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Happy Birthday to one of my finest inspirations!


From where do I start? My love affair with this man started way back in 2004 when he had auditioned for a reality show MTV Roadies of which he eventually turned out to be a winner. I have been told that this wasn't his first tryst with fame. Earlier, he had also won a reality show - Channel V; Popstars in 2002.
Geeky and scrawny then, donning the typical silver metal framed glasses (which all of us did then until the advent of plastic frames) there was still something about him that I was drawn to. I loved the way he conducted himself even though Roadies as a show is known for all the masala and hyped politics.
Thereafter I briefly forgot about him until he emerged as a VJ on MTV a couple of years later. I do not remember much about him except for his appearance in two spoofs which were based on Chak De  and Jodha Akbar.I am a sucker for spoofs and anybody who can pull off a mimicry with a finesse like his always has my heart. That's exactly when I knew that this man is here to stay - not just in my heart of course.
Known as a man who is immensely confident of himself, I remember he somehow always managed to stay in the limelight. Starting from being a host on Star TV to compering various award shows with the creme de la creme of the bollywood industry and a couple of music singles here and there. Till date his "Yahin hoon main", "Paani da rang" & "Haareya" are my all time favourite tracks.
My love affair eventually blossomed after the release of Vicky Donor in 2012. I still remember having watched the movie with my parents and guffawing like a child at his dialogues. This followed with his next  set of movies Nautanki Saala, Gulcharrey and Dum Laga ke Haisha.
What I love about him is the simplicity with which he acts. It doesn't appear to be a put on act at all. Moreover, his reactions and facial expressions are priceless! A part of me couldn't control my laughter having seen him in a serious movie like Article 13. Although he was fabulous in it, at some point of time I expected him to break out into his usual self. But that's what acting as a profession is - you ought to play characters which explore a different side of you.
I still remember the day he was in Bangalore to perform with his band Ayushmaan Bhava and I had booked a VIP ticket just to stare at him from a safe distance. I had decided to go solo to this concert so that I have all the time in this world to admire him in peace. I remember looking at him and wondering, how lucky is his wife? To come home to a man like this everyday. A thought which i wish my partner would have for me in the near future, but that's a different story.

Contrary to popular belief, this wasn't my first encounter with him.I remember he had attended a promotional event here at Soul Sante Bangalore for Amazon Fashion where he had walked just past me or rather walked alongside if I may correct myself. Of course, he was escorted by three huge body guards while I was happy in my own cocoon of having seen him from such a close distance. I was too high on ego to ask him for a selfie albeit I reassured myself that having seen him from such a close distance was my only solace - like I could have touched him if I had stretched out my hand a bit.

Success always looks easy once achieved. Like the tip of the iceberg, no one can really fathom the amount of hard work that has gone into the endeavour and that's why this man is an inspiration to me. A common man who struggled against the odds, believed in himself and succeeded on his own terms.

Someday in life  I would like to share a cup of coffee with him over a casual conversation but for now I am happy with the smaller things in life. I look forward to his latest release "Dream Girl" this afternoon to enthrall myself. What better way to commemorate him on his birthday eh?


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