Amitabh Bachchan, dressed in a lemon embroidered kurta-pajama and beige mojadis, accepted birthday greetings from the media at Janak then escaped to Jalsa where his family was waiting. They brought in the birthday with him the night before. But Aradhya, his granddaughter who will be five in November, had been sleeping. The actual celebrations would begin now! It would be over an extended brunch.
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There was no special birthday lunch. No cake cutting. Simple vegetarian ghar ka khana prepared by a maharaj with his favorite dal-chawal and aloo-bhindi on the menu. Lots of namkeen stuff too, like puri aloo, chana, dosai, idli, and plenty of sweets, shrikhand puri for dessert. There was no birthday dinner outside. He doesn’t like restaurant food. If he ate out, it was Italian or Chinese vegetarian. Friends were welcome home. Fans, he stepped out to meet. The height of celebration was being home with the family.
Work beckoned after this, he was beginning Sarkar 3 for Ram Gopal Varma and Thugs of Hindustan with Aamir Khan for Yash Raj Films.
What was special about the day to him? “That it’s also the International Day of the Girl Child and Vijay Dashami (Dussehra). I’m happy that Salim-Javed gave me the name Vijay.” How did he begin the day? “By wishing Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu for their 50th wedding anniversary!” he said.
{{/usCountry}}What was special about the day to him? “That it’s also the International Day of the Girl Child and Vijay Dashami (Dussehra). I’m happy that Salim-Javed gave me the name Vijay.” How did he begin the day? “By wishing Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu for their 50th wedding anniversary!” he said.
{{/usCountry}}From HT Brunch, October 16, 2016
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