Read about Amisha Patel's mother...

Incidentally, I am the only journalist, who has worked in Magna Publications, resigned from the job and still contributing articles in other magazines like Society Interiors, Society, Savvy, Stardust Special Issues and Showtime of the same group, over the years. Thanks to Mr. Nari Hira, who gave me assurance to do so, when I had the final exit interview with him. Proudly, I must confess that none of the journalists except me have left Magna to make a mark in the world of Film Journalism. I guess it was destiny, my hard work and the continuous knocking on various doors (publications) that saw my name to reckon with.

I approached the editor of Society Interiors, Ms. Maria Louis after having met Ms. Rupali Sebastian, her assistant editor. Rupali took over as the editor after Maria quit the post later. I am really thankful to both of them because they opened new vistas for me and assigned me to cover celebrity homes. I realized that the Diploma course in Interior Designing, which I had done way back in 1990-91, came in handy in 2000. From 2000 to 2006, I am one of the journalists, who have specialized in covering celebrity homes exclusively.

Much to my surprise and Maria Louis, I got Amisha Patel’s home in my very first call. Amisha was shooting in foreign locales and her mother Mrs. Asha Patel did welcome my photographer and me. The whole assignment was worth and memorable for various reasons. First, it was a great feeling to be in a celebrity home (my first official peep into the whole home without any restrictions). Secondly, I met Amisha’s brother Ashmit Patel, who was about to make his Bollywood debut. Thirdly, the variety of sandwiches that Mrs. Asha Patel served us throughout our shoot of seven hours was amazing. And finally, Mrs. Patel became friendly over the years as we used to bump into each other on and off in various parties.

Honestly, my photographer friend Hemant Dahiya and I were stuffed so much with Mrs. Asha’s sandwiches that after that day, not only we hated to eat sandwiches but also each time someone utters the word, Amisha’s mother became omnipresent in front of our eyes till this date. Well, that was the magic of Mrs. Asha Patel.

After the article appeared in Society Interiors, I went to hand over a copy of the magazine. She was delighted immensely with the coverage. It was indeed very sweet of the family (they were united and a very happy family that time – today Amisha Patel has separated from her parents), who called me to thank for the beautiful article. Since it was my first article of a celebrity’s home, I was very happy to have excelled as a writer in a new field. Amisha Patel has been very sweet when I interviewed her at the Screen Annual Awards in 2001 and thanked me for the lovely article. Seldom someone remembers the byline of a journalist after a year or so, but Amisha was really special.

Since Amisha Patel’s home in 2000, I have covered homes of Manisha Koirala (DIL SE, SAUDAGAR, 1942 – A LOVE STORY, MANN fame), Sameera Reddy, Hollywood actress Sita Thompson (she had a very short stint in Bollywood – the name of the film, she acted is VALENTINE’S DAY), Aftab Shivdasani (MASTI, MAST fame actor), Rati Agnihotri (EK DUJE KE LIYE, COOLIE fame), Nausheen Sardar Ali (better known as KKUSUM of small screen in India), singer Hema Sardesai (of ‘Aawara bhawrein…’ fame), Simone Singh (HEENA fame), and many more.

Covering a celebrity home is a joy and indeed an experience for any film journalist, who can understand the true human nature of the respective stars. I must confess, I have been very lucky and one among the fortunate ones, who have been welcomed in a star’s home with open arms over the years.

1). KAHO NAA…PYAR HAI (with Hrithik Roshan)

2). GADDAR (with Sunny Deol)