Page 117 - Govind 70th Birthday Book

Let me start on a happy tone of wishing you a happily eventful 70th birthday There was a time when 70 felt – OMG! SO OLD. But now as we too draw closer to the milestone, it feels quite the opposite, besides a few creaking bones which is OK. Flashback to the 70’s – My sister was literally cradle snatched by you – still in school when she was booked, but still star struck with the stars of yesteryears. I still remember the countless visits to the homes of film stars and waiting endlessly outside their homes to get a tiny glimpse of them and the thrill which film shootings gave us, though now they would be utterly boring. At a formal family lunch at Oberoi Hotel in Delhi, her Phupaji came and announced that the stars of the film ‘Sharmilee’ which had just been released were at the same hotel and he could arrange meeting them there and then. Fiance, In-laws , lunch – everything and everybody was put on the backburner- and Vibha (in her yellow sharara) and all other sisters and cousins ran to meet Shashi Kapoor who at that time was perhaps at his handsomest best – wonder what you thought at that time?!! And also wonder what you thought of the yellow sharara which when she donned at that time (and sometimes we too got a chance to do so), we used to walk, think and feel a bit taller. At the time when I first met you, I was a gauche teenager quite in awe of the propah Englishman always dressed formally with a neck scarf and playing cricket in the lawn of Golf Links Delhi - I was dumbstruck for years.
So Cheers to you on your special day for being the ideal son, son-in-law, husband and father. I don’t think my sister could have asked for more.
lawragA utiR