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Journalism of Courage
Khushwant Singh loves his reputation. That of a tippler, a womaniser, and a dirty old man. The truth is that India’s best-known sardar is none of these, but he thrives on the image he has worked so hard to create.
Through these years, I have met a variety of colourful people at the Singh household. They vary from renowned academics to freaks who claim to have had conversations with God. Most visit his durbar asking him to plead their case. Khushwant usually obliges and is easily bullied. I once jokingly told him if he were a woman, his inability to say `no’ would keep him perpetually pregnant.
It’s difficult for me to define the special bond that I share with Khushwant. About twelve years ago, I was quoted saying in a magazine interview that Khushwant Singh was the only man in my life. The lines were picked up and even painted on street hoardings in Mumbai. Since then, Khushwant has believed that I made him notorious. When his book titled, Not A Nice Man to Know was published, he dedicated it to me saying that I had given him more affection and notoriety than he deserved. I was touched, but thought he was giving me undue credit.
Khushwant continues to be my closest friend and, over the years, has always come to my rescue. If it were a heartbreak, he was there to lend me his shoulders to cry upon. When I bought my first car ten years ago and was short of money, he lent me some for the down payment. This time, I needed to do another television serial and thought of producing a programme that he could host. Despite initial protests, he agreed. After months of planning and laborious team effort, I am both tense and happy, for Not A Nice Woman to Know premieres this Friday on Star Plus.
It is a series in which Khushwant is in conversation with women who have been celebrated for their work and their lifestyles. Among these bold and beautiful women are Tehmina Durrani, Persis Khambatta, Protima Gauri, Ramola Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, Chandralekha, Zohra Sehgal, Nayantara Sehgal and Shubha Mudgal. In his inimitable style, Khushwant brings out the personality of these women as he talks to them about their work, life, beliefs, fears, hopes, aspirations and attitude.
The concept of Khushwant chatting up women came from the channel. So did the name of the show. Khushwant had no problems with the title, but the decision of the guests only being women was met with an initial “there you go off again” response. I pleaded innocence and told Khushwant it was much too late to worry about his reputation, which anyway always preceded him!
Working with Khushwant will remain a treasured experience. What amazes me is how diligently he works at whatever he takes on. He read little details about those he was to interview, made his own notes and rehearsed them well before coming on the sets. He was extremely accommodating, except, of course, when it came to his clothes.
The first day he turned up in a faded salwar-kurta with broken buttons. When I expressed shock, he insisted that it was not faded, but shaded, and was the best one in his wardrobe. Luckily, I knew his tailor and secretly got some new salwar-kurtas stitched overnight. He was horrified and, after much pleading and persuasion, he wore those resentfully. We also forced him to use pagris, instead of the scruffy saffron patka he usually wears.
Khushwant says that Amita Malik had once written he was the worst dressed man she had ever known. He confessed it was the only time he genuinely agreed with her. He wished to keep the honour intact.
The title of this column was inspired by the television series. There was a deadline to be met and I asked by brother Vaseem, who’s directing the series, to help me look for a title. He laughed and said: “Just call it Not A Nice Woman to Know.” It seemed attractive and I called up Khushwant to bounce the idea off him. He thought it was perfect and said that since we were equally notorious, I deserved the title as much as he did!
