Penultimate people

Actors dont write books though some cherish high aspirations of turning to writing sometime later so why do they feel compelled to buy designer or high-end pens? Amitabh Bachchan has the answer. I feel I am going to have a problem signing my cheques very soon. Really,you can forget how to do your own signature and that8217;s a problem. At this age,your hands are not steady8230;your handwriting deteriorates,that is already noticeable now with me8230;So,I deliberately write as much as I can,if I can,with the pen and not use computers, said the superstar in an interview given to an English business paper. Mont Blanc was Sir Winston Churchills pen of choice and Amitabh Bachchan,who has a fetish for collecting pens,is reportedly presented with a Mont Blanc pen every year on his birthday.

Even actor Shabana Azmis father,the Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi,used only a Mont Blanc pen with blue-black ink to express his thoughts whenever he sat down to write at his deep mahogany writing-table. Abbas only wordly possession was his community party card and a collection of 18 Mont Blanc pens. He used to get them serviced at the Fountainpen Hospital,New York, says Shabana. Once when a friend gifted the actor a pen,Kaifi Azmi happily flicked the gift and wrote a beautiful letter to the friend saying how the pen was in better custody with him! Javed Akhtar collects pens too but writes with any old ball-pen, adds Shabana who hates ball-pens because they ruin her writing. I write best with a roller ball-pen,medium nib in black ink. I am always screaming in the office because the staff keep using blue ballpoints which should really disappear from the planet, she adds.

Big B also has an interesting association with Parker Pens,a brand that he endorses. It dates back to the turbulent years when his production house ABCL went through rough waters. Around that time,the actor treated himself to a Parker pen he reportedly said that it was the only luxury he could afford then.

A rising tide of celebrities taking interest in stocking high-end pens has also led to more actors endorsing pen brands. But only time will tell if the number of enthusiasts increase in the coming years or the trend fades away.

Kaifi Azmi

Mont Blanc pens have a celebrity following for a reason. Mont Blanc launches a pen every year in their Writers Edition commemorating the life and the work of a particular writer. So it doesnt come as surprise that late Kaifi Azmi was a Mont Blanc fan. When he died,all he left behind were his 18 Mont Blanc pens and 5,000 books, revealed his daughter Shabana Azmi at an event.

Javed Akhtar amp; Shabana Azmi

Javed Akhtar unveiled a 9.5 lakh rupees gold pen by Shaeffer. After unveiling the collection,the lyricist wrote some words with the exclusive pen and interacted with the media. Javed collects pens too but writes with any old ball- pen, says Shabana Azmi,who hates ball-pens because they ruin her writing. She writes best with a roller ball-pen that has a medium nib. The actor only uses black ink.

Anil amp; Sonam kapoor

It is widely reported that Anil Kapoor used a Mont Blanc for years before handing over the baton to his daughter,Sonam Kapoor. Actor-producer Anil Kapoor teamed up for the first time with his daughter Sonam to endorse Mont Blanc. The father-daughter duo was seen together on the small screen for a commercial for the German luxury brand. From the look of it,Sonam and Anil Kapoor fitted in perfectly with the brand8217;s attempt to depict that it is not just a pen but a legacy that is passed down from generation to generation.

Amitabh bachchan

Is known for his impeccable taste in fine things but the actors sideline as an pen collector is almost a well-kept secret. The elegance and the sophistication of the Parker pen would be best represented by senior Bachchan.

Shah Rukh Khan

While Amitabh Bachchan gravitates towards international high-end brands like Parker and Mont Blanc,an Indian brand like Linc is more Shah Rukh Khan8217;s cup of tea. Linc Pen has roped in Shah Rukh as its brand ambassador.

Salman Khan

Salman Khan,the reigning star of the box-office,after having conquered our hearts with Dabangg and Ready,is now endorsing Rotomac pens. The brand was previously endorsed by Raveena Tandon.

Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif8217;s favourite is the Uni-Ball Jetstream. It is a smooth pen, the actor said at a press conference organised by the pen makers. Probably that explains why Uni-Ball,manufactured by Japan-based Mitsubishi Pencil Co. and marketed in India by Linc Pen and Plastics opted for Katrina as a celebrity brand ambassador to endorse their products.

Anil amp; Sonam kapoor

It is widely reported that Anil Kapoor used a Mont Blanc for years before handing over the baton to his daughter,Sonam Kapoor. Actor-producer Anil Kapoor teamed up for the first time with his daughter Sonam to endorse Mont Blanc. The father-daughter duo was seen together on the small screen for a commercial for the German luxury brand. From the look of it,Sonam and Anil Kapoor fitted in perfectly with the brand8217;s attempt to depict that it is not just a pen but a legacy that is passed down from generation to generation.

Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt seems to take his role as a pen collector very seriously. While travelling,when the actor is not shopping for funky boots,hes busy making the rounds of stationary stores and buying stylish pens to add to his collection.