I Am What I Am Because Of MJ: Prabhudeva

The dancing star shares with Kavitha Kumar the fleeting but life-changing hug that he shared with his God, Michael Jackson, 13 years ago

Michael Jackson is the reason I am where I am today.

I owe all my dreams to him. I was just another Michael Jackson fan, but in October 1996, Anupam Kherji phoned me in Chennai one morning and said, "Your guru is here.

Come to Mumbai fast to meet him." I was going to meet Michael Jackson! What happened next

Jab they met

Anupam Kher shares with MiD DAY what made the Prabhudeva-MJ meeting possible

At Bharat Shah's party in Oberoi Hotel, Kher broke MJ's security cordon, vaulted up the stage to shake his hand and shouted, "I love your music."

Before the security guards could hustle him, Bharat Shah intervened and said to Jackson and his guards that he was India's greatest actor. Hearing this, MJ took a bow.

Later, Kher begged Shah to arrange a meeting for Prabhudeva. Yes, the meeting did take place, if only for five minutes.

Michael Jackson is the reason I am where I am today. I owe all my dreams to him.

I was just another Michael Jackson fan, but in October 1996, Anupam Kherji phoned me in Chennai one morning and said, "Your guru is here. Come to Mumbai fast to meet him." I was going to meet Michael Jackson!

Shaking hands

I dropped everything I was doing and got on the first available flight. I went straight to the hotel where the King was staying and was taken to his room. He hugged me, shook hands with me. I was too overwhelmed to react, and had tears in my eyes. Our meeting lasted only for a few minutes.
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I don't even have a photograph of that life-changing incident. Through your paper, I appeal to anyone who has it to share it with me because that meeting is my lifetime achievement.
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Aping Jacko

As a kid, I danced like a crazy man to Beat It from Thriller. I was too poor to own his music videos, but every song is in my mind and in my heart. I have grown up dancing to his songs. Every time I dance, there is a little of Michael Jackson in my moves.

Michael was the ultimate performer. He was a lion on stage. No one can ever match up to him. Comparisons of the legend and me genuinely pain me. I am nothing compared to him.

Deeply grieved

I am really sad that I didn't get another opportunity to meet my inspiration. I travelled to the US several times after that Mumbai meeting when my fortunes changed, but I did not know how to get in touch with Michael.
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I am deeply grieved that media treated Michael poorly when he was alive and is now feting him in death. But adedha valkai, ille? (Isn't that life?)