Motorcycle Diaries

Arshad Warsi set out on a road trip to Ladakh,astride a Bullet to discover the real India.

When Arshad Warsi planned to head on a vacation after a very long time,he chose to do something really different. Instead of following the herd mentality and vacationing abroad,the choreographer-turned-actor chose to go on a road trip to Ladakh.

Arshad reveals that he took a plane to New Delhi and another flight from there to Manali,and then started his road trip from there. The ride to Ladakh lasted four to five days. I rode only in the day and did not ride for more than eight to nine hours at a stretch, confesses the actor. Arshad took the 10-day biking expedition with his school friend Rajiv Gupta,who has specially flown from Canada for the sojourn to accompany him.

Says Arshad,8221;In the past whenever I made elaborate plans it has never worked out. I had to wait for my wife Maria Goretti and kids to get back from their US holiday before leaving for Ladakh. Though Arshad owns a Harley-Davidson,the actor rode a Bullet for the trip. Of course if I was doing something different the bike too needed to be different. Also,I needed a sturdy bike as it is not a joke riding on those winding roads in the cold,chilly climate. The climb was steep and I did not want it to break down, he adds.

This is not the first time that Arshad undertook a road trip. He has done it several times in the past,I travelled to Goa on my bike and have also gone on road trips in USA. But,this was the first time that I set out to ride in such a dangerous place like this. I was not sure whether I would be able to complete the trip as it takes up a lot of your energy. And at times it is depressing as the road is endless and you just have to be riding, he says. It was a rough and gruelling ride and the bike was really heavy. As you start the climb the oxygen supply reduces. But it was an experience of a lifetime! Arshad and Rajiv slept in tents in sleeping-bags and lived on lots of coffee.

We also slept in a dormitory with 10 other people for just Rs 100! reveals the actor. The people in the dormitory thought that Arshad was a duplicate. But when I eventually convinced them that I was the original,they were shocked and exclaimed,We don8217;t believe it is you. This is like a dream come true!

One factor Arshad had not considered before heading on the road trip was his security. That proved to be a challenge for the actor at times.

He says,I had a fear that I would be recognised and there was no security. Once my friend8217;s bike touched a car and the guy jumped out and tried to get on my friend8217;s case. He was a driver from Delhi and was a tough man,who was ready to hurl abuses and also beat up my friend. I did not want to interfere and waited for them to calm down. But the argument got worse and was heading to becoming a really bad fight. That8217;s when I lifted my helmet and the moment the other driver saw me,he forgot all about the fight and rushed to take my autograph, concludes the actor.