When the lights came on ...

My parents moved to Sakleshpur from our Yelwaal farmhouse when I was in the fourth standard. Since there were no good schools at that hill station back then, I was sent off to live with my grandparents in Mysore city . Every holiday - summer and christmas, was out there in the hills, with Pappa and Mamma. For the first three years, they didn’t have electricity... Pappa however adapted and his missus followed suit - I have strong memories of how the bungalow looked back then.. White candles, beautiful wild flowers , gaslights and torches and battery operated cassette players that played a great array of music, from Boney m (mamma) to Mohd Rafi (Pappa).. Reading books and cookouts and bonfires were how we spent evenings n nights! For me, from the world of mtv and Cartoon Network, bollywood movies in theatres, kings kourt and southern star dinners in mysore, I was suddenly introduced to my parents world. Listening to music, going trekking with picnic baskets that mamma took great interest in making,n then looking at the glorious sunset from up the hill, walks in nature, light candles when dusk falls and then stare at the fireflies in the jungle, play board games, read books, watch wild elephants silently pass through the front of our house , go swimming in the lake the next morning after breakfast … I was bored. Mind you- I am talking about the 90’s , 94- 96 to be precise . I marched upto my father one afternoon and announced that I was bored, in this coffee estate nestled in the midst of a jungle- that had ‘nothing’ to offer. His reply would always be ,”when i was a kid, I dint know a word called ‘bored’ existed , we used to invent new games and entertain ourselves back in the day, go do the same “ . Eventually , by 96, we had electricity. We had a fridge that would store everything from milk to readymade soups and condiments ,to frozen meat. Our boardgames and cards went back to the book shelf and a fancy tv took its place that would now air channel v and sony. Our candles were stacked away for that occasional power cut. We didn’t listen to music on our stereos cos entertainment was available 24/7 in the form of cable tv and vcr’s. We didn’t gaze at the starlit nights and the firefly filled woods cos, the lights had come on...

I am an Actress!

One balmy Sunday afternoon I had an encounter with a couple that tried to get to know me... "Hi - what do u do?" "Me?, well Im an actress" Bazoonga!!! I could already see a thousand opinions being formed, a thousand suppressed expressions, a wry smile appear before the next almost condescending comment, "Oh nice!" Why? Why do I even feel that I should make up an imaginary profession before I go to a new city or meet new people.. ? Why do you guys bastardize my profession and form a zillion opinions about me before you even try and get to know who I am... Can’t blame you though.. We have always been projected as a "type" haven’t we? Probably one reason why my folks wouldn't let me get into this profession and argued with me for close to a year before they gave in! Its different now ,they respect the art as they have had a chance to see what lies beneath the glitz n glamour. Sweat, blood, feverish passion, teamwork(thats right) , grit, determination.. I can go on and on.. Why am i writing this? 'Cos if another cliched question or joke about actress’ come’s my way,I might just burst.. Into a fit of rage, into a bout of crying, into delirious laughter... Oh, these emotions are part of the Navras ,by the way, nava -9 , rasa - essence, 9 emotions used in our day to day life, used to convey our essential mental state .Did you know that ,dear type-caster? I remember going to an underground stand up comedy show in NYC and me and my 2 Indian friends who reside there, over enthusiastically took the table right in the front row! He went on to pick on us (but of course) , asked for our nationality, and when we said India, he asked us ,with much sarcasm, if we were a bunch of doctors or engineers. The other two went quiet because they were engineers,however they very sweetly pointed at me and said "she is an actress" ! What happened next was a banal 15 minute session of jokes about how he'll make me famous in hollywood if I 'hung' out with him ! It was funny though.. But as this man went on with it, he again made me wonder if this is a global phenomena! Again, dear reader, why am I writing this.. Maybe after 5 years in this glorious industry of mine that has given me so much, it pains me that you still think that my job is petty and that I am someone who reads and quotes cosmo and knows nothing about matters of the world! That said and done ,may I add, I have also learnt to be compassionate against Judge Simons like you. I control my aversion, and continue to love my profession.. Oh - by the way, compassion, aversion and love, these emotions are the other 3 parts of the nava rasas… And yes, I love Cosmo, I read it in my spare time when my eyes burn out from watching Ted talks videos and when I need to get my mind off Atlas Shrugged for a bit! Hey did you know that nail polish dries out faster if you put hairspray on it?

Karan and I

The first memories I have of him and me ,are us getting dressed up for a photoshoot in the farm! He was supposed to hold a gun n wear my grandpa's army beret, guess he was playing army man, and I was supposed to be in a pink frock .. Well, I think I was playing girly girl! I dont know what exactly happened after that 'cos in the photo it was me holding onto the gun n wearing the beret - complete with a 'stern army man' look on my face and he was just standing next to me in his shirt and shorts, looking a bit disappointed! Those were the few years when I was the taller one .. Also being a year older might have given me the freedom to bully him, but then i still do that anyway ;) Karan then went onto become tall.. Taller than everyone in the family.. The next summer when he came over to spend time with us , I remember this tall lanky bean pole ,jumping off the jeep , extending hand for a handshake n saying 'Hello'! Damn, did he just grow really tall? Does this mean I cant bully him anymore? As all these thoughts were building up, I heard his mom say, "Where are all the chocolates that we bought for nidhi ?" . He looked at me with straight face n said, "I ate em up on the way. Its all over. Sorry." ( I swear I heard a menacing laugh after that) That summer was much fun, much fun 'cos till date all those memories are as fresh as if it happened yesterday... (and to think my friends chide me now 'cos I forget peoples names n faces easily!!!) That year my dad had bought me a pair of roller skates and Karan n I decided to learn how to skate (after calling truce about the chocolate thingy of course) . Now every afternoon when our parents would nap, we would be out there on the coffee drying yard , trying our skills at being the next champions of India! After 3 days of falling flat on our faces - literally, we decided to improvise n create a new game! He would sit on the skates n I would pull him around , like a chauffer , and give him a grand trip of the glorious yard. Guess he found it boring 'cos when it was my turn to sit on the skates in a squatting position kinda way, he gave one big mighty push n I was headed straight towards a pit with nothing to hold onto to stop myself! I guess instinct kicked in and I broke the speed by sitting on my, well, for the loss of a better word - bum , and got dragged a few metres anyway, dangerously stopping just before the big fall! After that, I wanted to beat him up. Even more, when dad applied hydrogen peroxide on the wound! By the way, a bottle of hydrogen peroxide was my dads 'go to' for any one of me or my cousins who got hurt! I still shiver when I see a bottle ! He would kill me now if I didnt mention what happened the summer after that 'cos this story is complete only after this incident (according to him)! So, another over zealous cousin had invented a new game where you take a handful of ice cubes and tie it to the end of a long piece of cloth, hold onto the other end n twirl it around (full throttle) n throw it at a fruit /window/annoying aunt or whatever we were aiming for! It was really exciting, 5 of us twirling rocks of ice , feeling like we were out there hunting for mankind. Now , Karan , who till now was in the kitchen drinking bournvita, comes out of nowhere, walks straight upto me to inform that my bournvita is going cold n that I should go in quickly to drink it and WHACK! His head gets hit by my ice weapon! What happened afterward was a blur of aunts rushing in, yelling at us- especially at that other guy who invented the game, tending to the bump on Karans head, and well.. Reheating and drinking the bournvita that had gone cold! Till date , whenever I mention the skating story, he impatiently waits for me to finish , narrates the 'summer after that' story n completes it with 'And thats how she took her revenge!' .Ass! After a few years he came to Mysore city for his engineering and I automatically became his tour guide and mentor, to educate him about important things like where exactly from the hill is the view perfect for watching the palace get illuminated every sunday, where to park your bike at the first cafe coffee day that had opened recently, where all the cool boys n girls would hang out.. And introduce him to the amazing biryani at RRR and the burgers at downtown! So on n so forth.. We were in the same college.. At that time when ragging was at a peak in the boys hostel where he was staying at, I once asked him to turn around n sit on my scooter ,rather than sit normally! Just for fun! "Noo Nidhi noooo , there are seniors around and I'd be dead if they caught me like this" .. "Huh? They cant do anything to you, just sit" I said.. And then took him around the sprawling campus of our college ..! Well, seniors did spot him, he went cold.. Was later called into the boys hostel , and was asked how he had the audacity to sit behind a girl n drive around the campus.. And that too , sitting the other way round! He didnt describe what exactly happened after that but i saw him flinch when the ragging scene came on while we were watching 3 idiots... Once on my birthday, he bought me 3 paperback editions of Calvin and Hobbes and hid 'em around the house, with little clues that would lead me from book to another! My little treasure hunt birthday .. :) Thats been my best gift till date ! Karna. I cant even begin to tell you how proud I am of you.. And you know what? Though I behave like the kid sister asking for your attention and driving you mad with my inane ways, I'm here , for you, always... You know that right?

In the pursuit of Happiness?

"What do u want from life?" Asked Kabir.. I was a lil dumbfounded.. What? I thought..Did u just throw a deep question at me? .. We had just got done with dinner and a round of songs and dance.. And a round of sitting together n watching tv , 4 of us , in suburban Mumbai who had met for dinner on a sunday evening.. So.. I still was a lil taken aback by this question.. As i continued to stare blankly at him , the last song we sang still reeling in my mind.. He said , "lemme make it simpler.. Where do u see urself 20 years from now?" " 20!!! " I blurted.. "Uh.. I dunno.... Uh.. Can i say 10?".. "Sure go ahead".. "Well.. Happiness! "  Said I.. "Thats vague!"  Said he.. "Uhm.. Satisfaction!! "  I said.." Cmon thats vague too!"  "Well what exactly do u wanna hear ?" .. "Exactly where u see yourself 10 years from now!!" .. Well.. "I see myself happily married.. Maybe with 2 kids whose ass i'l be whacking 'cos of all the hullaboo they're creating in bringing the house down.. And pursuing sailing or another hobby that I have conveniently kept aside now , 'cos of something else im trying to achieve 'professionally'.. Where also.. In the journey of trying to 'achieve', I want to find happiness!"  The words kept coming as though I actually had  a carefully planned out answer a la miss India! Pheww! Deep eh? Kabir seemed satisfied with that and moved onto the next person! "Its your turn now and you can choose your own time frame", he said, before the next person could react! "Well i'l select 20", said she, "as 10 is quite a short time frame!-I see myself  blissfully settled by the mountains.. Working out of there at my own will.. Maybe eat an icecream from the cart that'l be driving out on the street!.. Not living in this mad city for sure!!! "  So i assumed it was peace she wanted after 20 years! Well good enough.. Wait.. What about you mister? You who's throwing this question at us.. What do you want? "I dunno"... He said.. "I have everything now.. Great family.. Great job.. Enough money.. Now there's an unrest.. I dont know what more i want.. I have started reading the Gita which is making a lot of sense to me now.. " Wow!.. Thats quite a tricky stage to be stuck in, I thought.. To not know what more you want! To have attained everything .. As we pondered in his thoughts, our eyes moved to the last person in the room.. Who was casually laid back on the couch checking out a video game.. With half a smile on his face as he heard us ramble about life..  "What about you?"   "Who me?"... He said as he glanced casually at the curious faces of people who were chasing life or confused.. Yeah You!! "Im happy"..He said.. "Right  here.. Right now.. At this very moment"! And grinned right back at us!

Ha Ha Ha !!!

I went for a play today! Well not exactly a play, was supposed to be some kind of a take/spoof on .. Something I dont remember.. Um, anyway.. It was kinda fun until the guy who was playing it on the big screen (operating the projector and giving running commentary on the mike basically) got a little carried away and kept playing the spoof again and again in case we -the audience, were not catching up!!Anyway, try to read on and catch up with me to know my intention of trying to make a story out of this not so particularly exciting spoof ! The intention here is to write about someone who has touched not just mine ,maybe all our lives at some point or the other!Johnny Lever! Yes thats right, Johnny Lever! When i bbm-d my friend Cauvery and told her I met Johnny Lever, her immediate reply was "ha ha ha" ," was it funny?".. No it wasnt! In fact, it was quite the opposite! As i saw him walk past me and sit in the row in front of me, a surge of emotions swept through... I guess anyone my age would assosciate him to childhood memories ... Of watching him on screen and laughing .. But for me it was a little more than that.. All i kept thinking was, God i wish Kishore maama was here, he'd have been elated! As a kid, he'd take me to watch movies mainly because " Johnny Lever is also there in the film"! And then i'd watch the whole theatre explode with laughter whenever he appeared on screen...My mother especially would start laughing even before he would mouth his dialogues! Anyway,The best part about the show was after interval when Johnny Lever was asked to say a few words on mike and his thankyou speech gradually turned into something that could give the present lot of stand up comedian's a run for their money! How he managed to do that with a thank you speech , gosh knows! That , was followed by a standing ovation from the crowd as he walked back to his seat.. They say people who can make other people laugh will have a lot of goodwill.. Unsaid blessings... Blessings in the form of laughter...! That would make him one blessed man now wouldnt it?To make someone cry with your acting is easy, but to make them laugh.. Man thats hard.. He has achieved that and how.. To the funniest man Indian cinema has seen..  "Ha ha ha"

Kishore Maama

                                                            I have vague memories of myself as a 6 year old , sitting atop the petrol tank of his yezdi bike , and vrooming away to mysore city to watch the bollywood film khal nayaak in lido theatre!It was quite a heady feeling , first the bike ride where i felt like the 'king' of the world and then the flashy glamourous movies that had such gorgeous people ...they took me away to a whole different world altogether! I think my first movie in a theatre would be cliff hanger 'cos i remember crying when that girl's doll falls off followed by the girl , n mom trying to shush me while wearing that polite embarassed 'wonder where that came from ' smile on the face as she looked at the irritated neighbours! Guess i fell asleep after that , anyway , khal naayak would have been the first movie in a theatre , that actually registered in my mind , to be followed by baazigar, darr and several other flicks! All these , seen with my movie crazy maama ! He'd drop by over the weekend at our farm with a bar of cadburys dairy milk , play inane games like hide n seek, the joke around then being , he would ask me to hide 'cos i would keep pestering him to play with me till he gave in and i would find a nice little hollow in the garage and hide there for half an hour with a huge grin on my face imagining him to be looking for me ... After sometime ,it used to start getting hot and sweaty in there i would slowly creep out 'ninga mode' and look for him making sure not to break a twig under my shoe , only to find him perched blissfully on the sofa reading the newspaper! He would tell me that i had found the best place on earth to hide and he was taking a break from looking for me... One fine day i overheard him telling mom that he relishes those 30 mins of silence! So anyway , after these shehnanigans it was movie time ! First show ( 6:00 pm) saturday evening. Mom would dress me up in a frilly frock n make me sit on the petrol tank n wave us off with a big grin , now im thinking that she too must have relished those 3 hours of silence... After the movie it was dosa time at the delicious dosa corner nearby! Here we would discuss the scenes and dialogues and how well everyone acted n other 'important' things like that... After getting home , i would enact the whole movie to my parents with the dancing included..  Well I would mostly sing the dance *teehee* . Sometimes while trying to enact a scene from the film (my way ) i think i would get the scene and sometimes even the story wrong (cmon what do u expect from a 6 year old of the 90's ? ) only to be interrupted by maama n then we would get into arguments ( real heated ones) much to the chagrin of pappa and mamma! I now think that that was the beginning of well... my acting school...  So here is the man who introduced  me to many magical things in the world , one  of them being the world of cinema... Kishore maama.. I'm sure you're showing the stars how i enacted my scene today...  And dont worry.. Your darling neice will get her dialogues right this time!

An ode to my lovelies!

I've had many a friend in my life so far.. But the one's i am with now, I can say with all the faith and confidence, are the best ever.. Thanks guys- For making my world so much better and lovelier!
And now presenting :

The angry man:

He's been there with me for the longest.. From the first time i saw him till now i can say he's one of the cutest ever ;) And i'm sure all the gals do agree!! We've fought! O Boy! A lot!
We still do! And go running to our other frens and complain.. And after sometime its a "sorry best frens forevr" until the next fight again..! Ha ha!!
But whenever I am in trouble and need a boys point of view he's the first one i go running to..! I even take the complete authority to yell or act smart with others when he's around cos iam sure he's there to beat em up if needed, the protective guy he is! ;)
From bashing each other up to throwing one another into lakes and crying to one another we've been there done that!! Love you Uthi.. And always will!!

The Calm Balm:
I used to think that this guy's such a wannabe!! But later on i realised that he's a Bee already! A king Bee for that! ;) Haha.. Till date I"ve never seen him angry or irritated..! Not even when i made a scratch on his brand new car while trying to outdo a truck guy!!
From living life king size to being the calm balm to the gang.. This guy's a gem!! The rare to find kinds!! Generous,stylish,funny and patient> with everyone, I thank god that i know him and hope some of his 'calm-ness' rubs off onto me too! :)
Dj my man!! You are my superstar! And i know that one day when u decide to chase your dreams you will achieve them and how! Love you stud!!

The rock-Doc:
I guess this is the only doctor i can trust throughout my life!! And i guess so thats cos only he has the patience to explain all the "why's and how's" my problems and convince me.. It is to be noted that I am not talking only bout the health problems :)
I've known him for a very little time and can pronounce him 'the rock of the gang'! He's one of those rare human beings who live for others..! And boy do we all love it? ;) he always goes out of his way and takes tat extra amount of care even if its not needed, when someone has a problem and i find that amazing!
Hats off to you Venku! And i know what a great doctor u're gonna be!! Thanks for being the rock that u are that i can lean onto whenevr I need rest from the mad mad world that i am in! :) Love ya!!


The Infectious Pest:
Ha ha..! I dont think my day will be made if I dont have fight with him and hit him with insults below the belt and get the same back from him! The thing is.. We have reached such a comfort level that we can actually trash each other up and be absolutely normal after that!!
A great doc in the making,this man is the silent missioner! He sets things right when need be! He seems to be this rock hard guy from the outside which is nothing close to the sensitive mushy guy he is!!
If asked to describe each other we'd probably use words like ass,jerk,peanut brain and stuff like tat!We both have the same 'devilish' mind set so i connect to him a lot!!I wanna tell u vishnu,you add the masala to my churmuri!! Love u (winks)!!

and finally...
The Precious:
Ever since the first day i met her i connected to her instantly! Like I'd known her for years! I guess thats probably cos she has this amazing capacity to make everyone feel at home all the time!! She's my gal pal,my li'l gal, my love!!
Be it bossing her around or listening to her wise li'l words in amusement ( i mean where does tat come from?) I dont know what i'd have done without her in my life! We are a riot together! I just love her presence of mind and her clever jokes which brighten me up instantly!
Thanks cauv for having those amazing shoulders that i can cry on and fall back at whenever i need u!! Like i've told you before.. You are precious to me and I will always be watching out for u!! Cos i dont want anything bad ever happening to my precious!! Love u a lotttttttt!!



:)