Shahrukh mania

Yesterday morning, soon after the mail was dropped from the door slot, I heard N get up from his chair, go to pick up the mail, going back to his room, opening something and then coming to the living room where I was reading. He then stretched his arms slowly towards me, I look up and in his hands was something I had secretly longed for.

It was Shahrukh Khan 'My Inner World' DVD. A 2 DVD package documenting the story of my favorite Bollywood star, Shahrukh.

Fun fact: Till this day N tells me he regrets the day he showed me a Shahrukh Khan's movie. Not because they are bad, not because he hates him, but because I got 'cutely' obsessive with him.

N would have liked me to be impartial with Bollywood actors. For instance, he would have liked me to prefer Aamir Khan as well or even better, Salman Khan, his childhood movie hero.

But I guess I like Shahrukh because of his life story and the way he made it into Bollywood, a movie industry that has been widely dominated by sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters of Bollywood moguls. Sad fact: You had to be rich or know someone in the industry to become an actor.

Shahrukh was not rich, knew no one, lost his parents when he was young and married the woman he fell in love with. He fought on his own until one day he became what he is today, The King of Bollywood, 'King of the world', Shahrukh Khan.

From the successful movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge., ( which is the movie that probably made me notice he was cute ) to movies like Kal Ho Na Ho ( I was sold at that point! ) there has been something in each of them that keeps you coming back for more. More romance?, more Shahrukh Khan lovable expressions? Who knows.

My mom says it's his charisma. He has it. He owns the whole room. No wonder that many women around the world adore him and dream to meet him . Take me, for instance. If it wasn't because I was married, I'd have Shahrukh Khan posters all over our bedroom wall :)

Soon after we finished watching  tearful, joyful and cherishable Shahrukh Khan life moments I couldn't help but feel happy at the thought that N tried and succeeded to surprise me despite him being TOTALLY jealous of Shahrukh Khan, King of Bollywood. What N doesn't know is that he himself, is King of my heart.

How I felt in love

The first time I saw it, I thought it looked corny. It had some charm though. Could convince me yet. There was this intermission. Wait a minute, it's capturing, it's capturing....it's capturing me!

This somehow hidden world of mine, full of desire for music and dance, fantasy and glamour was suddenly exposed to N. He had made me fall in love......... with Bollywood films.

When we started dating, N thought of no better thing to do but to introduce me to his own culture by showing me all time Bollywood classics. Dating him was like walking down memory lane. I've learned about his childhood by the memories all these movies bring to him. I am thrilled.

Like many of my friends, I had heard before of the word Bollywood. I thought this was a really cheap copy of Hollywood. Nothing can beat Hollywood, I thought. How ignorant of me to think that.

Bollywood is all but a cheap copy industry. It is a constant creation of worlds and fantasies. It is a school of art and beauty. It is the lesson for old and new generations about family values and social behavior. It is a soothing melody to the wounded hearts.

To quickly prove my statement to you, I want to introduce you to one Bollywood movie song. This song is from the movie Lagaan ( Tax) and the song is called Mitwa.

When you see and hear it for the first time, it might appear so corny and really cheesy, but look closely and pay attention to the melody again and your eyes,  heart and ears will encounter beauty. Every single maneuver, every step taken is candy to the eye. Just the choreography for this song must have taken months to create.

Aamir Khan ( the lead actor, dancing in this video) just shines in his moves. He is totally dedicated to the presentation of this work. The same goes for the lead actress, Gracy Singh, perfection in action; God's reminder that beauty is more than giant trees and flowers. The music and dance are just wonderful.


You don't believe me? See it for yourself.