Salman has no fears of a fatwa or life anymore

By Subhash K Jha

Eminent novelist Salman Rushdie has left his fears of a fatwa completely behind. He now travels all over the world fully freed of fear.

Rushdie was in Mumbai on December 5 and 6 with filmmaker Deepa Mehta. The two are collaborating on a film version of Rushdie's Midnight's Children.

Among the Bollywood clan that Rusdhie visited during his two-day stay in Mumbai was Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Shahana Goswami and Shabana-Javed Akhtar.

Deepa Mehta who accompanied Rushdie through his Bollywood yatra says he loved every minute of his stay in Mumbai.

"As far as I could see there's no fear to his life. He travels in a relaxed atmosphere. I couldn't see any security arrangememts. Salman loved every minute of his stay in Mumbai. He loved meeting Mr Bachchan whom he was really keen to meet."

Rushdie and Mehta have been friends for as years now. "We haven't become associated because of Midnight's Children. We know each from long before. In fact he allowed his book to be filmed by me only because his comfort level with me is so high."

Rushdie has collaborated on the screenplay of Midnight's Children with Deepa. He's also taken a keen interest in the film's casting which began with Shabana Azmi last year.

As more and more names get added to the cast Rushdie is expected to return to Mumbai more often.