Amitabh Bachchan's Official Blog

DAY 1875

Jalsa, Mumbai June ¾, 2013 Mon/Tue 1 :51 AM

The rains came in today .. albeit in a small and gentle drizzle, but came it did, bringing that much needed relief from the oppressive heat, over the past month. The temperatures came down, there was a sense of change in most attitudes. The frowns of discontentment, during the harsh summer days seemed to have disappeared, and an expectancy grew within most … of change !

But before all else, I need to express my extreme gratitude to all those that wished me for our important day, sent greetings, made collages and pictures, sent flowers and gifts and made us and the home feel refreshed with the essence of the most sweet smelling flowers … thank you all, your being with us makes all the difference …

The rain today seemed auspicious .. in our culture at least. And I have often wondered why so. I can only presume that because rain here in this country has been only seasonal and scarce, its out of turn occurrence has lent it a flavour of auspiciousness, close one would assume to an almost divine giving.

May I then share a small personal incident on the topic ? On the 3rd of June 1973 .. as I was setting out to marry Jaya, there had been a slight out of turn drizzle. Our neighbours I remember had run over to our house, knowing of the impending marriage ceremony, and hastened us to set out, for the rain was a signal of good tidings !!

There has been work as usual on this day - a commercial for Binani cement, shot at an old closed down mill in the suburb of Parel/Byculla. Mumbai has always been a textile centre and the mills abounded in these areas, until .. it was felt by authorities that as Bombay, then , grew in size and was getting habitated by the large number of people living around the areas surrounding the mills, the pollution factor was not conducive for humans. The mills were asked to be shut, and given alternative space further away from the city. This is perhaps one of the more official stories. There were great battles with and within the mill workers too, and many labor leaders, unions, gained prominence politically during those times. I am not quite aware of these stories, and find it best not to.

But the closed mills, dilapidated and uncared for, are now immense value as far as the land they occupied is concerned. There are disputes too on holdings. Bit where they have been sorted out, the space has been sold at exorbitant rates to builders and developers, for the construction of commercial complexes and apartments. Some, where disputes still exist give the premise out to film company’s for shooting purposes - the paucity of shooting studios in the city giving cause to it. I was in one today where matters have perhaps still not been sorted out, or may be they have, for I saw some commercial activity within the complex as well ..

There are some great pictures depicting all this with me tonight, but its late and resizing them for blog shall take an enormous amount of time. I need to get to bed. The back is beginning to get somewhat obstinate and my early call tomorrow , needs consideration ..

I shoot for a film being produced by Sanjay Dutt’s wife Manyata. It is another friendly appearance … a gesture .. and is being directed by an ex journalist lady, who after training in the US for the job, has been taken on board.

Some things one does in life, without asking any questions ..

More again tomorrow … with the pictures hopefully … and with more love ..