Starry story

It's been over two years since I've been with MiD DAY. In my capacity, I have been covering star-studded events extensively, and have grown rather comfortable with the plastic kingdom that most others dread to be part of. Where everything is just for the sake of it. Where being big isn't really a big deal. Hold on to your belief that film stars, fashion designers, singers and socialites are no human beings. Not superhuman either. To whatever extent I have interacted with the 'stars', I'm convinced, they too, cry, get irritated, smile, laugh, have breakups andu00a0 friends, like anyone of us. Stars fall and dark holes happen, too.

Some, of course, seem to pull off their charisma with absolute effortlessness. For instance, when I met Vidya Balan just the other day, I was simply amazed by her patience. She stood for over an hour to give bytes individually. And, unlike others on promotional duties, she was extra generous with courtesy when it came to the otherwise sidelined print journalists, too. No tantrums, no getting overwhelmed. The most pleasing part, was, however, when she offered her food to scribes standing in wait of interviews. The way she bit the humble pie had filled our tummies already.

And sometimes, devil-may-care divas take us by surprise, too. At the launch of a jewellery store in Karol Bagh, I happened to meet Priyanka Chopra. She arrived two hours late, and was instantly mobbed by the media and other invitees. Her misery continued when the host's extended family breathed down her neck for photographs in the ornaments they wanted to advertise. She politely refused at first, and distracted herself with the media's mixed questions. But no, she didn't get bogged down by the chaos theory, and answered everyu00a0 audible question.

So, airs aren't always about how high one is flying in the industry. Generally, it is those who are moderately popular and still struggling who end up throwing unnecessary weight around. I remember, it was a long time ago that I met Akshaye Khanna during the promotional event of his then upcoming film Gandhi My Father, and requested him for an interview. He was blunt. "Main bahut thak chuka huin. Dimaag ka dahi ho chuka hai." Okay, we understand, but sir, how in the world could you forget your sole purpose of being there? Everyone was overworked and exhausted; just a smile would've been enough to destress. Of course, his absolute apathy to the fourth estate may've been out of the constant frustration of not being up there, but it is precisely this reason that stops it from being so.