A Rendezvous With SRK & Dippy!

Oh wow, what a day it was! Dec 5th, at Balli station in Cancona, Goa. 7 of us crazy fans braved the Goa sun from 11 am to 6 pm, to spend an amazing day with the King Khan, Deepika and Rohit Shetty, at the shooting of Chennai Express.

As Rohit's door-ke-guests, we got into the inner circle, accepted and approved by the dozens of dark blue safari-clad bouncers and personal body guards. With the best possible location, personal attention from the director and his assistant, juice and lunch with the crew, we couldn't have really asked for much more.

The King Khan arrived around 1250, his gleaming white BMW 740LI rolling to a stop, the bouncers scrambling to put a protective cordon even as the door open and the stunningly fit and handsome Shah Rukh stepped out, his aviators, black shirt and jeans-clad look flooring everyone around. The aura clearly stunning everyone into silence, SRK waved at us and passed, inches from where we were standing, spellbound. 5 mins later, shot taken, the King graced us again, this time turning back at our call, to acknowledge us in his trademark adah, before getting behind the wheel of his Beemer and leaving for his gleaming, imposing grey DC-designed vanity van a short drive away.

Rohit came by a few mins later, stopped by to chat, posed for some photos with us. He also left word with his assistant Vidhi to make sure we get to meet Deepika.

It was a long wait, as Deepika was sleeping in her vanity van. We got almost-apologetic running updates from Vidhi as Deepika got dressed and ready for the shoot. And then, suddenly, at around 230, the door of her van opened, and out she stepped, looking like an angel - tall, extremely fit, and looking stunning in her ghagra choli. Let madame finish the shot, then she will come to meet you, said the bouncers. But we had Rohit on our case. Vidhi whispered something to Deepika, and she turned course, coming straight to us! How are you, who do you want to be when you grow up, she asked my niece, taking her hand. Where have you come from? Are you all from Goa? Oh, you have come from Pune? What do you do? She spoke like Meera straight out of Cocktail - refined, confident, polite, true. While we swooned, and her bodyguards objected, she spent over 5 mins with us, signing the various pads and DVD covers we put in front of her. Photos weren't possible at the time, since she was in costume, but wait for packup, and we will click pics, she promised. Do you want to come watch shooting with me, she asked. But dumbstruck as we were, someone said no, we will wait here - and then she was gone.

We had had enough for a lifetime, but more was yet to come.

The Khan arrived for the evening shoot. How do you do, he asked my sister, who managed to mutter "good good".

It was amazing to see SRK, Deepika and Rohit on the sets - the making of Chennai Express, right in front of our eyes.

There was also enough time to go check out the King's Beemer from close quarters, and pose for pics with it.

We had just one wish left - to meet the Khan one on one, and get some autographs. Please, can you wait till packup, asked Vidhi? But we needed to catch the bus, and we were running very, very short of time. Let me try, said Vidhi, and then came back with a promise - wait 30 mins, and he will be with you, she said. He was in the middle of shots, and it was impossible for us to wait any longer.

And finally, at 615, while hundreds others pushed the cordons to try and get closer, we had to walk away from a chance to meet the King Khan.