Pride & Prejudice

Bohemian Bahu

What baggage comes as a part of being a celebrity -- fame-success-money and a big swollen head? Swollen with pride, at times with vanity, which most of the times borders on arrogance? You have the world at your feet, you feel invincible, in short every morning when you look in the mirror I'm sure it says, "I'm the king of the world."

More than often I've seen people lose touch with reality, believing that their fame, their fortune would be unending. I've seen stars treat the gentry as the nuisance value their job carries. I still can't get over an old woman who stood for four hours to catch a glimpse of her favourite TV star only to be ignored when he finally emerged from his posh make-up van.

I remember the hurt, dejection on her face and wondered if we actors even realised how blessed we are. Fiction being played night after night on screen makes us a part of someone's reality, their dreams, their aspirations, and their expectations.

Every time I appear on screen, I do so for it is not only my job, but also my passion. Instead of being grateful for the love, the adulation, how many times have I turned my face away, broken hearts, how many times have I been unkind?

A man in his late 30s recalls how a reigning superstar came to his village when he was just a child. How even though not paid too, the star danced much to the delight of the villagers, shook hands with everyone, no matter how dirty, no matter how poor. He sang and danced away into their hearts to be worshipped forever.

I remember them talking about his misfortune, his decline with kind words and a prayer on their lips and the joy when he rose to reign again. Yes, most discuss Amitabh Bachchan, the star, the legend.

But if you look closer you might learn a thing or two about the human being.

To choose to stand up for what he felt right and wage a battle in court to uphold his family's honour, to lose every penny in his pocket, and gather the courage to take that walk to Yash Chopra to ask for a job. To pay back every rupee borrowed by his company when most would declare bankruptcy and walk away from the bad dream.

How many of us would find the resolve, the courage to walk that path? When I hear the old boy's tale I understand why they always say, good things happen to good people. They stand the test of time unflinching, dignified. A true measure of a man is not how he treats other when he is successful, but how he behaves when life is nothing but a challenge, a battle every minute.

Some say it's the brilliant stars he was born under; others credit his lineage. But I think it's the blessings, the goodwill he earned as a human being that helped him withstand the test of time.

There are many who have been measured before and found wanting, many who dwindle with time. All I know is that when I am called upon the only excuse I find myself giving is, "I am not Amitabh."