The day I sat on MJ's lap

Aditya Thackeray, a self-confessed MJ 'devotee', recalls the day in October 1996 when Michael Jackson visited his home in Bandra

A lot of people will have wonderful memories of Michael Jackson's only visit to India in 1996. But Aditya Thackeray who was literally in the arms of the singer considers himself incredibly lucky.

Jackson had visited Matoshree during his trip and spent some time with the Thackeray family.

"That I like Michael Jackson is an understatement. People who know me call me his devotee and it's true," Aditya told MiD DAY yesterday.



Aditya came to know of Jackson's death through a friend early yesterday morning. "I initially thought the news of Jackson's death was a rumour. But when I switched on CNN, I couldn't believe what I saw," he said.u00a0

Book on MJ

And what's eerie is that on Thursday, Aditya was reading a book on MJ. The chapter was about the singer burning his hair while shooting a commercial in the 80s and being taken to hospital on a stretcher.
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"It's so ironic that I was reading that story and yesterday I saw his dead body being carried on a stretcher in a news clip. This is one of the saddest days of my life.

He is undoubtedly the biggest pop star and I am lucky that I got an opportunity to sit on his lap. Today, after hearing the news of his death, my heart was crying and I couldn't control my emotions," said Aditya.
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On his lap

Remembering the day he met Jackson, Aditya said, "When he first came to our house, I was in Std I and didn't know who he was.

But after he left, I realised that it was MJ whom I had seen performing on stage.

That day, I was sitting on my grandpa's (Bal Thackeray) lap and was surrounded by my cousins, when Jackson took me on his lap and posed for a group photograph.

MJ also went to the ground behind our house and clicked pictures with the guards." That picture still hangs on a wall in Aditya's room.

Skipping breakfast

Aditya's iPod has a full list of Jackson songs and since the last month, he has an MJ song as his caller tune.
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"My dad (Uddhav) knows how big a fan I am of MJ, he too likes him. I could not even eat breakfast yesterday.

The last time I did that was some time ago when I'd heard rumours that MJ was dead. My dad was concerned about me and called me during my college break to console me," he said.

MJ's best

Aditya's favourite Michael Jackson songs are Man In The Mirror, You Are Not Alone, The Way You Make Me Feel and They Don't Really Care About It.