Truth is stranger than fiction and this story is a
classic case in point.
I still remember the day when I first saw Himmatwala. It was Feb 25, 1983 and
a Friday. In those days, movies were a passion and the dates we saw them
registered to stay in memory. I had a Physics paper on Monday and
mind you I wasn't ready for it at all. Kuch bhi nahin padha tha, you know how
it is when you have a Sat-Sun in between, that subject is not revised
beforehand.
A Still Of Sridevi And Jeetendra From Himmatwala
My mother was waiting for me after my Chemistry paper,
with snacks and chai ready at home. And as I walked out from my exam, I saw posters
of Sridevi plastered all over. Himmatwala had released that day and she
looked stunning in every poster.
My best friend was walking alongside me and he was quite sullen about the fact
that he hadn't done his Chemistry paper well.
I told him: Let me cheer you up. Let's go for a film. He
looked at me (Was it in shock or disgust, I don't know) and said: Are you mad?
Our parents will kill us.
A Still Of Sridevi And Jeetendra From Himmatwala
The truth was that I wanted to see this Sridevi-Jetendra
starrer on the first day itself. I said to myself: Who wants to wait till the last
paper (Mathematics) gets over next week?
I did not listen to my friend and dragged him to a phone
booth. "Mom, we have an extra class where our teacher is solving our
Physics difficulties. So, I shall be late," I was soon telling my mother
at the other end. And I compelled him to do an encore with his mom.
A Still Of Sridevi And Jeetendra From Himmatwala
Couldn't be honest with her, we were mostly not allowed
to go out for long hours those days, despite the fact that zamaana alag
tha aur achcha tha--- but that's a different story.
Luckily, we got the tickets. The queue was long, but we
scraped in.
The theatre had no AC and of course, it was terribly
stuffy. We had landed on almost sweat-full seats but were thrilled that we had
made it.
A Still Of Sridevi And Jeetendra From Himmatwala
Did I like the film? Loved it! Acting, songs... everything. And I just had a
feeling that this heroine Sridevi will become a very big star in Bollywood, one
day.
But I didn't know that one day, this will be the same
date when she will slip away from the world of living at a premature age of
just 54--- and I will be writing this.
What more do I say here?
Image Source: Youtube/ ultra