Crossings

Despite bereavement Nahid distributes gajaks

Nahid Khan showed up this morning after a ten-day hiatus. She was away at Lucknow to see her ailing brother and returned with an aggravated BP condition on Sunday. On the very same day, by some strange coincidence, Arun Patil took out his red SUV and hit the road for Lucknow to shoot for Muzaffar Ali’s upcoming movie, Raqs. He won't be back before May.

Arun Patil

Nahid’s brother is no more. Barely two years elder to her, he had been suffering from brain fever and was virtually on his death bed when Nahid went to see him. Within four days of the brother-sister meeting, he breathed his last. “It seemed as though he was waiting to catch sight of me before departing from this world,” Nahid said, strangely, at peace with herself. She even brought Lucknow’s famous gajaks for everyone, in spite of being in mourning.
Arun is providing the special effects for Raqs and will be away for six weeks at a stretch. A period drama with debutantes Imran Abbas Naqvi and Pernia Qureshi sharing the leads, it is being filmed at Lucknow’s historical Kaiserbagh Baradari.

Harbans Kaur

Arun’s job is to recreate the regal splendor in the interiors of the grand, white stone palace built by Wajid Ali Shah in the mid-nineteenth century.
“Since there was no electricity in those days (when the film is set), the challenge for the special effects' team is to provide facilities for concealed illumination,” Arun informed. Amitabh Bachchan and Zarina Wahab play supporting roles in the film which is being bankrolled by an overseas production house.
Then we have Harbans Kaur who surprised us by announcing that she must leave for Ludhiana with her husband today. She has a family home there which needs looking up once in a while. She promises to be back within a fortnight. We wish the couple an enjoyable and safe trip.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Nahid-ji, our deepest sympathies go out to you. May God give you the strength to bear the loss of your brother and may his soul rest in peace.
Harish Wadhwa:
My deepest condolences to Nahid-ji for the loss of her brother. Losing a loved one is indeed painful and I only wish God gives her the strength to overcome this pain.