Day of the autograph hunter…

Amitabh Bachchan posted this 1970s picture on Instagram for his 26.9 million followers to see. Bemoaning the fact that the day of the autograph seeker was gone. When fans expressed their love and appreciation like this girl, so full of gratitude, just look at her expression. “Now,” said Bachchan, “all you get is an emoji – if you are lucky!”

It is true, nobody seeks autographs anymore. Selfies have replaced autographs. They are more gratifying. Nobody keeps an autograph book but the phone is with you always. It’s possible for one to meet (by chance) a celebrity anytime. You never know when you are going to bump into a celebrity. A cell phone is the easiest thing in the world to draw out. And if the celeb is willing, a selfie is even easier to take. And more exciting and impressive to show.

Looking at Bachchan’s post, I dug out the autograph book of my boyhood. It has coloring pages and a red leather jacket. There weren’t many celebrities around then whose autographs I could take. And the book is full of sentimental farewell messages written by classmates on the last day of school. Among them one from the boy who become an underworld gangster and got killed in a police encounter.

I got Bachchan’s at a Filmfare Awards night. And Shashi Kapoor’s at the Breach Candy Club. He was in his car, impatiently waiting for his wife Jennifer, I engaged him in conversation. Sunil Gavaskar’s I got at Anjuman-e-Islam School where he was felicitated. Rekha and I were especially taken to meet. She denied me an autograph. “What to do? I can’t read or write!” she said. I didn’t know if she was acting.

About Mark Manuel

The above thoughts/content are proud copies from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.

With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.

Further

His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. He has interviewed almost every famous person. In the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.

Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. In a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work, Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward.

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