Phew!!
There’s always the day of the flat tyre. Today, thankfully, wasn’t that day!
It comes close though. Today, I’m flat… tired!
The high point of the day was seeing Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Parthiv Patel, by the poolside at the Taj, when they took some time out to shake hands with kids from the Sivananda Orphanage. (You guys can read about it here)
But what really hit me was how marketing, commerce and showbiz completely desensitises you from being YOU! I mean, I felt sorry for Sourav. He didn’t get one nose-digging private moment for himself. Cameras clicked away endlessly. He really can’t socialise much cuz he does not know any of them and he’s too tired. He’s scared to talk to journos cuz he does not know what quote of his will appear where and as how! He can’t give exclusive interviews to TV channels because he’s bound by contracts.
Worse, however tired he may have appeared to be at the end of days play, he had to take the effort to smile at the kids, at the organisers, at the press.
Again, clinically. Not out of true emotion, because he’s too seasoned to know that the event isn’t just about him meeting the children. He knows that it was the organisation’s effort to get some media publicity and funds.
The man spent 30 minutes at the venue, out of which, ten minutes, he just stood standing by the poolside waiting for Dravid and Parthiv, hardly speaking a word or two — he actually stood like a stranger in a crowd, only that everybody was clicking at this stranger as he looked into thin air. Couldn’t he have used those ten minutes to sit and mingle with the kids who had already been waiting for him for nearly two hours?
It’s tough to say that he’s insensitive for maybe he might have done it had it occured to him. I think it was more like he was tired. We all know what we are like when we are tired. The brain does not work, you just want to hit the bed after a tough day’s play, you know that the function organised is just a part of the job of being the celebrity. And suddenly, you stop being YOU.
Which is why I think most celebs seem to wear a mask. The smile is fake, the quotes are cliched, and the autograph… is just a contact of pen and paper!
I don’t want to be a celebrity, EVER! I’m so glad I’m just me!
Good night folks! And forgive the blog, it was written at the end of a really tiring day! He he!
Cheers!
MADRAS INK. 
That was a very good analysis of what might be on with the captain. Well I can imagine that as well. Certainly would never wanna be in his shoes.
As you said, thank god, its ME.
Thanks for the comment Vin!
Btw, there are some exceptions to the rule…
SHAH RUKH KHAN for example… he rocks…
no matter wat, even if he’s had a 22 hour long day, he’ll still be energetic for more action!
and very cheerful at that!
The most charming celebrity ever who actually seems to enjoy every moment of life!
He doesnt think its a price, in fact he says, wat price? i bet ppl wud die to be in my shoes!
ha ha! arrogant awrite, but honest at least!