Meeting Balki

Today for the first time I met a man of the film industry that I will always remember. Not because of who he is, but because of the image he created in my mind. R Balakrishnan (Balki) is the director of movies like Paa and Cheeni Kum, and is also from the world of advertising with adverts like Idea and Tata Tea Jaago Re to his credit.

Before I met him,I assumed he'd be like one of those celebs who throw their weight around, make people wait, whine about little things or simply just don't care. But this man totally proved me wrong.

He walked into the conference room with a smile on his face that was friendly and far from obnoxious. He greeted everyone present in the room casually and without any air of self-importance. He began answering questions of students, one after the other. The questions ranged from Censorship in films to cause related advertising to bollywood element in films to his career as an Ad-man. He heard every question and answered it as thoroughly as he could. He wasn't arrogant nor did he act as though he knew everything. He was humble about his success and modest about his luck. He was honest enough to tell us that alot of his work has come through years and years of experience and there have been times when he, like everyone else, has failed. He was so candid that he didn't feel like a celebrity at all. He patiently answered all the questions from the students and the media. He even allowed students to pose for individual photographs and signed many autographs too, all the while smiling and cracking jokes. HE didnt feel like somebody great even though he was. He spoke politely to everyone, quietly sipping tea and commenting on the rains in the city. He put everybody at ease and no one feared the man who has worked with stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu.

I've never been a celebrity crazy person, but this man made me feel like he was just one of us, and I knew that there might never be another chance of meeting someone of as famous, yet down-to-earth as him. So I felt no shame in taking a picture with him or have him sign my diary.

Thank You Mr. Balki, for this chance.