Date with a Star!!! @ Vikas Khanna

I wanted to start writing this blog as a part of my new year’s resolution. I am already a day late but hey, better late than never. I am an Ophthalmologist and a Cornea specialist by profession, but my passion lies in food, art and travelling. Today I am writing about an incident in my life a few months back but it is so close to my heart that it only makes sense to start with this one!!!

So my first post is about a man!!! Not just any other man but he is the one who has inspired me in various ways. He is the one who taught me how to see positive in every curve ball that life throws at you and in no time you will be getting your strokes right and scoring home-runs. I was introduced to this person through a social networking website where I saw a post that a friend of mine had liked. I saw a handsome man with nice simple crisply ironed clothes sitting humbly admist few local south indian people on the floor and eating a simple meal off a simple stainless steel plate. That image of this elite man sitting in such a humble setting with no air of superiority within himself but a sense of belonging in that very atmosphere. It tempted me to look further into this man’s profile and I kept digging in and I kept getting impressed. Then I did a little more ‘research’ from my side by looking at his interviews and his books and the story of his life. And there I was awe-struck by this simple boy from a small town who had nothing but dreams in his heart and determination in his eyes out to reach for the stars.

Vikas Khanna- the picture that started it all

 

Today, he is a Michelin starred chef and restaurateur, an author to 18 books and probably the world’s sexiest man as GQ magazine calls him. But to me he was this man with an eclectic smile and a peaceful aura and certain stillness but loads of enthusiasm in his voice and substance in his words. It was announced, one day that he was launching a particular book in the city of dreams, Mumbai and as luck would have it, I was scheduled to be in the city that day. I made it up in my mind that I am going to visit this event and take a look at him in person. I was alone, dressed in a light sky colored kurta and a white dupatta, admist people like media personnel and hoardes of students from hotel management, chefs etc seated in the hall. I felt like a complete outsider to the whole crowd. I just went and seated myself in corner seat so as not to come in way but get a good view of the stage. Then the dhols started playing a Punjabi tune and this young ‘boy’, I call him boy because although he must be over 40 he has the enthusiasm and charm of a 20 year old boy, entered with his arms in the air, dancing to the tunes of bhangra. The music stopped and he was asked to sit on the stage when someone from the audience requested another dance step and he very happily obliged saying “Koi wish adhuri nahi rehni chahiye (No wish should be left unfulfilled)”. The programme went on smoothly and the successful book was launched. They then announced that he was going to meet his fans and media people and ‘Oh my God’ the swarm of people just thronged him like a swarm of bees throng a nectar filled garden. I too grabbed my copy of the book and rushed to get a closer look of him to believe that he, the man of my dreams actually exists. And then I heard a voice from behind “Dhwani!”I didn’t look back thinking who would call me in this hall full of unknown people. But she called out my name again and there she was my cousin who was visiting the event as a guest and knew him personally. She had the access to the VIP areas and she promised me to meet him and take his signature in a saner environment in the lunch room. I agreed and we headed to the lunch room. The lunch spread was scrumptious but I didn’t care. All I was worried about seeing the man. I kept thinking what will I tell him, how would I react when he would come in front of me and so on. I just ate a few scraps of food from my cousin’s plate. Then we were anticipating his arrival but the news came that he is delayed because he can’t say no to any fan and they weren’t just letting him go. I heard people talk about him as how he would ask the publishers to give away copies to the children to help them and spread knowledge etc. Finally he entered the room and the entire room was filled with the light of some different kind, may be it was from his smile or his presence. My cousin introduced me to him saying that I was an eye doctor and I still read all his books and I was a great fan of his. He is standing in front of me with folded hands and he gives out a hand saying, “Hi, I am Vikas Khanna” and I was thinking of course I know you are Vikas Khanna. Then he says to me, “Do you know it’s not the eyes that see, but it’s the brain that sees”. God knows what I was thinking but I blurted out “The eyes see but the brain interprets”. I repent till date saying those words. He was taken away for some pictures by his publicist. He hugged and sat on the table with the kids from his previous show. I heard from one kid’s mother that he stays in touch with them and helps them financially and professionally in all ways that he can and I was totally spell-bound by his generosity and caring nature. Then he sat for lunch and I got a comfortable place to stand just besides him and see him. I was so close to him like at an arm’s length and those were the few best moments of my life. I saw him as he conversed with his co-anchor, his publicist etc. Then he suddenly realized that I had been waiting for him for quite some time and he said “Oh, you are waiting since quite some time, let me sign your book for you”. I trying to be polite said, “Please finish your lunch, I will wait”, and he’s like “No, no you shouldn’t wait”. He took my book and asked my name and wrote a beautiful message that said “May the light shine in your life, love Vikas Khanna”. I was on cloud nine. But I still had one last wish to be fulfilled so I continued to stand there and he gave me the look and I said, “Can I get a picture with you, you can sit and continue your meal, I will ask someone to just click.” Then he did the sweetest thing ever. He got up from his lunch table (which I am really sorry I made him do), gave me a nice hug and asked the person to click a picture. I lastly told him that he is a big inspiration to me and he said “Main ta chote se pind da bacha hun (I am a boy from a small town). Those were my last words with him. My life was full of colors. He had officially made it the best day of my life. I saw him being nice and warm to everyone, no matter how hungry or tired he was. He was just nice and sweet and full of positive energy.

Vikas Khanna- writing a beautiful message for my personalised signed copy of 'AMRITSAR"

 

 

 

I love Vikas Khanna. I don’t love him because he is a Michelin stared chef or a successful restaurateur, I have never tasted his food, I don’t love him because he is successful, he is not affected by it, I don’t love him because he is the sexiest man, he is, but even if he wasn’t, I wouldn’t care much. I love him for the person that he is, the largest heart that he has, the philanthropist that he is, the enthusiasm that he carries on his sleeve, the positive aura that he exudes, and the fact that he is aware that his presence can change people’s life and instead of being arrogant about it he is sweet enough to make those moments even more special. When I was going through a debacle in my life I was introduced by destiny to this man and it changed the way I looked at things completely. It made me a positive person, filled enthusiasm in my blood and taught me how just a warm smile can change people’s lives. His life instances that he has opened to us through his books and interviews makes you want to appreciate the little things in life that you already have but also to keep yearning for more. His simplicity makes you want to abandon the materialistic pleasures and give in to simplicity in life. I think it was a destiny’s play that I be in the same city that his book was launched and the fact that my cousin saved me from being another lost face or hand to write an autograph on. Now I am waiting for another day that the destiny would want to shower me with affection and give me the opportunity to meet my IDEAL and my True Love and have a much more meaningful conversation with him.

Vikas Khanna with me