Chat with an ex-film star: Fall from the sky! Life, that is - By Dr Udaylal Pai

Some of you may have spent time in Singapore Changi Airport. All the three terminals are worth seeing experience. I have spent lot of hours in my life in that Airport. I have had vivid experience because of my habit of speaking to fellow passengers.
       There is a vegetarian restaurant in the mezzanine floor- after a long hours in aircraft with alien dishes, I would go there for desi idly sambar, though not very tasty. Three years ago, I have seen a man in late fifties having a coffee there. His face, which looked little pale and down, was very very familiar. After some time, I recognized the face - he was a famous film star during my college time.
        He had acted in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam movies and a contemporary of today's top super stars in South Indian movies. (I am not mentioning his name for reasons obvious)
          I have rushed near him and asked: "Sir, Are you Mr.X"
He gave me a blank look and said:"Unfortunately yes, you are right!"
           I smiled and introduced myself.
"Oh, a journalist. A vulture who wants to dig story of a fallen star!!!”
           "I am sorry Sir...I am not a film journalist. My area is techno-economy. I informed you about my profession, that's all. I have  been seeing your movies during my teen"
"Oh, a fan of ex-super-star"
          "Wrong guess again, sorry. I am not your fan. I liked your movies and I do remember few scenes too..."
"Ok Ok...Now I am not in the field...I am gone...." Then he has shown some gestures that I didn't understand.
           "Sir, if you don't want to talk, I shall leave. I have six more hours to board the connection flight to India..."
"Oh, same as mine...Ok...OK, let's talk...What' there? What do you want to know...?”
           "How are you sir?"
"Not good...:"Curt answer.
          After a while, I asked: "So, you left movie..."
"It is a long story Sir... I am very depressed man …and totally ruined"
            "Oh, I am sorry to hear that. Didn't you try to overcome that?"
"I tried everything I can, but of no use...Nobody can...it is fate...When bad times come nothing will work. Every bad thing will come together...Desitny...fate...my karma" he has run his thumb nail through his forehead.
             "Sir, I feel there is a mix of free-will and destiny in all our life. We have freedom, but within a bandwidth limit..."
"Scrap...." he looked at me and nodded himself: "You look honest, may be a cheat in disguise, who knows? But let me tell you...You won't understand. One day, people adore you....next day everything has gone... I am on almost the verge of suicide my friend, nothing is clicking...I am facing the bad, toughest time for the last few years...." he said. He really meant it. He looked sad and depressed. It's all written in his face.
               I felt empathy for him. "You said nothing worked for you...can you please tell me what all are the things you did?" ..............................Click here to read full article: http://udaypai.in/?p=131


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