COMIC RELIEF – MINDING ONE’S OWN BUSINESS!!-EPISODE 10

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Donald D'Silva, Karkala, Mira Road
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By Donald D’ Silva, Mira Road, Karkala

Donald D’ Silva is an Advertising Professional & Brand Strategist managing his own Digital Marketing Company in Mumbai. He writes about Current Affairs, Political Analysis, Bollywood Happenings and a variety of Social subjects.

WHY CELEBS DO NOT LEAD A HAPPY LIFE? IS IT BECAUSE BEING CONSTANTLY IN
THE LIMELIGHT?

Background:

(There are four friends who were thick and thin in their childhood. They were inseparable. Now, today they are in their 50 s and late 50s. They regularly get together and make merry as they have made their money and are well settled in their lives. It is the case of jumping early into business and tasting success. Two of them have taken VRS and settled down.)

  1. Jeevan Shetty: He is the owner of three Bar & Restaurants. One in Mangalore and two in Mumbai. A billionaire in his own right. From Karkala.
  2. SathishShenoy: He has a cloth store in Moodbidri. He has two veg Restaurants in Mumbai.
  3. Richard Almeida: He has one Bar & Restaurant in Mumbai.
  4. Melvin D’ Mello – He has two night clubs in Mumbai.

(The four friends again gathered at Jeevan Shetty’s house. Booze flows as the conversation gathers momentum)

Jeevan: Hello Friends, Welcome all! Now Udupi and DK are trying to break records it seems! People are vulnerable. No vaccine in sight!

Sathish: Our NGO is helping most of the deserving people. We have to increase our spending. Distributing food packets is a success. But, more and more successful people from our land need to come together to help the poor guys.

Richard: Today, I have brought ‘Black Dog’. Let’s trip on this.

Melvin: Thanks! Richard……we have a new subject on the ‘Grumpwell bridge’ naming fiasco now. It has been noted that the fight is on for its naming. Someone says name it as ‘Veer Sawarkar Bridge’ and there is a shout from certain quarters to name it after ‘Freedom Fighter’….’ Rani Abbakka Devi’!

R: Abbakka Devi seems to be the apt name. She single-handedly fought the British. She had great guts!

J: She is a Chowta…..a great family belonging to us…the Shetty community! Her close aide, her minister ‘Kamaraya’ betrayed her! So much for the British’s idea of divide and rule. Same happened with ‘Tipu Sultan’ as well!

S: The traitors were punished by the British as well after their victory. They were unceremoniously killed by them as well!!

M: The bridge is a case of the sorry state of affairs now…..the rains we so far have is only moderate! There is a heavy load of rains waiting to hit us!! The sideways of the bridge has already started eroding!!

R: Grump has his own problems!! The US is divided with his policies! He is unable to come to the support of the bridge’s wellbeing! Ha! Ha! Grump ran away to the bunker, recently and took shelter. The protestors gathered at the White House…

Grump was terrified!!

M: He stopped the WHO funding. Isshi Jumping has manipulated it and the head honcho into succumbing by putting pressure. China has not disclosed the death count and also not updating the present casualties!!

S: Jumping became the President for life….and the world is suffering due to this!! China, to save face, has attacked India at Ladakh and has usurped our land!

M: The Chinese want to save face!! There is no other option, but to turn the world’s attention towards something else!! Earlier, it was Dokhlam…. now….it is ‘Ladakh’! Grump wanted to intervene…. India aid no…!! First, come and visit the ‘Grumpwell Bridge’ and repair it, it was the reminder!! Loads of Malaria drug was shipped…still…it seems none has been used…..Grump’s threats are ignored by China!!

S: Grump has exhibited US Naval power recently!! The Laser-guided missiles!! It shook China!!

M: China is preparing for war…. the media goes abuzz! But, with whom!! They are caught and unable to save face!

R: Grump may give a befitting reply…. but…only after repairing his bridge “Grumpwell Bridge” Ha! Ha!

S: He is desperate to win the Presidential elections. The death count in the US is increasing day by day. Forget the ‘Grumpwell Bridge’, he has to bridge his differences with his supporters and the opposition, the Democrats!!

J: Let’s forget Grump now! Jokes apart, the roads are being dug and repaired since a year. Again the roads are being dug! What does this mean?

S: The middle of the concrete roads has a thin gap in the partitions! The bicycle riders are having a tough time and their tyres are stuck in the middle. Why this callousness on the part of the MCC administration? The gap needs to be filled!!

M: Even, the other two-wheelers may fall down! The contractors are equally to be blamed as well!! No concern for the people at all!!

R: I wish the administration wakes up fast!

S: What were you saying about the first family of Bollywood Melvin, some time back?

M: Any business one takes or any game, industry one mentions, there is always a first. We have the Nehrus/Gandhis as the first family of Independent India, also the Tatas are the first industrial families. Similarly, there is a whole lot of mentioning of first families and the firsts always remain in people’s minds for time immemorial!

Similarly, the first family in Bollywood has been the great Showman ‘Shri Raj Kapoor’s’ family’. But, since two years the media has done an about-turn and is now taking pride in positioning the showman’s mantle on superstar Amitabh’s shoulders!! Intelligent choice, no doubt. But, still, it is difficult to digest that, just because our ace showman’s family is unable to follow successfully in the footsteps of the great Raj Kapoor, we should not discredit him and we should always pay respect where it deserves.

R: Well, all said and done, let’s take a peek into the Kapoor family and find out as to who is successful and who failed for what reasons?

So, the theory of, Raj Kapoor’s being the first family of Bollywood is not palpable to many journos, as Amitabh., Abhishek and Jaya Bachchan are three stars in the family who are going strong day by day. So, whoever is in the news is the showman today. It is the bitter pill the Raj Kapoor’s family has to swallow.

J: I have a point here! The great Raj Kapoor and his wife Smt. Krishna Kapoor had five children. The eldest is late Ritu Kapoor (Nanda). The second is Randhir Kapoor. The third is Rishi Kapoor. Fourth Reema Kapoor (Jain) and the last is Rajeev Kapoor. Ritu has married the Escorts Corporate Czar, Mr. Rajan Nanda and also was an entrepreneur herself.

S: Yes! She was the most celebrated Insurance agent of LIC and runs an office in Delhi and has a turnover of more than 250 crores, all by managing the show single-handedly.

All insurance guys the world over state her as an example of how a bored homemaker can start her own business and carve a niche of her own and come successfully out of her husband’s shadow.

She is a role model. Her son is married to Shwetha Bhachan, daughter of Amitabh and it was seen as a Fevicol bond which will last till eternity. So to say

M: In the whole family, late Rishi Kapoor is someone who is the true flag bearer of the Kapoor family. He enjoyed the eternal lover boy image for two and a half decades and today still has the talent for great acting and is hunting for roles which go well with his age. His devoted wife, Neetu Singh Kapoor, yesteryears successful actress, quit films after marriage (Raj Kapoor diktat? Heh!), but has been a good wife and a good mother. Their elder son Ranbir Kapoor is very successful!!

R: Their daughter ‘Ridhima’ is married to a businessman. Rishi directed ‘Aa Ab Laut Chalen’ in 1998 and it was welcomed by the audience with open hands. The publicity and the timing of the release played a villain, still, it raked in the moolah. The happy couple will go on with their life. Rishi is the only Bollywood hero who introduced 26 heroines in his career.

J: Yes! Can’t avoid some memories of Tabu in Pehla Pehla Pyar, Divya Bharathi in Deewana to lot many other heroines young enough to be of his nieces’ age. The other sister Reema has married into a Jain family and she is away from movie publicity and puts in measurable appearances on special occasions.

M: But, today the first family of Bollywood belongs to Amitabh Bacchan….Jayaji, Now nowhere….Abhishek Bacchan…then Aishwariya Rai who is still going strong!! So, the theory of Raj Kapoor’s is the first family of Bollywood is not palpable to many journos, are three stars in the family who are going strong day by day. So, whoever is in the news is the showman today. It is the bitter pill the Raj Kapoor’s family has to swallow.

S: No doubt, their’s is the first family of Bollywood.

J: Salman is the reigning superstar, but his family apart from Salim Saab and the erstwhile vamp and dancer Helenji…..none are successful!

R: The sons sold the RK Studios for a whopping 500 cr to Godrej group. They have pots and pots of money, but, none dare to invest in movies!!

S: They are afraid! Except for the late Rishi Kapoor!! What about the third son, Chimpu?

M: The last one is Rajeev Kapoor aka Chimpu Kapoor. He acted in many movies in the eighties. The first movie ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ was a smash hit., thanks to his father. Then ‘Ek Jaan Hain Hum’ was a hit. He ran for two to three years, then the decline started. The very producers who used to make a beeline for his dates ignored him completely and frowned on the very mention of his name. They avoided him like plague and disaster struck very badly! Chimpu hit the bottle very hard. He put on oodles of weight and there were no takers for him.

Under the R K Banner, he produced ‘Prem Granth’, but he alone was left to read it over and over again. Means, the movie was a celebrated flop!! He fell in love with Nagma and again married someone. Divorce followed. Now, he tries but fails, again and again, to come out of hibernation!

J: The Bollywood scandals we know…. like …the latest news, we talked about it earlier, still making rounds is about Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor. She is more into her late forties. She has a son from her previous marriage with Arbaaz khan. Arjun Kapoor is just thirty-three years old. The Bollywood industry and movie lovers are aghast.

This is going since long, but, they were caught by the paparazzi recently for seeking undue public attention during their outings. The trolls followed on twitter. But, shameless Malaika went after the trolls.

Neena Gupta in a frock stunned the public!! Once on Kapil Sharma’s show, he asked her, if she would like to enact the role in ‘Bay Watch’ made popular by the naughty Pamela Anderson. She replied “Well, I would love to…but…I don’t have her….B***s!! Archana, Kapil and the guests and the audience…all laughed their heart out!! She is a daring woman who lived a bohemian life!! She fell in love and married an already married man…. The ace West Indies cricketer… “Sir Vivian Richards”! Had a baby..girl.. ‘ Masaba’ out of wedlock and has no regrets at all!!

Kangana Ranaut failed to nail Aditya Panscholi in a sexual assault case. He obtained bail and is roaming around.

Kangana only has troubled Hritik a lot. Hritik now is silent on the subject. Incidentally, K letter word is lucky for His father, Rakesh Roshan, but K in the form of a woman has spelt danger for Hritik. He was harassed for life!!

S: Forget Bollywood, the other film fraternities say from the south also have their own share of scandals and negative implications as well!!

M: You are right!!In Tollywood…(Telugu Film Industry), Anushka Shetty’s parents are worried that there are no marriage proposals for their daughter. She has a problem with her horoscope. They are all visiting Temple after Temple to find a solution. There were rumours about her marrying Prabhas, but the story died down.

Heroine Shanvi Srivastava who has acted in a couple of Telugu films like Lovely, Adda and Rowdy is in a dilemma. She is after the Telugu producers begging for work openly. She even cried before the media. How desperate one can get!!

Akshara wants to work in Telugu cinema. Kamal Hassan is in no mood to launch her in his home production. Vidhya Balan is going great in her avatar of Late NTR’s wife in his biopic. Only time will tell if it is still on or shelved!

J: What about the Tamil Film Industry?

M: Actor Jai has not agreed that he is madly in love with actress Anjali. He said he has no plans to marry her now. But, will not keep it hidden if He does. He said media is speculating. Richa Gangopadhyay has admitted she and her Beau Joe have been married in both Hindu and Christian ceremonies. They may settle down in Michigan.

R: Rajnikant has kept a low profile. He and Kamal Hassan are very vocal about the latest two government salvos of NRC & CAA. But, as AIADMK has supported the bill in Rajya Sabha, these two are royally ignored by the media and people alike. They have started political parties but have no real power which can reflect on the masses as well as the government.

J: What about our own Kannada Cinema?

M: Kicha Sudeep has been called by a Tamil producer to be a villain again. He is already the villain in Dabangg 3, the Salman Starrer and a popular Franchise. Kicha is still speculating. Actress Aishani Shetty is in the news again. She has signed three films. Write set, Dharani Mandala and another film. Dharani Mandala is in the middle of shoot. She had directed a short film.

Now would like to direct good stories. ‘Deviri’, which is based on the great Editor P. Lankesh’s novel, Akka (Elder sister) is having the story told in a slum. There is no way they can shoot in a slum. So, Kavita the daughter who is the producer has put up a set of a slum at Shankar Art gallery on Kanakapura Road.

R: Shashidara Adapa is the set designer who has done a marvellous job! Actress Shruti’s driver Manjunath Singh committed suicide by hanging. it happened at Machonahaalli village in Bangalore. He had been working with her for many years. At 25 years, it is really no time to go. The reasons are still unknown. The police investigation is on. Darshan and his wife are in harmony. After the great ruckus happened earlier. Darshan’s market is improving day by day though!

J: So, like Hollywood, the whole film industry is abuzz with rumours and scandals galore!!

S: There is no reprieve, because of the regular stress, tension of enacting challenging roles always! This act works on the psyche of the stars involved! The Stars can’t lead a happy life!! There is always a great deal of tension and heavy pressure on the mind!!

J: Ok, therefore, they go astray!! Means straying in their relationships!!

S: It is because of no sense of security! Relationships begin and end drastically…. I don’t want to mention Ranbir Kapoor again….but, he is searching for true love and it is a never-ending saga!!

M: The celebs take to drugs to find solace, Sunjay Dutt and also the host of others embrace the bottle!!

R: But, there is no happiness though!! Only stress and tension!

J: Why can’t they live happily like us! We also have a lot of stress, still, we are calm and composed!!

S: Yes! We go about our lives like a normal person! I think there is a thin line between sanity and insanity!

M: Well said!! One should practice yoga, exercise and stay fit…see the likes of Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, Suniel Shetty, etc.

S: Some stars are into sexercise…Ha! Ha! Like a Bipasha Basu, Kangana Ranaut and the likes of Malika Sherawat.

M: Those are old stories…. now…..all are into different kinds of exercises….they eat well. Sleep well…. work out well

J: Like the way we work out in the mornings…. One should exercise to stay fit…!

M: That’s how…..we are hale and hearty!

S: Hmmmm

Yes! One has to follow a decent lifestyle…. proper diet and also need to lead a healthy lifestyle!

J: Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Salman…the Khan trios are fit!! So as many Bollywood and Southern stars!

S: The motto like us should be ‘One should enjoy the money; one has earned…. should not starve…or become a kanjoos! One should care for the money, but use it intelligently for one’s own well-being!!

J: Perfectly said……. The time is up for dinner…. friends! Let’s finish our poison!!

(All headed towards the dinner table)

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