Ustads Grace

Its hard to forget the first day,the first time I went on air to present a programme. I was a bundle of nerves,sweating,mouth running dry,hands trembling and heart beating faster than ever.

Written by EXPRESS FEATURES SERVICE

September 5, 2009 02:35 AM IST

4 min read

Jockeys Jitters
Rashi Johari
Radio Jockey
Its hard to forget the first day,the first time I went on air to present a programme. I was a bundle of nerves,sweating,mouth running dry,hands trembling and heart beating faster than ever. It took every bit of my strength to keep my voice from shaking and to make myself sound cheerful. But the strength came mostly from the jaadoo ki jhappi I received from my mentor Sapna Rana,programming head of the channel. She was the one who gave me the pep talk to soothe my frayed nerves that day. Till date,it is her useful tips that have helped me improve my performance. She tells me what part of my personality I should highlight when connecting with the listeners.

Fighting Fit
Amit Gaur
Fitness Trainer
I had an inspiration in the form of my bodybuilder brother Ashish,but there were two stumbling blocksmy shoulders and chest were feeble and I am a pure vegetarian. It was at a competition in Rae Bareli that I met my ustad Mohd Akram,who has been Mr Lucknow,and requested him to train me. Besides training me,he motivated me to get over my weak areas and into the shape that helped me walk home with Lucknow Muscle Man title in 2006,Mr Lucknow in 2007 and again in 2009 and 1st place in the Mr UP competitions held in Moradabad and Mathura. I have come a long way from being the lanky,nervous 21 years old when ustad began to train me. Not just the technique,he has also given me the right attitude that is helping me make a name for myself as a coach and personal fitness trainer.

Father Figure
Kamran Khan
Wonder boy cricketer
Naushad Sir has done more for me than any coach does for a trainee. Not only did he gave me good practice in the game,he also guided me and kept me aware of what tournaments were taking place in Mumbai and about tourneys I should play in. I even stayed with his family in his one-room Kurla flat for quite a few days and we all ate together. I only had the talent but it was he who discovered it four years back. I landed up in Mumbai from my hometown Nadwa Sarai village of Mau district,about a year-and-a-half ago and we worked really hard. Whether it was the moment I bowled out Bengal Tiger Sourav Ganguly in the Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders match of the IPL this year,or now when I am recovering from a knee injury which I sustained during an IPL match, I cannot forget how my coach has made me whatever I am.

Eventful Association
Deepak Pal
Events coordinator
I will always remember the contribution of Mayank Ranjan to my career for telling me everything I did not know about event management,specially about managing events with a number of competitions for children. Managing entries,judges,special guests,musicians,the stage and ensuring that everything goes well is not an easy job. With a smile on his face and a stern voice,he knows what is the best way to get things done. He not only showed me the way,but also changed me from a short-tempered person to a patient listener. My experience with him during the youth festival as part of Lucknow Mahotsav was my greatest learning experience. He has always held my hand like a friend and a mentor.

Photo Finish
Vajiul Hasan Rizvi
Fashion Photographer
I give 100 per cent credit for my professional achievement to Mr Bhupesh Little,In Charge of the Photography Section in the Faculty of Fine Arts in Lucknow University. Besides the useful tips he gave us and which I employ from time to time in my work in a fashion house,it was his stress on discipline and professional attitude that instilled in me ability to deliver quality work on time. In my pursuit of the Master of Fine Arts degree and later when I picked up some international awards,I realised how his guidance groomed me into being a professional.