Starry Eyed
Chance encounter with a Celebrity.
“Washing powder Nirma. Washing powder Nirma.” the television sang.
There was a former Miss India washing clothes in the advertisement. I was 15 years old, ogling at the Phillips Black and White TV, and could hear my brother say, “Bullshit. Don’t tell me she doesn’t have a maid in her house to wash clothes.”
Wow, I thought my brother was intelligent.
The next day, I was walking at Bandstand with my friend Rajdeep doing some ‘bird-watching.’ As we took the left from Kane Road in front of the park on Bandstand, I saw the “Bhuttawala” from far. I told Rajdeep, let’s have Bhutta. As we got near the hawker, we could see a young couple there, talking and enjoying the roasted corn.
Rajdeep gestured in their direction. “Woh dekh Nirma.” I stared hard, adjusted my spectacles. My jaw dropped, Yes. It was Nirma.
Mustering some courage, we went close and asked her in our best English tone. “Aren’t you the one who comes in the Nirma ad?” She looked pleased and said, “Yes, and my name is Sangeeta.” We completely ignored the boyfriend. After a few minutes, Sangeeta finished eating and went on her boyfriend’s bike waving out to us. We were so happy. We had a story to tell in school. For the next one week, Sangeeta had the sole possession of my dreams.
Rajdeep who has a very good knowledge of movies told me. “That boyfriend of hers also is a movie extra or something.”
“Yeah, which movie?” I asked.
“I saw it recently. Aisi ki Taisi. No No. It was Biwi Ho to Aisi. He was Farooq Shaikh’s brother.” Rajdeep showing off.
“Sangeeta is so tall. He looks short in front of her. Some people have all the luck” I said jealously.
A year later, I started First Year Junior college. As I was entering MMK college, I saw a poster on the wall next to the Chaiwala; Miss Washing Powder Nirma’s boyfriend was now playing the lead role with another fresh face Bhagyashree in a film called “Maine Pyar Kiya”.
Father must be the producer, I thought, and went to class.