It was one of the nicest days of my life. As I entered the stately, quaint building ofthe Nizam club, I saw an elderly gentleman in dhoti and white kurta peering over thenotice-board of the club. I instinctively knew that this was the man I was going to dinewith—the renowned film director K.B. Tilak. I’d heard a lot about him, but nevergot a chance to meet him.
I was observing him much like you assess a new batsman at the wicket—a giant of aman with a spine so straight and proud, a smile that lit up the eyes. He escorted me tothe dining hall, showed me the menu and even singled out the specialities. We ordered somesoup to begin with—chicken corn for me and the all-time favourite tomato soup forhim.
Soon we got down to talking and I was surprised to know that he was also a freedomfighter who was jailed in 1942 during the Quit India movement. His films have reflectedhis personality—films with social messages, patriotic war movies. He is a socialworker who feels deeply about the Indo-Pakistan relations. No wonder he asked me if wecould play women’s cricket in Pakistan. I loved the idea.
In the meantime, the mughlai food arrived. He had ordered teetar, baby corn withvegetables, dalcha (lentils with mutton), bagara baingan and the famous chickenbiryani of Nizam Club. It was a complete Hyderabadi meal topped with some fruitcustard for dessert. If this wasn’t enough, Tilak had also ordered some mutton chatniwhich he told me was a favourite of Nani Palkhiwala. A sports lover to the core, he knewof my recent performance in New Zealand and kept introducing me to his friends at the clubas "the pride of India", words that touched the core of my heart.
This world is a better place because of people like K.B. Tilak. I would call him a trueall-rounder. He has struggled for the needy, fought for the country and now makes filmswith a cause. He has played hockey in his heyday and is interested in all other sports aswell. He has immense energy and drive and yet is a simple, humble, down-to-earth humanbeing. His life is a lesson in motivation and strength for me. Playing for India andwinning for my country is always special. So is it meeting true champions and chips of theold block like K.B. Tilak.
