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What do we talk about first? Solitaires and glitzy gifts, or success and an ex-wife? Let’s start with the latter — Aamir Khan’s finely-planned party on Wednesday to celebrate 10 years of AKP (Aamir Khan Productions), one of the most prolific filmmaking companies today. After taking off on June 15, 2001, with Lagaan, AKP has produced Taare Zameen Par, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Peepli Live, Dhobi Ghat and now Delhi Belly. “All the respect I’ve earned will be wiped out with Delhi Belly,” promised Aamir with a chuckle, unabashed about the adult humour in the film that’s already come under flak with the randy number Bhaag DK Bose.
First came Aamir’s personal SMS well in advance stating he would screen a film at 6pm, followed by drinks and dinner. “For those who want alcohol, sorry,” he laughed from the dais that evening. “I’ve given up drinking but no worry, there will be alcohol,” he said reassuringly. “But that will be after the film.”
Tea and biscuits floated around till about 7pm when the film started. A word about the round tables arranged all over the huge ballroom of Taj Lands End. Very artistically arranged flowers (two glass bulbs with orchids lying across each other over a bowl of flowers), popcorn, cashew nuts, chocolate-flavoured nuts, tacos with salsa, small canapés and bottles of mineral water filled each table. And filled every guest as they watched Madness In The Desert, a superbly edited, riveting documentary on the making of Lagaan, the classic that turned a reluctant Aamir into an ecstatic producer. It was as exciting a watch as Lagaan was 10 years ago.
With everybody sharing their off-screen experiences, Aamir made sure he kept it light and entertaining, cutting short those who tended to be ponderous or un-funny and adulatory.
When Amitabh Bachchan arrived with a huge bouquet of flowers, Aamir ran out to receive him. Then followed Aamir’s hilarious narration of how his director, Ashutosh Gowariker, had wanted Amitabh for the voiceover of Lagaan. “I called up Amitji and he asked me to come over. I didn’t know how to go about it... As it is I am speechless in front of him,” he began. Amitabh dryly commented, “You are doing pretty well.” Aamir grinned and recounted how Amit said ‘yes’ within a second. But a few weeks later, Ashutosh (Aamir refers to him as Ash) told him that he’d thought it over and now he didn’t want AB’s voice. It was too easily recognised and would take audiences away from the 1890s when the film was set. So back went Aamir to AB to say, sorry, sir, but we don’t want you now. AB took that well too, saying, “Frankly, I’m relieved — the films I’ve given voiceover for have all flopped!” A month later, Ashutosh changed his mind again and despatched Aamir a third time to AB, this time to once again get him to do the voiceover. AB was gracious this time too, and Aamir showed him a rough, unedited cut of the film without the climax. “I watched him all through the film and I could clearly see that Amitji didn’t think much of it,” Aamir grinned. Still, AB did the voiceover and it was later at Mukesh Ambani’s place that the superstar with the baritone saw the full and final first copy of Lagaan which bowled him over enough to write a letter to Aamir which the latter has preserved to this day.
With lots of behind-the-scenes banter, it was clear that Lagaan belonged to ex-wife Reena Dutta. She was the film’s executive producer, and an active, hands-on one at that, while Kiran Rao (his present wife) was an insignificant third or fourth assistant in the unit. There was wonderful maturity shown as Madness In The Desert featured Reena prominently. From the dais too, Aamir heaped praise on her. It was clearly Reena’s day and she was there beaming happily. Kiran was there too, chirpy as always.
Phew! Two big events in one week. Aamir’s party happened a couple of days after I returned from the big fat G.V.K. Reddy family wedding in Hyderabad. Anyone familiar with the major domestic airports of India will know the name GVK since they are the ones who’ve spruced up and polished all our airports. With chartered flights from Delhi and Mumbai ferrying guests from all over the country, the costliest wedding of the decade was a spectacle worth an inside watch. Gifts for guests were given according to hierarchy. It ranged from whispered solitaires and diamond sets (Shah Rukh, Ambanis, Bachchans) to exclusive Sabyasachi Mukherjee saris for the inner circle (Poonam Dhillon, Mana Shetty, Firoze Gujral et al) to wear to the mehndi. Other guests went home with boxes of glass bangles, a pouch with bindis, kajal pencil and so on, and a gift pack from Ravissant. More on this, another time.
