As Close As It Gets

It was a bright afternoon a few years ago. And opportunity had come a knocking at my doors...mmm, well, almost. It was when I was working at Concern India Foundation, a social organisation. An opportunity to act opposite Aamir. Wow!

A friend of my then-colleague (now a dear friend of mine) was coming to meet her. And we sat on the terrace of our office building, getting all excited about meeting this filmmaker friend of our colleague.

He was assisting with the making of a film that starred Aamir Khan. We had not heard of the movie or the cast except for Aamir Khan. The movie had then sounded like one offbeat movie that starred him with a then-little-known Nandita Das. The shooting was happenning at some place in Purani Dilli (Old Delhi). The movie, as was described to us by this colleague, was based on a certain novel, The Ice Candy Man.

The friend was explaining howAamir had not quite attracted the attention of the crowds and that things had been pretty much smooth...no rushes of crowds and stuff. However, there was one hitch.They were not being able to get Burkha-clad women for a scene in which Aamir needed these women actors as co-stars. Sharing screen space with Aamir for all of 10 seconds and he wasnt getting actors!!! My eyes appealed to him - "Ask us, including me!!! Just try and ask us. We would do the scene for free." Wow.

The next thing I know is that I was offered the role by this filmmaker and I had promptly accepted the role. I was standing with Aamir, Burkha in place and the shot getting ready. The weather sucked. It was very hot and in the Burkha, it felt even more so. I felt a tap on my shoulder. My colleague was tapping my shoulder. Her friend was leaving. Whoa?...Where was I? Gosh...had he or hadnt he asked the question. I woke up from my reverie. I was on the terrace with the sun shining hot and bright. I was not in a Burkha. Reality dawned.

But what the heck, I was offered the role. To act with Aamir. Well, almost...This was as close as it would get. :-)