‘Ek Hasina thi Ek Deewana tha’…the song which came to my mind, the morning when I was told to go to Patiala Court where Tina Ambani was to come as the witness in the 2G spectrum case.
Though I have never been a movie buff, the mere thought of her brought took me back in memory lane to some evergreen songs like Na Bole Tum, Na Maine Kuch Kaha; Suniye Kahiye and Zindagi Pyar ka Geet, just to name a few from her over 35 Bollywood movies she acted in during 70s and 80s.
The only other thing I knew was her link to My Fair Lady, which was the inspiration for Man Pasand, her movie with Dev Anand. My Fair Lady, considered as one of the greatest films ever, is based on Pygmalion, the story by George Bernard Shaw. The musical story is a commentary on the then existing British class system and how knowing English language became a class division and whole notion of being civilized. The film had won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
I, myself, have not seen the Hindi adaptation, but many of friends say it was a wonderful movie depicting the various notions related to our society and vividly described the class divide that existed. And Tina Munim, the name she carried before her marriage with now Reliance ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani, was a rage that time.
Now, let’s move on from movies and songs.
My first date with her was also a date with my life’s firsts. It was my first day of court reporting, and there I was, in the jam packed court with lawyers, journos and onlookers, to cover a matter which relates to my first beat – Telecom-- since I entered journalism. The first time I paid a ‘challan’ for parking the car in no-parking zone as there was no space otherwise or else I would have missed the chance of seeing the former actress live and not to forget, writing about her.
Once inside, my photographer told me that it was difficult to click her as she was guarded with umbrellas all around once she stepped onto court premises.
As a journo, I have been to many conferences where Bollywood actors and actresses have come as guests. But I was never tempted to click, but I guess the situation was different now.
With hustle and bustle, and amidst people trying to get a glimpse and an autograph of the graceful and charming lady, I clicked my first photograph for my work nervously. Surprisingly, the picture came out nice but did not get used as my photographer had managed to click one while she was leaving after an hour and half of being a witness in the high profile telecom case. The effort wasted!!! Nevertheless, the day had given me many firsts and took me down the memory lane for life’s first.
…. AND my first blog as well!!!
