Sometime in 1984 my father was posted as the Regional Manager of erstwhile State Bank of Mysore. Now, I have to tell you few things. My father, was a honest and hardworking person, whose pure soul shone through. He was bright, and particularly fresh and smart as he left for office every day. His job was precious to him.
The other thing I have to tell you is Regional Managers in those days had wide coverage area. He was quite influential and he also had a habit for reading newspapers.
But, Amitabh Bachchan was a different entity. A superstar, with an all India following. And, whose movements were tracked by all major print media in those days.
With this background let me introduce another gentleman. Ketan Desai, son of Manmohan Desai. Recently, I happened to come across an interview of him on YouTube.
This reminded of a meeting between him and my father, and what Ketan Desai told my Dad, when my Dad met him in Mysore, in Lalitha Mahal palace, during the shooting of the film Mard.
My father, with a visiting card, which did not carry much weight beyond Mysore and Hassan districts, sent it across to Ketan Desai. He in turn probably more out of curiosity, agreed for a meeting. During the meeting my father pressed for an appointment with Amitabh Bachchan which Ketan Desai agreed after much persuasion. He said he will check with Amitabh and get back. Get back he did with an appointment fixed. We were all overjoyed.
My father came back from the appointment late at night and said, Amitabh is really impressive. And, extremely well mannered. He was kind enough to shake hands with my father. My father an equally confident person said “Am I meeting the superstar of India?”.
A short sentence but loaded. Because, the sentence conveys disbelief and humility and a certain sense of self confidence and praise also, all at the same time.
A titbit (tiny story) heady scent the superstar used lingered on my father’s hand for quite sometime.
And, Amitabh gracefully agreed to grace a function conducted by SBM Mysore Division. A reluctant and often lazy employees were all charged up. Amitabh, at an SBM function. Intoxicating it was.
Why did Amitabh agree to my father’s request.
Be with me.
The function was arranged for an evening where Amitabh agreed to speak and handover stitching machines to over 100 women.
We all got ready for the evening and the function was in Lalitha Mahal Mysore.
During the function Amitabh gave away loan disbursal cheques for deserving women and spoke briefly. He spoke beautifully praising the Bank for actively giving loans to deserving persons, and mentioned how he had been awarded the Padma Shri recently and in Industry circles these awards are a signal that it is time to leave and make way for someone else.
Cut to the day, Amitabh is still working and active! 40 years later.
I guess he is the only actor in India’s movie industry who has worked in such leading roles for the longest period.
During the function he also spoke about how each individual should search and go ahead and make a living for themselves.
Very relevant to the topic of the function.
So, why did Amitabh agree to grace the function of SBM in Mysore which is far away to his headquarters Bombay or his hometown Allahabad.
Later, after the function, my father’s colleague were discussing why did Amitabh agree? Nobody had the answer. But, they were all sure of one thing. He was visibly floored by father’s one liner:
Am I meeting the superstar of Indian Cinema?
Achievers have uncanny way of recognizing another achiever. Got it??
Amitabh being escorted to the Function in Lalitha Mahal Palace. with Ketan Desai at the left, you can see my dad Shri. K. S. R. Murthy, at the far right.
