My stint at SHOWTIME lasted for a couple of months. I resigned because of mental harassment by my editor. I decided that one day Ms. Kanan Devecha would read my byline in all the leading film magazines. And to be honest, with my hard work, dedication and perseverance, I went onto contribute articles in almost all the major publications (film magazines) of India and couple of international publications.

Life was back as a freelancer, which I had really enjoyed. As a journalist, a freelancer has the liberty to write in as many publications as one can reach out to and enjoy the freedom. However, to be honest, freelancing has its cons also. Cheques from various publications never arrive in time and at times, it can take a toll on your monthly expenditure. However, there are plenty of advantages in freelancing. One can work according to your own will and mood, and there is no one to boss you around. You are the boss and you are the worker. The more systematic you are in your work, the more you can enjoy your time. One can earn more if s/he is willing to work hard and sincerely.

Any way, though I have been interviewing a lot of stars but I am covering only those people, who have influenced my life as a journalist. Sushama Reddy was hot and happening model and the appointment was set for her interview. I really don’t know for what reasons, I bought five red roses and arrived at her home. Greetings were exchanged and she couldn’t help herself to ask why I bought only five roses? I told her, “There are five people in the home (Mom, dad, Meghana, Sushama & Sameera) and for each one there is one rose.” Needless to say, the family was very impressed and the interview went really very well. I also interviewed Ms. Niki Reddy (Sushama’s mom) for international magazine HOUSECALLS. For reasons unknown, the family was very impressed with me after the interviews.

Mr. C P Reddy later joined me to have a chat with me over a cup of coffee. We exchanged information about various topics in a short time – from politics to Pharma industries, sports to films, languages to international politics, education to business etc etc. Much to his surprise, I was talking with him in the same level on all the topics discussed. He was not only impressed by my knowledge as a film journalist but also we have shared beautiful rapport, respect, friendship and bonding over the coming years. He revealed to me later (after few years) that he was touched because of my gesture of taking five roses every time I visit their house. Not even a single journalist, who has visited their home, has ever done that before. After all, he is the father of three talented daughters.

I guess I owed something in my previous birth to the Reddy family and vice-versa. Over the years, I have shared beautiful relationship with the whole family. I was closest to Mr. & Mrs. Reddy. I have seen Sameera Reddy growing up as an actress in front of me. I became their confidant and Mr. Reddy calls me, “The Dangerous man!” - The compliment that I earned from the successful businessman because I could match his views and knowledge on various topics in my first meeting.

Sushama Reddy, the successful model turned actress in coming years and made her debut in CHOCOLATE with Anil Kapoor. She happens to be the most learned person in the family and the most sophisticated one. She is a gem of a person and she respects, whenever I have written articles on her. Today, Sushama is inching towards her dream as an actress and is doing films that she loves. I often thank her because it was her interview that brought me close to the whole family. Because of Sushama, I met her younger sister Meghana Reddy, who was one of India’s most successful supermodels of her time. Today, she is living in New York and has made her name as an international model. Meghana is too difficult to describe as a person. However, we struck a chord in our very first meeting because of our spiritual connection.

Meghana is intelligent, spiritually enlightened, very loving and caring person, focused and has vast knowledge about life. One will wonder, but she took the bold step to quit from the Indian modeling scene, when she was ruling it, to leave for New York to start afresh. Even though we have met just couple of times but all our interactions were just great. Such is the magic of this beautiful soul! I loved her as the model but after interacting with her in person, I have started adoring her. She is beautiful like the rain, mysterious like the lightening, compassionate to nature and above all, she is a darling!

Meghana was already staying in New York and once or twice in a year, she used to visit her family in Bombay. I still remember the first time I met Meghana, there was something mystical about her. She had just returned from Vipashana. Knowing Meghana was like knowing the other extreme of a super successful model. I loved her as a model and after I met her, my love turned to respect. Meghana has seen what success is all about and she quit it to start from scratch at the international level. Something that many models wouldn’t dare to do so.

Sameera Reddy, the youngest of the family grew as an actress in front of me. Her first music video of Pankaj Udhas – ‘Ahista kije baatein…’ was well appreciated. She made her debut in Sohail Khan’s MAINE DIL TUJHKO DIYA opposite the director. Sameera is fondly known as Sam and on her parents’ insistence, I became the guide for her. Sam was raw and was supposed to meet the media for the very first time unlike her famous sisters Meghana and Sushama, who were loved by the media. It was interesting to know Sam and teach her the basics of how to answer to various journalists from different publications.

I knew Sam inside out in few hours that we spend together. To my surprise, Sam came out well prepared to answer all my questions with great maturity. When I told her parents they were happy. I advised them not to worry as I had tutored Sam how to avoid controversial topics from the media. I am proud to take the credit to teach Sam Hindi, so that she can woo the vernacular journalists with great ease. Sam’s first film MAINE DIL TUJHKO DIYA didn’t do too well and like every loving parents, the Reddys were worried when no offers came her way for a very long time. I kept assuring them by saying ‘Patience is the virtue that leads to big success’. Sam finally bagged Ram Gopal Verma’s DARNA MANA HAI and later Sanjay Gupta’s MUSAFIR with Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Mahesh Manjrekar. After MUSAFIR, Sam became hot and happening.

To be very honest, Sam was unlike her two sisters. After she became hot in MUSAFIR, success seemed to have changed her a lot. Of course, one feels let down when such things happened but then it is the bitter truth of film industry. I realized the fact and kept away from her. Whenever we met at various parties, the warmth was missing between the two of us. I was also amazed about one thing about the Reddy sisters. Even though I am elder to all three of them, they have always treated me like a kid, hugging and kissing me whenever we met. Meghana’s warmth towards me was very infectious. Sam became busy with various projects and I was seeing less of her and the Reddy family. However, the love, respect and bonding are still very intact as it had been years ago. Mr. Reddy is a great talker and loves to chat with me for hours together. I do miss his wonderful Andhra mango pickle, which he makes every year with great passion.

FILMS:

1). MAINE DIL TUJHKO DIYA (with Sohail Khan)

2). DARNA MANA HAI

3). MUSAFIR (with Anil Kapoor, Sunil Dutt & Mahesh Manjrekar)

4). TAXI NO 9 2 11 (with John Abraham & Nana Patekar)

5). 5). NAKSHA (Sunny Deol & Vivek Oberoi)

Johnny D