Farewell Karachi Book Launch: When Amitabh Bachchan Broke His 18-Year Media Silence

Eminent journalist Bhawana Somaaya recently launched her compelling new book 'Farewell Karachi' in Mumbai. Furthermore, the event featured distinguished guests Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi at an exclusive club gathering on May 30.

Chirag Thakkar from Bloomsbury moderated the engaging conversation throughout the evening. Meanwhile, the book explores Bhawana's family history and their migration journey from Pakistan to India after partition.

Personal Fears and Family History

Bhawana opened the event by sharing deeply personal experiences about displacement and uncertainty. Additionally, she spoke about her persistent fear of homelessness stemming from her family's partition experience.

Her family had to abandon everything in Karachi before migrating to India during partition. Consequently, this traumatic experience shaped her worldview and inspired her literary work.

Initially, Bhawana wanted to visit Karachi as part of her research process. However, various circumstances prevented these planned trips from materializing over the years.

Creative Inspiration from Bollywood

Finding herself unable to visit Pakistan, Bhawana drew inspiration from an unexpected source. Moreover, she remembered Yash Chopra's approach to filmmaking that didn't require physical location visits.

"I kept thinking that I should go to Karachi," she explained during the event. Meanwhile, she recalled how Aditya Chopra advised his father about making Veer-Zaara without visiting Lahore.

This realization became her breakthrough moment for completing the book project. Therefore, she told herself, "If Yash Chopra can make Veer-Zaara, then I can do this too."

Shabana Azmi's Encouraging Words

Shabana Azmi, who has known Bhawana for over four decades, provided heartfelt support during the launch. Furthermore, she acknowledged Bhawana's long-standing desire to visit her ancestral city.

"Ever since I have known her, she has always expressed her desire to go to Karachi," Shabana observed. Meanwhile, she predicted that completing the book would eventually lead to that journey.

Looking directly at Bhawana, she added encouragingly, "Now that this book has come out of you, you will go. I am sure that day will come!"

Hilarious Celebrity Encounters Through Mother's Eyes

The event's most entertaining segment featured Bhawana's stories about her mother's unfiltered celebrity opinions. Additionally, these anecdotes revealed how ordinary family members view famous personalities.

Her mother had strong opinions about everyone in the film industry. Meanwhile, she shared these thoughts without any consideration for diplomatic niceties or professional relationships.

About Javed Akhtar, her mother complained, "Javed wears coloured kurtas. I don't like it." Furthermore, she compared Shabana's simple cotton sarees unfavorably to Rekha's diamond jewelry choices.

Shah Rukh Khan's Hair Problem

Bhawana's mother also had specific observations about Shah Rukh Khan's appearance and behavior. Moreover, her comments reflected a generational gap in understanding contemporary stardom.

When asked about Shah Rukh Khan's popularity, her mother responded practically after watching him on television. Meanwhile, she focused on physical details rather than his acting abilities.

"His hair is falling on his face. I can't see him properly," she observed critically. Additionally, she noted, "He's jumping from one end to another," showing her confusion about his energetic performance style.

Amitabh Bachchan's Historic Phone Call

The most remarkable story involved Amitabh Bachchan breaking his 18-year media silence specifically to contact Bhawana. Furthermore, this incident showcased both the actor's persistence and her mother's suspicious nature.

Bachchan hadn't spoken to media for nearly two decades when he decided to call Bhawana. Meanwhile, her mother answered the phone and immediately became suspicious of the caller's identity.

When Bhawana returned home, her mother casually mentioned, "Amitabh Bachchan had called!" However, Bhawana didn't believe this could be true given his media silence.

Mother's Fraud Detection System

The next day, Bachchan called again while Bhawana was away from home. Additionally, he questioned her mother about not conveying his previous message properly.

Her mother responded with typical directness, "Meri beti bahut busy rehti hai!" Meanwhile, she implemented her own verification system for celebrity callers.

"Kya hai na, aaj kal bahut khota phone aata hai," she explained to Bachchan. Furthermore, she demanded proof: "If you are the real Amitabh Bachchan, then share your number. My daughter has numbers of all film stars."

Persistence Pays Off

Despite these initial setbacks, Bachchan persevered in reaching Bhawana directly. Moreover, he finally managed to contact her during early morning hours before office time.

"Maine do baar phone kiya tha," he told her during their eventual conversation. Meanwhile, Bhawana chose not to reveal that her mother had informed her about the calls.

This incident marked Bachchan's return to media interactions after his lengthy silence period. Consequently, it became a significant moment in entertainment journalism history.

Additional Celebrity Observations

Bhawana's mother continued providing commentary on other industry figures throughout the years. Meanwhile, her observations often focused on practical details that others might overlook.

About Anil Kapoor's wife, she noted approvingly, "Anil Kapoor ki wife barabar khayal rakhti hai uske status ka. Barabar gift bhejti hai." Furthermore, she based this assessment entirely on gift wrapping quality.

These stories highlighted how celebrity interactions appear from ordinary family perspectives. Therefore, they provided refreshing insights into the entertainment industry's human side.

Emotional Family Moments

The event also featured moving readings from the book itself. Additionally, Shabana Azmi read excerpts about the family's harrowing boat journey from Pakistan to India.

Javed Akhtar contributed by reading about Bhawana's sister Seema Thakkar's near-fatal accident and recovery in the 1970s. Meanwhile, Shabana held the microphone during his emotional narration.

Seema Thakkar attended the event and became visibly emotional during these readings. Furthermore, she later shared her own memories about their family's supportive upbringing.

Sister's Touching Testimony

Taking the microphone, Seema spoke about their father's progressive parenting approach despite ordinary circumstances. Additionally, she praised how he educated all eight children to become double graduates.

"There was never a situation where I was told, 'You are a girl and don't do that,'" she recalled gratefully. Meanwhile, she noted how this changed only after marriage into a traditional joint family.

Her testimony added depth to the book's themes about family values and social progress. Consequently, it reinforced the evening's celebration of both literature and family bonds.