Be curious
I realise my columns have been sporadic, but please trust me when I say that at the end of the day when a writer takes a break from working on a script, the last thing on his mind is writing!
While working on the music, I was reminded of an episode that occurred while we were shooting the first Don. We were in Malaysia shooting the scene in which Arjun Rampal pays Boman Irani a surprise visit. While the camera crew were lighting, I noticed a book on the shelf that had a title to the effect of Answers to a hundred questions you’d never ask. How can the inquisitive human mind resist such a title?
In it was a question: ‘What is the probability that in a room filled with 23 people at least two of them have the same birthday?’ Intriguing. I decided to put the theory to test. I got my assistant to write down the birthday’s of the first 23 people he met in the room. Guess what? We had a match. 23rd of October. What made it more interesting was that it was 23 people out of which the common date between 2 was the 23rd. Impressed by the theory, I read on. The gentleman who came up with this probability happened to be invited for a chat with the legendary talk show host, Johnny Carson, on The Tonight Show. They tested the theory with the studio audience, hoping to find a match for Mr. Carson’s birthday and now here is the really freaky part. His birthday is on the 23rd of October.
With my entire body covered in goosebumps, I excitedly told a friend working on the film with me what had happened. What he said made me put the book back onto the shelf permanently. He said “Today is the 23rd of March and quickly look at the time.” So I did. It was 11pm. On a 24 hour clock, that is 23! Why did this happen? At the end of the day, that book with the question would still be in the room, those two would continue to unknowingly share their birthday with Mr. Carson, it would still be the 23rd of March and 11 pm happens everyday.
To me, the lesson learnt was to not be afraid or reticent to indulge my curiosity. Every choice we make, from reading a new book to picking up a new instrument, from meeting friends for an impromptu gathering to traveling somewhere alone, all these and the like create opportunities to live life with a revitalised soul. To experience life as it should be experienced, a great big adventure filled with unimaginable possibilities. Peace out.
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