USS DIN JET AIRWAYS KI FLIGHT NUMBER 187 DILLI KE LIYE MUJHE SALMAN NE ZARA SA DARRA DIYA THA .... By Ali Peter John

It was one of those awards functions in New Delhi organised by a former journalist called Narendra Handa under the banner of Punjabi Kala Sangam - Ali Peter John

It was an event which could not happen without the active cooperation of Rakesh Nath ( Rikku , the well-known manager of actors like Anil Kapoor , Ranjeeta , Madhuri Dixit , Salma Agha and many others ).

The awards were given to any star or director , writer , music director , song writer and film journalist Rakesh Nath could bring to Delhi and attend the awards function at the Siri Fort Auditorium and live for a day and night at the Holiday Inn ( now defunct )

I was the journalist who was privileged to receive the award for the best film journalist . All the hopeful winners , including Madhuri Dixit , Salman Khan and Anupam Kher and Kader Khan were flying to Delhi on the same flight .

There was a spirit of a grand holiday or a picnic on the flight . Then Rakesh Nath who was a very dear friend called out my name , and said , " Ali ,tu kahan baitha hai " ? And I suddenly heard the voice of Salman Khan with whom I already had a panga on the sets of Rakesh Kumar's "Suryavanshi" and I expected some trouble or at least some embarrassment and that is exactly what happened .

"Kya woh mahaan journalist Ali Peter John issi flight par hai ? Mujhe unke paon chhune hai . Woh sach mein mahaan hai . Jo journalist mujhe chhe mahino tak meri band baja sakta hai , woh sach mein mahaan hoga" . The attention of all the passengers was on me and I have never felt so embarrassed in my life .

Fortunately for me Salman did not create a major scene for me on the flight or even at the Holiday Inn or the Siri Fort Auditorium .

There were attempts made by Amitabh Bachchan , Rajnikant and the major part of the industry to resolve the panga between Salman and me , I was willing to go to any extent to see that the ban on Salman was lifted , but my editor who had banned Salman was adamant .

Till it was time for the release of Rajshri's. "Hum Aapke Hai Koun" and the film desperately needed publicity .

When the Barjatya brothers came to know about the ban imposed on Salman by Screen which was the most important publication to publicise any film , all the four brothers came to my editor with folded hands and asked her to lift the ban and after several rounds of talks over several rounds of tea , my editor agreed to publish a still of Hum Aapke Hain Koun , but the ban on Salman continued till all was settled and the right apologise were made in the right places .

AISA KABHI HO SAKTA THA, MAINE USS PANGE KI SUBAH KABHI SOCHA NA THA