And where did you stay in your struggling days?
I stayed for a while with Raja Rao, the well-known novelist. His house had a fantastic view of Chowpatty. Early morning, I could hear his neighbour Sushila Rani, the wife of Baburao Patel (editor of Film India), playing the sitar. Raja Rao introduced me to film star Motilal, another neighbour. Down the road from Chowpatty was Nariman Point which was a lover's paradise those days: there was the sea lashing the rocks and a picturesque promenade. Now most of it is reclaimed and built upon with skyscrapers galore.
I enjoyed driving at Marine Drive then; but of late, I let myself be driven around everywhere by a chauffeur. There are too many autos on the roads now with some unmannerly drivers zipping in and out. Earlier, I could zoom from Bandra to Churchgate in 20 minutes.
And your first job...
The British were still in India and World War II was on. I started working in the military censor office at Churchgate (the LIC building stands there now) for a salary of Rs 160. I remember, in 1945, the building was rocked by a naval explosion at the docks. I was in the office when the famous explosion occurred. Splinters were flying all over and people were running helter-skelter for cover. But I wasn't afraid; I don't panic easily.
Don't Miss: The unforgettable Nutan-Dev Anand chemistry
Advertisement
