The Toronto International Film Festival wasn’t just about Hollywood A-listers. Adding to the zing was a gaggle of Bollywood actors
The first day of the Toronto festival saw the evening screening of “Dhobi Ghat” at the city’s elegant and old world Elgin Theatre.
Tickets, sold out well ahead, were being bartered in black. The cast and crew arrived late for their red carpet parade, which alarmed even the unflappable co-director of the festival and selector of Indian films, Cameron Bailey, waiting to receive them.
The reason? Aamir Khan’s car and later he himself were mobbed en route. The packed hall awaiting the film’s entourage started with the usual starstruck frenzy, with loud hoots and shrieks of “I love you, Aamir”. Then came Cameron Bailey’s introduction on stage of the film’s representatives.
Kiran Rao, completely in control, led her two female leads, Monica Dogra and Kriti Malhotra, Prateik Babbar accompanied them. Thundering applause broke out as Aamir took the mike. He said that he fell in love all over again with his wife when he read her extraordinary script and he’d to fight his way into being cast by her.
The audience was cosmopolitan even with its vocal Indian component. Surprisingly they watched the film in taut silence. They got totally into the mood of the film, taking Aamir’s entrance without a trace of the usual squeals that a star elicits.
It was Prateik who drew chuckles and laughter as he played the simple dhobi with a guileless candour that was totally endearing. The film ended to a loud and prolonged applause.
A nervous Prateik followed on stage minutes later, and literally stumbled at the sudden vociferous standing ovation he received.
