"I try and never say no to a young director whose approach and ideas I like. If they ask me to act in their film, I don't like to disappoint them," says actor Jackie Shroff whose short feature 'Shunyata' directed by Chintan Sarda we had the privilege
Jackie Shroff
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"I try and never say no to a young director whose approach and ideas I like. If they ask me to act in their film, I don't like to disappoint them," says actor Jackie Shroff whose short feature 'Shunyata' directed by Chintan Sarda we had the privilege of watching recently.
Though the film's plot is not highly original (an ageing hitman develops a close friendship with a young child poised between a world of innocence and the dark side), Sarda, who worked on films like 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues', and 'Don 2' as assistant director, shows great sensitivity in handling the subject, and Jackie as the weather-beaten no-gooder wrestling with inner demons has packed in an outstanding performance.
"My heart always desires education medicine food and shelter for children," said Shroff, when we spoke yesterday. "My character Madhur loses the plot because he does not want the little tea boy to go into Shunyata."
As it turns out, the iconic actor, who'd spent his childhood as a self-admitted roughneck ( albeit in the heart of Sobo's Teen Batti) has chosen to drop in at one of his favourite haunts, a restaurant at the Race Course which is witness to a poignant flag honouring ceremony as we speak. "I instinctively was drawn here. Mumbai and my country reside in the marrow of my bones," he tells us emotionally.
All Hands Up
Yesterday, almost as if it was the result of a conspiracy engineered by Nagpur, saw Independence Day coinciding with the Janmashtami and Dahi Handi festival.
Aadar Jain and Aanya Singh with the Sarnaik family
As part of the celebration, a crowd of over 10,000 people gathered at a ground in Thane to attend MLA and real estate developer Pratap Sarnaik's annual celebrations Among those who were there were Aadar Jain and Aanya Singh the YRF protégés whose debut film Qaidi Band releases next week. Jain was an invitee of Purvesh Sarnaik, son of the politician, who recently had turned film producer for designer Vikram Phadnis's Hrudayantar.
According to sources, the actor had the crowd eating out of his hands as he addressed them in Marathi and performed his track 'I am India'. Incidentally, we are informed that a new world record was set by a group of daredevils who took under a minute to break nine levels of the Dahi Handi pyramid!
Another Special Anniversary
Of course, yesterday was celebrated across the land as the anniversary of the nation's Independence. But, for a few, the day also marked the anniversary of another fortuitous date: when Abu Jani met Sandeep Khosla by chance at an Independence Day Brunch exactly thirty-five years ago.
Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla today (left) and in their youth; (right) Dame Judi Dench wearing an Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla creation
Both young men were recent entrants to the nascent fashion industry, from considerably different ends: Khosla, the Doon school educated son of a well-heeled clan from Punjab and Jani, the wildly creative aesthete son of a creative suburban Muslim clan. That this chance meeting resulted in so much artistry, harmony and beauty, not to forget one of the country's most successful design labels, is as much to do with the perfect matching of the two, as of luck.
If they had not met and forged a deep and enduring bond, so many things might never have happened: High society women might never have discovered their inner Mughal princesses; no one would have worn double pallav saris, or crinkled silk dupattas or extra-long chikan dupattas; then again, a swathe of young heiresses would have never been schooled in the niceties of serving high tea and society dos; and no one, no one, might have experienced candlelit rooms aglow with white mogra garlands and distressed wooden frames.
Which is why as the two celebrated designers ('Boys' as they are still referred to by some) clocked in the thirty-fifth anniversary of their wildly successful partnership, many took to social media with congratulations. Oh one more thing: Dame Judi Dench would have had nothing to wear to receive her numerous awards at marque presentations.
Independence and Pride
"Hamara Rashtra aaj sattar saal ka ho gaya and main bhi yeh baras sattar saal ka ho gaya hoon. (Our country turns seventy and along with it this year I, too, turn seventy) Jai Hind" said veteran journalist and iconic gay rights activist Ashok Row Kavi yesterday when he was asked to hoist the tricolour as the oldest member of the 250-strong colony of what he describes as 'the chaotic members from the journalist/media fraternity in Bombay'.
Ashok Row Kavi hoisting the Tricolour at Press Enclave in Sion
But, Row Kavi was more excited about the other annual ritual that marked his day: His Humsafar Trust's youth initiative 'Yaariyan' which held its 'Azadi Acceptance Day' in Prabhadevi. "The LGBTQ community brings family, friends and workmates for a meeting where they evoke and emote about their sexuality and gender identity," said the man who'd dedicated his life to the cause of gay pride.
"This year parents talked about how and when their children came out to them. There were poetry readings and suicide issues discussed by a panel," he said, adding "Attendance was 300 per cent. It was just a great, emotionally binding day."
A Poignant Note
Amidst the rah rah triumphalism and chest beating, a more nuanced note was set by Richard Holkar, scion of the erstwhile ruling family of Indore, the fabulous Holkars, yesterday.
The Holkar stamp
'Last stamp of Indore state, with my father's portrait', posted Richard on social media, along with a reproduction of the late Maharaja Yeshwantrao Holkar (1908-1961) who had been a legendary patron of the finest jewellery of his time (French jewellers such as Van Clef, Arpels, Chaumet and Moubassin had special exquisite jewellery pieces commissioned by him) and a collector of expensive cars.
Richard Holkar and Jugnu Singh at Ahilya Fort
It is easy to forget how, along with the rest of the country, the Maharajahs had been victims of the high-handed British Raj as well. (Their belittling at the hands of the political class was to come later). As a result of their diabolical machinations and court intrigues, many ruling clans like the Holkars had suffered unaccountable losses. The posting of the stamp commemorating his father yesterday was a poignant reminder.
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