Last week, Amar Singh was in Mumbai to throw a big bash for UAE banker Dr Seetharaman's wife Sangeetha's 50th birthday. The party was attended by B-town celebrities like Sridevi and Boney Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Jaya Prada, Sheetal Talwar, Sonu Nigam, Vashu Bhagnani amongst others.
SpotboyE.com caught up with Singh for a chat on his sabbatical from politics, penchant for parties and current equation with the Bachchans.
Excerpts:
How is your health now?
My health is bad, but repaired and maintained.
Pray, what does that mean?
I went through a very bad phase in 2011 when I underwent a kidney transplant. I think many people don't know this, but a part of my intestine was wrongly cut out during one of my hospitalisations.
A long list of dos and don'ts in your diet?
Not really, but I have been told by the doctors to avoid unhygienic food.
What about alcohol?
I have an occasional glass of wine.
Why did you throw a 'filmy' bash for Dr R Seetharaman's wife Sangeetha's 50th birthday?
Is it my fault if I still have some friends in the film industry? Dr R Seetharaman is a big shot in Qatar. He was in the city to launch a branch of his bank. His wife Sangeetha is like my sister (pauses).
Please continue...
Continue what? Look, I didn't invite the high and mighty. I have filtered off many people from my life. I invited only those who have stood by me, including Akshay Kumar who, for some reason, could not make it.
It's said that you hold filmy parties because you are starstruck...
I am starstruck --- but only for Shammi Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor.
You were the first to start parties where politicians, film stars and corporates intermingled. Was there a lot of give-and-take involved?
Amitabh Bachchan, Amar Singh and Anil Ambani used to roam together, but then I was no Prakash Mehra or Manmohan Desai. Pray, what did I get? It was only 'give' from my end. Did I ever make a film with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead? Did I take any agency from Ambanis? Why are you accusing me of 'taking'? I am not being angry or impolite, but just setting the record straight.
Did 'they' benefit from you?
It would be cheap on my part to say that they benefited from me. Do you keep an account with your friends ever?
Speaking of friends, Jaya Prada is a common friend of Amitabh and you. Doesn't she get caught in the crossfire of your conflict with Big B?
Bachchans are great. They expected their friends to not attend Karisma Kapoor's wedding. However, I don't impose restrictions on my friends. Aren't Sridevi and Jaya (Prada) both my friends? I am sorry that I couldn't attend Karisma Kapoor's wedding. I was told not to attend.
Have the wounds of your 'misunderstanding' with Amitabh healed?
I am an emotional fool. If I don't matter to someone, why should that someone matter to me? I prefer not to forget as that would only help to avoid similar mistakes in future, but I think one should always forgive.
Frankly, I don't want to give importance to any person by thinking too much of him/her.
Amitabh was your close friend...
He got the Padma Vibhushan this year, he should get Bharat Ratna next year, and then he can become the President of India. In fact, there is buzz that he is our next President after Pranab Mukherjee. Amitabh was very important to me once upon a time, but I have learnt to live life without him. God bless him
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