Am writing this blog in Mumbai, where am visiting for a day. An official passport to end the monotony of Delhi winters and experience the heat. The city of bollywood where stars break and make news. I have heard that Mumbai is a city of dreams, where dreams come true. I have often wondered is this the only state where people can make big, or is it just because we have Bollywood here?
As I stepped out of the airport, I could see auto rickshaw drivers dressed with a fashion statement which was seen and appreciated in 'Hero Hera lal'. They are a brand in themselves and are known to follow the meter as a rule and are pretty honest. The legendry fiat taxi's, which am sure are vintage cars now in Delhi, have still maintained their status in Mumbai. Borivalli, kandivalli, Juhu inscribed on the rear window shields of the taxi and inner walls all decked up with Bollywood star pictures.
When I noticed people on road, many of them dressed in Maharastrian dresses, I felt it is just a cultural state, like many other states in India such as Kerela, Goa, Kolkatta, Andhra etc which have their own traditional dress up. Ladies have the Veni hanging in the hair and men have a long Teeka on their forehead and most wearing Nehru Topi. But then there were others who follow Rohit Bal, Manish Malhotra’s of the fashion industry. Even men are dressed to walk on the ramp and gals have not left any cosmetic brand, untried.
Are they dressed to be hooked by some producers or director on the road, as has been heard of many hero’s like Akshay (from waiter to actor), Jackie (from street don to actor) etc. Their dreams zoom to the big bill boards on the streets where there posters would be displayed some day.
While travelling to my office, I was taken aback by the site of the slum on the way heading to the nice building on Bandra Kurla Complex, the upcoming business hub. The area stinked, there was water accumulated around the area, there was a huge dump of garbage which was full of flies and then there were some kids playing just next to the bin. The big hygiene campaigns advertisements rolled in front of my eyes, in which big stars often talk about what best facilities should be provided to children of India.
I wonder, what would be the dreams of these children, to get stomach full food everyday, or wear a school dress some day and go to school. Some of them might actually be working in the Bollywood serving tea/drinks to the superstars everyday and sometime being thrashed for not doing it professionally.
Next morning when I reached VT station at 8.30AM, it was a pool of people and nothing but the people, which I often see on TV, as a representative of Mumbai. People running, pushing and struggling to reach there work location or earn a living for the day, many of them from middle class who cannot afford to buy a car. Some of their dreams would be to save enough money to afford a house in the increasing real estate prices, a good school for their children and other such basic needs which are impacted due to ever increasing population and limited amenities.
Are these the impacts of Mumbai being a city of dreams, which makes people leave their luxuries and successful careers to be a part of this city. It is not deniable that Mumbai has all the opportunities for the people with creative talent because Bollywood and its adjacent industry – Music, Investment, production, Advertisement, Marketing – create all the opportunities. And there have been stars who have made big here, starting from scratch and establishing themselves to big names. I wonder what percentage of them actually become successful, while rest of them still continue to live on to achieve it some day.
And what happens to those who have it all. Would they will always be as successful as they are today. There have been some, who have had good times but in their old age they died without recognition. People forget their name, their contributions and for the new generations they are almost extinct. What is the span of the fame, which they all are running after and where their dreams take them eventually!!
But these instances, cases, situations don’t deter people from following their dreams and landing into Mumbai. And the most encouraging part is the magic in the city which makes it possible. It was true for me as well, as I got to meet Bobby Doel, my favorite hero at the Mumbai airport.
A long cherished dream which came true, Thanks to Mumbai, the city of dreams!!
As I stepped out of the airport, I could see auto rickshaw drivers dressed with a fashion statement which was seen and appreciated in 'Hero Hera lal'. They are a brand in themselves and are known to follow the meter as a rule and are pretty honest. The legendry fiat taxi's, which am sure are vintage cars now in Delhi, have still maintained their status in Mumbai. Borivalli, kandivalli, Juhu inscribed on the rear window shields of the taxi and inner walls all decked up with Bollywood star pictures.
When I noticed people on road, many of them dressed in Maharastrian dresses, I felt it is just a cultural state, like many other states in India such as Kerela, Goa, Kolkatta, Andhra etc which have their own traditional dress up. Ladies have the Veni hanging in the hair and men have a long Teeka on their forehead and most wearing Nehru Topi. But then there were others who follow Rohit Bal, Manish Malhotra’s of the fashion industry. Even men are dressed to walk on the ramp and gals have not left any cosmetic brand, untried.
Are they dressed to be hooked by some producers or director on the road, as has been heard of many hero’s like Akshay (from waiter to actor), Jackie (from street don to actor) etc. Their dreams zoom to the big bill boards on the streets where there posters would be displayed some day.
While travelling to my office, I was taken aback by the site of the slum on the way heading to the nice building on Bandra Kurla Complex, the upcoming business hub. The area stinked, there was water accumulated around the area, there was a huge dump of garbage which was full of flies and then there were some kids playing just next to the bin. The big hygiene campaigns advertisements rolled in front of my eyes, in which big stars often talk about what best facilities should be provided to children of India.
I wonder, what would be the dreams of these children, to get stomach full food everyday, or wear a school dress some day and go to school. Some of them might actually be working in the Bollywood serving tea/drinks to the superstars everyday and sometime being thrashed for not doing it professionally.
Next morning when I reached VT station at 8.30AM, it was a pool of people and nothing but the people, which I often see on TV, as a representative of Mumbai. People running, pushing and struggling to reach there work location or earn a living for the day, many of them from middle class who cannot afford to buy a car. Some of their dreams would be to save enough money to afford a house in the increasing real estate prices, a good school for their children and other such basic needs which are impacted due to ever increasing population and limited amenities.
Are these the impacts of Mumbai being a city of dreams, which makes people leave their luxuries and successful careers to be a part of this city. It is not deniable that Mumbai has all the opportunities for the people with creative talent because Bollywood and its adjacent industry – Music, Investment, production, Advertisement, Marketing – create all the opportunities. And there have been stars who have made big here, starting from scratch and establishing themselves to big names. I wonder what percentage of them actually become successful, while rest of them still continue to live on to achieve it some day.
And what happens to those who have it all. Would they will always be as successful as they are today. There have been some, who have had good times but in their old age they died without recognition. People forget their name, their contributions and for the new generations they are almost extinct. What is the span of the fame, which they all are running after and where their dreams take them eventually!!
But these instances, cases, situations don’t deter people from following their dreams and landing into Mumbai. And the most encouraging part is the magic in the city which makes it possible. It was true for me as well, as I got to meet Bobby Doel, my favorite hero at the Mumbai airport.
A long cherished dream which came true, Thanks to Mumbai, the city of dreams!!
