A Date with the dream.....
“ITNI SHIDDAT SE MAINE TUMHE PAANE KI KHWAHISH KI HAI ..... KE HARR ZARRE NE MUJHE TUM SE MILANE KI SAAZISH KI HAI........”
– Courtesy “OSO”
21st Feb 2008 5:30 AM
I was lying in my bed struggling hard to sleep, because this was not the usual time for a sleepy personality like to get up. Finally after an hour of struggling i decided to just get up and fag.... i went across the small lobby (In our Lokhandwala 3bhk House) to my friend Kedia’s room to fetch a sutta.... I loved to fag while sitting on the edge of the roof on the rear side of our house. It was a usual morning for me, i had a full schedule at my hand, was going for my first film shoot as an assistant director at Filmistaan studios goregaon .
I was deeply engrossed in thoughts as to how the life has changed for me, an ongoing MBA degree at NMIMS, Mumbai and an Assistant director to a Bollywood debutant, though seems to have no inter-connection but by this time have become the reality of my life. Gazing the sky, busy with my thought process, I never knew that a phone call was about to change my life.
No it was not a call from God.. Like the one in “One Night at a Call Centre”... But it was a call from Ashith (My chief Asst. Director) who indeed was next to god for me after the message he delivered.
We were going to picturize a scene, with Raj Kapoor and Nargis , backdrop from the movie barsaat (Remember the famous still where both of them stand staring at each other under an umbrella in the rain) the scene was suppose to be shot between Manisha Koirala and a model. Ashith called me up to inform me that Rohit (our director) wants to shoot the scene with Manisha Koirala and MEEEEEEEEE.... Wasnt able to believe what i heared... it was a good two scene shoot... and that too opposite an actress like Manisha koirala..... (Though I am not fond of her but still... Cmmon shez a star from yesteryears) At first it loked like some kind of a prank but Ashith was serious on that one ... He went on “ dude rohit saw your screen test video, he liked it and moreover u have some experience in acting too ....so just gearup and be there at the studio sharp at 8 30”....
The call ended .... but the mixed feeling of happiness and nervousness started building on somewhere within me .... I just slided down stairs and got all ready for the shoot, and kickstarted my blue pulsar at around 8 . At around 8:30 i reached the main gate and with broad chest gazed at the big board saying “Filmistaan” .... OOOOO MYYYY GOOOOOOOD....this was something i always dreamt of , but i knew this very well that this day is no ordinary day and have lots of new things coming my way. ...
On the Entry the Schedule chart depicted the shootings on for the day.... OOOOKays so i had Salmaan Khan, Katrina and Anil kapoor shooting for Yuvraaj on the neighbouring floor... U know may be i should just drop by to say hi to sallu and kat.... J .... and my beautiful thoughts were shattered by the course voice of Shahdaab Hussain (Executive producer) “ Abbe Ch###ye abhi board hi dekhta rahega ke anadar aane ka bhi plan hai”.... I don’t understand one thing... why cant people in the industry utter a word without abuses ..anyways.
As i arrived three assistants from my team came to me... in order give me a brief about the two scenes i was going to shoot ... and seriously onlookers felt as if i am the next big thing in film industry ... J I wasn’t given a vanity van but an old makup room next to the shooting floor... i was too excited to mind all that anyways. It was a small room, with a bed, a small sofa and a big well lit dressing table. Soon a guy named munna entered the room with 4 dresses (shirt-pants) and asked me to choose.. while i was in the process the makeup man arrived to give me the foundation makeup, the otherone brought tea and stuff ....... OOOOKAYS to cut it short .....I FELT LIKE GOD............
I was playing a part of a hero from 50s ..... the makeup was over and then i was given the information that Manisha and Gulshan da are ready so i should get going for the floor.
The heartbeat was rising with every step i was taking towards the studio door..... finally with a creak sound i opened the door to see a whole new world.... it was a beautiful set designed by Bjon das gupta ... completely black in backdrop and two beautiful horse carts..... on one side of the studio rohit introduced me to gushan da (gulshan grover) and Thomas Xavier the cinematographer....
I was asked to just feel the properties on the set in order to get hold of the environment.... and i was just roaming on the set.... when suddenly the door opened and Manisha koirala arrived in a pink saree.... though shez old now but..... was looking oooooooo.... anyways .... Rohit introduced me to manisha and discussed with us the scene he was about to shoot..... after a discussion we decided to go for a first take..... i got on the cart and as a gentleman... that i am offered manisha a hand..... and oooooops there i felt what is it like holding a superstar’s hand J.... As i was busy looking at her...with the count of three the rain (obviously artificial) was on set and with one thumbs up i got to her my first ever..... Silence.... Sound...rolling.... Camera...rolling and ACTION......
Trust me a chill ran down ma spine, i immediately forgot that i was wid manisha.... and she just became just a co-actress for me..... For the next 50 seconds there was no sound not even the sound of breathing..... i was looking at her as she was my beloved from ages..... The intensity of acting was building up and making me realise that without even uttering a word how can we make differences of a lifetime.....Suddenly there came a sound........ CUT....Print. (What the F##k i felt as if someone has taken life out of my body).....The scene was okayed in first go..... but somehow i wanted more.. J ..... Next scene was an individual scene.... that too was okayed in two shots......
The shoot was packed up for the day..... But the best part happened while on my way to the makeup room ..... Manisha was just bidding good bye to all called me and said.....” dude that was good stuff.... way to go... all the best”.... and there i was the most satisfied and happy person on this earth.... I just went back humming some stupid song like a 5 years old kid.... and taking words of appreciation from all...... Now was the time to return to the real self ....makup gone..... bole toh bhaade ke kapde gaye ...hair-style change...... Back to the same dusky Vaibhav... J
I thought that this was enough for me to digest for the day.... but picture toh abhi baaki thi mere dost....... just as i came out of the makeuproom to the internal road of filmistaan..... there was my dream gal....KATRINA KAIF... walking out of her studio floor......ooooooooooooooooooooooooooh please god don’t give me so much in just one day......
I just unlocked ma bike and drove back home with a feeling of satisfaction.....and yeah got a warm welcome from all ma buddies bk home....
8:30 PM (131,Lakshmi kripa, Lokhandwala)
I was back on the roof with a sutta in ma hand ....gazing at the stars.....suddenly a sad feeling gripped my heart.... i saw myself all alone.... the most important person in my life wasn’t there with me today when i needed her the most.....
Kuch zyada senti nhi ho gaya?????......... but yes its true....I dnt know when will cheherey (the movie) l get to hit the silver screen ... but yes this movie gave me that one date with my dreams.... that i will cherish for ever.....
With warm regards to
Rohit Kaushik Ji ( My Mentor and Director)
Bruce (AM Movies UK)
Faizan Hussain (Associate Producer)
Ashith D Balal (2nd A.D.)
Altaf Ansari (Chief A.D.)
