Hope you will enjoy reading my experience as a film journalist...

As per the BHAGVAD GITA, one reaps the fruits or else suffers, because of the deeds of the past birth. I surely must have done some good deeds in my previous birth so as to become a Film Journalist in this birth. Not that, I haven’t suffered in my life to reap this fruit of salvation, honestly, I became a journalist by default.

I was jobless in the year 1998 and wondering what I should do next. I have had a good and bad stint in various fields, like – * Interior Designer with a Landscape architectural firm in Hyderabad, * Sales Executive in the field of Electronics in the twin-cities of Secunderabad-Hyderabad, * Production Manager of a jeans manufacturing unit in Bombay, *Started my own business (small scale) selling readymade garments and microchips, *Worked in an up-scale vegetable supermarket (the first of its kind in the twin-cities) selling vegetables and fruits to the elite of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, *Wrote copies as Copywriter for my friend in his advertising agency. Not forgetting those beautiful experiences of running a roadside dhaba (open air restaurant) in Hyderabad and of course, the Project Manager of a multi-cuisine restaurant, which never came up! Phew – a great HOPPER one must say!

As destined, my friend Ramana (Sumukha Communication Ad agency, Hyderabad) advised me to move to Bombay for my betterment. Hats off to the man, who had more confidence in my caliber than I had in myself. Madan Patil’s marriage (a great friend since 1982) in April 1999 came as the blessing in disguise. Raju, better known as Satya Prakash Mishra, a friend who’s angel in disguise, provided me shelter in his in-laws home (Shri Tarashankar Choube, Congress Corporator) in Andheri. The three strong pillars – the first one gave me CONFIDENCE to be fearless! The second gave me MONEY and OPPORTUNITY to arrive in Bombay and the third provided me the needed SHELTER and FOOD to survive! They say that’s what friends are for!

Struggled I did, as many have to, to have a strong foothold in Bombay. Every ‘NO’ (that I heard from various advertising owners, CEOs, Creative Heads, Copywriters and Employers) made me nearer to the ‘YES’! I had given myself a target of five years, either to achieve or else to return back to Hyderabad. I took up tuition, joined couple of ad agencies as copywriter, and wrote copies as freelancer and then one fine day, I was jobless once again!

I am thankful to Mr. Swaminathan Iyer of Creative Unit ad agency for the insight he gave in my first interview in Bombay. I am thankful to Mr. Ganesh Shanbag of Forecast Advertising Agency for giving me the first break as a copywriter in Bombay. I am also thankful to THE ADVERTISING BRIEF (ad magazine, now out of print) for giving me the First Best Letter prize (a year subscription of the fortnight magazine) by publishing my first letter in Bombay. Ever since, I became their regular “Letter to the Editor” writer of their magazine. I am also thankful to THE BLITZ (weekly international publication, now out of print in Bombay) for publishing my letter and poems. I am thankful to Ms. Priya Hattiangadi, Copy Editor of Times of India’s Suburb’s supplement, who gave me the first assignment as a journalist. I am thankful to Mr. Naveen Bhanushali, Times of India’s freelance photographer, for giving me the required support to get an entry in the field of journalism.

No! I have had no experience or else any specialized qualifications to be a full-fledged journalist. In fact, what I had with me was the Blessings of Sai Baba, the confidence to take on the world in any which way, to prove I am worth every single penny and the will to work hard with full dedication. The result is this book for you all.

Lastly, I would like to thank certain people, who thought they were God incarnate and can change my destiny, which the ALMIGHTY had written for me! Obviously, they were wrong because they were mere humans with evil intentions. My guardian angel (I am an Aries and Arians always have one) saw me struggle, survive, sustain and striving to finally SUCCEED!

The journey hereby commences and with some beautiful, horrible, touching, wonderful, funny and strange experiences. I bring you this book with my sincere efforts.

I would like to thank one and all, stars, who have loved and hated me while sharing beautiful moments and relationship during my journey. And I am sure, the journey does not end with this book!

NATIONAL DAILIES