapter he wrote and I kept encouraging him to keep writing. There were times when he got disillusioned and wanted to get out of it, but I had to get him back to it because I saw it as my way of showing my respect both for the father and the son.

I kept my interest in his dream and made it my duty to make him write. Some time in between he wanted to know who would publish the book and I introduced him to a young man called Trushant Tamgaonkar, who was one of the managers of one of the best book shops in the suburbs, ‘Title Waves' run by a Christian organisation called St. Paul's and Trushant played a very vital role in convincing Parikshat that it could happen and within no time Parikshat had one of the best publishing houses, Penguin Random. My connect with Parikshat and his dream project continued and he was nearing the completion of the book.

The publishers wanted someone known and good to write the foreword to the book. It did not take me a minute to think of the busiest man and in the industry or anywhere else, at seventy-six, Amitabh Bachchan. Parikshat was again reluctant, but I knew how big a fan Amitabh was of Balraj Sahni. We wrote a personal letter to Amitabh and the busy as busy can be Big-B not only agreed but sent the foreword within days. The writing continued....

The time to release the book was at hand and the publishers had their own choice of people to release the book, but I remember taking about how the book should also be released by Amitabh and we were in for a big surprise when Amitabh agreed and only asked for the late and the protocol to be followed. Our long battle seemed to be nearing victory....

And now Parikshat's book on his father titled ‘The Non Conformist is scheduled to be released by Amitabh at the Taj Lands End on September 7. And w

ill Parikshat be a happy man that day and all the days of his life? When does a son get a chance and have the will to pay his respects and honour his great father?

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