Dagger Drawn

Hritik Roshan had encapsulated a short This is my life8217; film, which was joyously tingling. When the lights came up, on cue of a cracker, a giant cake was the centre of attraction. Over 300 of Rakesh8217;s friends and family had congregated to bring in his half century, milestone birthday. They lent their rumbustious voices to a rendition of Happy Birthday8217; which echoed goodwill and cheer through the room.

Sunaina, Rakesh8217;s lovely daughter, had painstakingly put together a theme party which was, as the black playing card invitation read, A Night inLas Vegas8217;. The dress code was Viva Glam8217; and as it was a film party I was expecting over the top or OTT Glamour but everyone came dressed low key.

Having just come in on the evening flight from Delhi, I was a little slow to get into the stride of things but the general mood was more in keeping with the poise and elegance of Pinkie Roshan and a quiet celebration set the tone. Gaming tables had been set up all around the room but were used as regular tables. I, for one, didn8217;t see anyone play, even for the heck of it.

I enjoyed watching the rapport and bonhomie evidenced by the three generations of family and friends. The age spectrum ran from 16 to 60 or more, yet everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. When the Hindi films song8217;s were played the dance floor was choc-a-bloc.

The film fraternity is a close knit one and they inevitably draw strength from their own. The vagaries of life in the fast lane of the film industry is a professional hazard that most of these families have witnessed close up.You are only as good as your last film8217; is an adage that they are forced to live by and the cutting edge between success and failure is measured on a release-to-release basis around the year.

For the film actor his success does not merely depend on his looks, physique and acting prowess but on the launch vehicle. That8217;s when the director8217;s role comes into full play, his skills in getting the best out of his stars and the script is a visual jugglery on which the success of his film rests. The financing of the film and distributing it successfully is the domain of the producer. Once music, dance and the locations have all been fine-tuned, only then does a film take shape. The acceptance of the final product by the audience is the ultimate gamble and no one can predict the Indian people easily.

The nation8217;s politicians will be the first to vouch for this. The highs and lows of success and failure take a toll on every individual but it is their ability to ride out the bad times and come out on top thatsingles the achiever. In my opinion, the film industry in our country should be given a lot more sops by the Government to help it thrive. The Indian film industry is indigenous, talented, and successful despite adversity.

We are a nation of movie goers, our film stars are real-life heroes to the vast humanity of poor and underprivileged. A lot more effort is needed to organise this industry, so that it thrives as it should.

Seeing all the great families of Indian cinema at Rakesh8217;s birthday was a treat. The Khan family 8212; Zarine, Sanjay, Suzanne, Farah, Fardeen. The Kapoors 8212; Daboo, Rishi and family. Boney, Sridevi, Anil, Sunita. Shah Rukh, Gauri, Karan Johar and his parents, Juhi, The Bachchans, Jeetendra, Shobha, Ekta, the actress Rekha 8212; the list was endless and it should be as Rakesh ranks way up there not just as a good actor/director but as an impeccable human being. It is this singular trait that had brought all of us there that night to celebrate his landmark birthday. He is indeedblessed.

Life is the movie
you see
though your own,
unique eyes.

It makes little difference
what8217;s happening out there,
It8217;s how you take it that counts.

8212; DENIS WAITLEY
The Winner8217;s Edge