Mixed reactions to arrest of Big Daddy of Bollywood

Transcripts of the taped conversation between Shah and Chhota Shakeel recorded by the police which appeared in sections of the media only added grist to the gossip mills. Rakesh Vajpayee, a book seller at the pavement near Hutatma Chowk, seemed to have the alleged conversation by heart. Launching into a long monologue, he quoted copiously from the conversation between Shah and Shakeel. “Marta banda kya nahin karta. Dar ke maare Shakeel ki baat maan liya hoga (The man had no other option. He must have toed Shakeel’s line out of fear),” said Vajpayee.

But many especially the youth were not ready to buy the argument that Shah is innocent. Yatin Shinde and Sandeep Patil, both 12th standard students at Maharishi Dayanand College, Parel, argued, “The underworld would have finished Bharat Shah long back had he refused to listen to them. See, what happened to Gulshan Kumar. But it is good the police have finally started breaking the film-criminal nexus, ” said Shinde.

“Till the other day film financers were willing pawns in the hands of dons. Now they will cool their heels in jail. I am happy at this changed scenario,” said Patil, letting out a loud whistle.

H P Nadkarni, a young sales executive with Andheri-based Vishwaroop Infotech, was engrossed in reading a newspaper right outside the Capitol Cinema near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, unmindful of the chaos around. “I have been following the case since Nazim Rizvi’s arrest last month. Shah’s arrest is not surprising. But the episode will blow over and very soon people will forget everything. The police too will find some other targets to keep themselves in the limelight,” he said.

A few appeared to be completely indifferent to the whole issue. A paanwala near Telecommunication Building at Hutatma Chowk was least concerned about Shah’s arrest. “Subah se ek paise ka dhanda nahin hua. Police aur BMC walle ne pareshan kiya. Ab aap aaye hain tang karne (I have not done any business since morning. The police and BMC officials harassed me. Now you are vexing me,” said the visibly irritated old paanwala.Septuagenerian K L Sharma, who worked for a prominent Film Production House till sometime ago, chuckled when asked to comment. “They deserve to be punished. The filmwallahs are no better than politicians. Both turn to the underworld for financial support,” raged Sharma.