Since chats are the most-read pieces these days, here’s one with a curious friend

When I first tell people what I do, they tell me they envy my job. Their view usually tends to change over the course of the conversation. Since most such chats are nearly always similar, here’s the latest sample.

Friend: You cover cinema? That’s so exciting!

Me: Yes. I started a couple of months ago.

Friend: You must be meeting all the big stars!

Me: Yeah, I’m supposed to.

Friend: So have you met Aamir?

Me: No. My colleague interviewed him.

Friend: Shah Rukh?

Me: I was there among the media outside Breach Candy Hospital on the day of his shoulder surgery.Friend: Salman?

Me: I was supposed to meet him but his dog died that day and my appointment was cancelled.

Friend: Hmm. Tell me, what do you cover really?

Me: Well, we do a couple of industry and trend stories and interviews too. I’ve met Deepa Mehta and...

Friend: The same director who made Salaam Bombay?

Me: That’s Mira Nair. Deepa Mehta made the Fire, Earth and Water trilogy. And also Irrfan Khan when Slumdog Millionaire released in India.

Friend: Haan, he’s a good actor... Even acted with Angelina Jolie. Lucky bum. But he’s so ugly. Did you meet Freida Pinto?

Is she really dating Dev Patel now? And she really dumped that Rohan…what’s his name?

Me: Antao. I don’t know man. No, I didn’t meet her— she’s been busy travelling. I met the slum kids though when I went for the Slumdog premiere.

... contd.