On the sidewalk

The place where Dodo Bhujwala, acclaimed choreographer, dancer and actor, regains his centre of peace, is also the centre of the money-making game that this city plays so well. It8217;s Nariman Point. But what goes on in corporate cerebrums and Dodo8217;s mind here, are two completely different things. This tall, currently-blond dancer, who is a part of the on-going play The French Cuckoo, often drives his fiat here late in the night and just sits at the extreme tip of Marine Drive. Sometimes, he comes here after a loud, smoky party when he is still pumped up quot;with all that disco energyquot; to unwind. And sometimes, when he is angry or sad. quot;I read somewhere that the sea gives a lot back to you, restores your balance. Something to do with the body being around 80 per cent water,quot; he says. Whatever the explanation, Dodo finds that the sea works like a balm on him. A balm which has never failed ever since he started coming here as kid. quot;Then Nariman Point was only till the Air India building and there used to bethis Jai Jawan stall which sold milk. I would come here ever so often with my dog,quot; he reminisces. Now the crowds have pushed back his visits to late nights or early mornings. quot;There are usually a couple of pandus strolling about in the night but if you sit right at the bottom of the steps, they don8217;t see you,quot; he laughs. quot;And that8217;s where I was even last night.quot;