Meeting celebrities

I have always faced this question – what do you do when you meet a celebrity?

I see lot of Bollywood, TV, Politicians but I am okay to have a glimpse of them and move on. I am most fascinated with the sports personalities and I make every attempt to approach and have a word with them. But again, what should I say? How do I make them to listen to me? Will they remember me? May be not, but could I say something different than what they hear on a regular basis from their fans? Well, here are 3 stories I have to share . . .

May 22, 1997 at round 5:30 am Chennai Airport – This was a day after India Pakistan Cricket match and India lost big time thanks to Saeed Anwar’s historic 194 runs. I was waiting for my flight to Mumbai. There were hardly 10 passengers on the air port besides the staff and crew. To my surprise, I saw Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Nayan Mongia, Abey Kuruwilla and Dr. Ali Irani walking towards me to board the same flight. We had 20 more minutes to board. Unfortunately my camera was checked in already. I got my phone diary (yes, I used to have paper diary that time :) ) and approached toward none other than the Sachin Tendulkar. He was on his seat and when I handed over the diary and pen he just took it without looking up. Here is how the conversation went:

Me: Good morning, tough game yesterday (yikes, bad start :( the only thing I did was I spoke in Marathi)
ST: Yeah . . . happens . . . . (hmm . . hote kadhi kadhi)
Me: That's okay, you have been playing lot of Cricket lately (chalatach . . tumhi khoopach cricket khelata aahe sadhya)
ST: (Looked at me now) – hm, very few people think like that way . . . (khoop kami lok asa vichar kartaat . . )

And done, shook his heavy hand, and moved to others. Kambli was on his usual tantrums but that is beside the point.

Sometime in Summer of 2004, Maggianos (Italian Restaurant) Oakbrook, IL (Chicago Suburb) – a group of people from work went there for lunch. While at it, we saw William’s sisters coming out of one room and heading towards the pub area (which was empty in the morning). Three of us including my manager immediately went behind. By the time we reach, Venus headed to restroom and it was only Serena out there with couple of well dressed bodyguards. I was the first one who took couple of steps towards them. The bodyguards immediately moved and suggested me to stop. My manager, an African American lady, said “We are huge fans”, on this Serena looked at her and okayed the guard. Now, here I am next 3 steps, trying to think what I will say and here is how the conversation went:

Me: Hi – and shook her hand . . .

That was it, I went speechless after that. Reason – my palm got entirely wrapped into hers. I felt like a new born and some adult holding my hand. Words wanted to come out of the mouth but heart and mind did not gather enough courage and next moment I made way for others.

15 August 2009, Dahanu at around 9:45 pm - a small get together at the dinner a night before the marathon. PT Usha, Valasamma and Shiney Abraham (Wilson) were there. There were lots of kids around, so I took pictures and decided that let the kids have fun. There was buffet and I got into line for food. As luck would have it, PT Usha finished her soup and came behind me. Here is how it went:

Me: Hi
PT: [smile]
Me: [deep breath] Mam, I just wanted to say something; I was 9 when you made the history, that was awesome! I truly appreciate what you did for our country and personally for people like us. Thank you!
PT: huh . . . thank you . . . thank you
Me; So how was your journey?
PT: I am really tired; I thought it would be 1 hr drive from Bombay . . . . and now this late dinner . . . .
Me: yeah . . .sorry about that
PT: What do you do?

. . . . and it went on for another 5 min before someone interrupted us so that Reliance GM could meet her . . .

So there it is . . . I think I am getting better at this . . . :)

But besides appreciation what do you really talk to these people about?