Jackie gets nostalgic about the rain

08 June,2011 09:07 AM IST |   |  Avantika Patil

Jaggu dada has a love-hate relationship with Mumbai's monsoon. Sometimes the rains mean romance, sometimes the loss of a loved one, sometimes just garam garam bhajiya or bhutta


Jaggu dada has a love-hate relationship with Mumbai's monsoon. Sometimes the rains mean romance, sometimes the loss of a loved one, sometimes just garam garam bhajiya or bhutta. Jackie Shroff, who has been born and brought up in Mumbai and still sees this city as seven islands, talks to CS:


Who: Jackie Shroff
What: Talking about his monsoon memories
Where: At his Bandra residence

Mumbaikar at heart
Liking or hating the rains is a state of mind. I lost my brother in the rains when he was trying to save someone in the rough sea. Sometimes, I sit and stare for hours at the sea thinking that my brother is in it.u00a0
I was born and brought up at Teen Batti Naka in Walkeshwar, so I have forever been in Mumbai. I love this city so much that I can't stay out of it for more than a week. And, I have seen it change for the better and the worse. One thing that's magical about Mumbai is its rains. And they haven't changed over the years. They can be soothing, romantic and raging as well. Mumbai's monsoon still arrives like a dhamaka and goes down like crackers making a lost of noise.

Food and funu00a0
I relish the roasted hot bhutta (corn) and freshly sand-roasted peanuts while enjoying the cold monsoon showers. Also the hot roadside bhajiyas and vada pav tastes perfect. But I have stopped eating all that now due to health reasons. Earlier, I would binge on the vada pav and bhajiyas outside Dadar Station or near Kirti College. Vihar Caf ufffd House at Teen Batti Naka was my favourite dosa joint. Sometimes my girlfriend and I would get wet at Five Gardens, Matunga and head for a hot cup of coffee at Mysore Cafe.

Romancing the rains
I love to take a stroll at Nariman Point or Worli Seaface during the rains. As youngsters, my friends and I decided to watch Sholay at Minerva on a day when the downpour had almost drowned the whole city. Tickets were easily available as the city was flooded, but it was freezing cold inside the theatre. Though drenched head to toe, we enjoyed every moment of the film. I also recollect a romantic walk in the rains with my girlfriend on Marine Drive. Similarly, a trip to Lonavala, Khandala and Mulshi dam was a must during the rains. We would roam around in our undies like we ruled the place. I feel highly embarrassed when I remember those days now.

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Jackie gets nostalgic about the rain