| | | | Mini Mathur with husband, Kabir Khan | Cold as hell, breath taking, out of this world are some of the phrases that come to Mini Mathur's mind when asked to describe her visit to Afghanistan.
The Indian Idol anchor travelled alone to the country's capital, Kabul, to meet husband Kabir Khan and spend some time on the sets of his film, Kabul Express. Stark welcome
"The first thing that hits you the moment you step out of the plane is the cold air. It stings you, and makes you realise you are in a terrain that isn't the most welcoming.
The day I landed, the temperature was minus four; thankfully I was covered from head-to-toe in a jacket. Maria (Goretti) had been there before me, and gave me proper instructions on what to wear. She asked me to take my dirtiest boots and keep all my fancy clothes aside."
| | | Mini with a AK-47 perched atop a tank | Describing Kabul airport, she says, "It isn't one of the most good looking places you will come across. There are dangling wires, no shuttle buses to take you to the lounge… it's totally bombed out and wears a deserted look.
There is just one man at the immigration counter, surrounded by lot of security men. The journey to the airport, from the shoot location, was unbelievable. We were in SUVs that could beat the hell out of any jeep. They are sturdy, like tanks, and have giant wheels." Biwi ho to aisi
After meeting Kabir, Mini realised she had to get into wife mode and give her husband a makeover. "Kabir had grown out his hair and his beard. I had to make his trim his beard and get a decent haircut. In the evening, we went to an Afghani barber, who gave him a nice haircut and made him presentable. I was happy that I had made a difference with my arrival," she jokes. Afghani Idol
She recalls seeing the Afghani version of Indian Idol. "I didn't know they got Sony in that part of the country, and Idol is a popular show. In fact, they have their own version of the reality show, titled Sitare Afghan, that is shown on Solo TV.
Afghanis are huge fans of our actors. In fact, when John (Abraham) and I would drive around, we saw posters of him and Aishwarya Rai stuck on cars and doors. Also, they don't charge a single penny from you if they know you are an Indian." Naan time
Eating was another pastime Mini indulged in. "They were serving these huge naans, made of whole grain. In fact, three hungry people can eat one! Arshad loved having them with butter and sugar. And the famous Afghani kebabs were hard to miss. However, one had to eat the food off the hot stove — else by the time it reached our plates, it would turn into ice."
Tank graves
Perching atop an abandoned tank and holding an AK-47 in her hand was something Mini thought she would never do.
"The war has left many tank graveyards behind. Climbing to the top of one and holding a rifle makes you feel powerful; at the same time, you realise the repercussions of war. We would constantly see American helicopters fly past us in the sky, reminding us of the security conditions prevalent in the country."
Given a chance, will she go back to Kabul? "Of course, I would jump to such an opportunity. The beauty of Afghanistan hits you hard in the face, just like its chilly winds." tushar.joshi@mid-day.com |
Fan Fictions
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
