Raj Sahab continues to rule our hearts!

He asked: Have you ever seen pictures speak?... and my answer was: Why would we keep them if they didn't?

- DR VIJAY DARDA

I had a schoolmate named Bhau Deshmukh. He was the son of a district collector and is now a doctor. As a child, he had the habit of writing letters to prominent personalities. Back then, notable figures used to send acknowledgments for letters they received. Bhau once wrote a letter to Raj Kapoor and showed me the acknowledgement he received. This sparked a desire in me: If only I could meet or at least see Raj Kapoor someday! At that time, I had no idea that a new story would be written on the golden pages of time!

On the occasion of his centenary celebrations, those golden memories came alive one by one, as if it were just yesterday! Back then, I was especially fascinated by four actors -- Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar and Sunil Dutt. However, there was a special kind of madness for Raj Sahab and Dev Anand. I got a chance to see Raj Kapoor in person during my college days. Students from our college were invited for the shoot of the song "Jeena yahaan, marna yahaan..." from the film Mera Naam Joker. I was one of them. Seeing my favourite actor up close filled my heart with joy, although I did not get to meet him.