I saw more than many people leaving Mumbai during Diwali, once known as the festival of lights. The stars, the big directors, all the men and women who had the money tried their best to forget the “wild forests” of Mumbai during these four days, forgot all the festivities and fireworks and food fiestas and fled to the nearest hill station or to some far away place, far away from the land of their birth, the land that gave them everything they had, the land that gave them their status, their stature, their shine both under the sun and the moon. They were fleeing out of fear. Yes, it was fear more than the festival fever all over the city. All those fireworks which were once considered delights to light up hearts, playthings with a lot of noise and sparkling scenes to be looked at in the sky withjoy were now seen with suspicion of the fireworks suddenly not turning into an attack or a counter-attack, then just a flash and flurry of fire light in the atmosphere. I had never seen so much fear, many sick minds living in the diwali in my entire life. The roads were deserted, the traffic was like it could had been in Heaven on Heaven’s diwali. The people refused to leave the security of their homes. Oh’ how I wish things were up with so drastic, so desperate, so dampening (of moods). Oh, how I wish all the love, peace and understanding have faded into darkness come back and splashed the workd with light all over again. We have had enough of all kinds of darknesses. We have had enough of all the dirty games played by Satan. We need light, friends, we need love more than the light we have been blessed with during all these years, these millenniums. Let there be light! God said and there was light. Let’s hope we can have the light, more and more light. Let’s hope we have a better and better Diwali next year.

TR Anand, Sarangabad:
Subhash Ghai’s Mukta Arts has gone public. Your comments, please?
Great, absolutely great, great enough for a man as great as the showman who is aiming higher all the time.

TA Sai Sudha, Sarangabad:
You solve everyone’s problems. Can you please solve my problems - Mathematics?
I love solving problems. It is a major part of my life. I would be only too glad to solve your problems, but I am sorry I am a big zero in Mathematics. I once answered all the questions in Algebra and my paper was displayed before the whole class. It was what I call “Creative Mathematics” at its best but what can you do when people don’t understand. I got a big zero for three hours of my creative labour at Algebra. What do you say? Not everyone can be a genius at everything. So, don’t worry. Do what you can best. That’s the last solution.

Mohd. Yusuf, Kazipet:
Why is Dilip Kumar not acting in films. What’s happening to Kalinga and Aag Ka Dariya?
The ‘God’ is seventy-eight. He had an open heart surgery last year. He is determined to release Aag Ka Dariya. I don’t know what his plans are for Kalinga. He had just to complete the music of the film and now his favourite music director Kalyanji is dead. But I know him as a never-say no Pathan. He will come up with something that will surprise the world. He is not ‘God’ for nothing.

John Simon, Coimbatore:
What stage of your career as an actor have you reached?
Frankly, I have a very long way to go. To be very frank, I am still waiting for roles that will give me the kind of position I have been looking for years. I am happy when compared to others but I am not happy when I compare myself to myself. What do you call this stage? Answers, anyone?

Satya, Hyderabad:
I want to be a film writer. What should I do?
You should write and you should write subjects that are original. There is no place or chance or scope for new writers who have nothing original to offer. Keep writing till you have satisfied yourself. You can satisfy others only if you satisfy yourself first. And for God’s sake don’t behave or feel that writing is a very easy job. It is the toughest, if you ask me. It is because of bad writers that this industry is going from bad to worse.

Satyam Shivam, Secunderabad:
I have a strange decision to make a film called Sundaram. What should I do?
Do a lot of homework. Select a right subject. Arrange for a lot of money. Be prepared to take all the risks. Work with all the right people. Work with the right intentions and everything could be ‘Sundaram’. Anything can happen here. If you have everything in your favour like I said.

Shyama Mehra, Mumbai:
I tried to make it as an actor and failed. Now my ..... daughter wants to try the same. What should be my advice to her?
Tell her of all the experiences, good and bad that you had to go through. Then if she is grown up and sensible enough, let her take her own decision.

Mumtaz Shaikh, Patna:
Why can’t someone make a full fledged film on Laloo Prasad Yadav. I can even suggest a title, Laloo?
I would like to play Laloo if someone dares to make a film on the daring life story of Lalooji. I would love playing the husband of Rabri Devi Laloo and their nine daughters. I would like to have a hair style like his but where is that someone who can make ‘Laloo’ or ‘Lalooji Ki Ajeeb Dastaan’?

Pyare Mohan, Ahmedabad:
I am twenty, pretty and I want to be a multi-talented personality like the late Kishore Kumar?
It’s one thing to know what you are. It’s quite another to know what people know you are. Any way, keep trying. There’s nothing like trying. Trying is a tough game which can change your life. So, keep trying Pyare Mohan. Meri shubh kaamnaye aapke charon ore hai.

Divana S, Rae Bareilly:
Why do people still think that India can’t make good heroines?
We have proven them wrong so many times. What can we do if they don’t like believing us. Ask any one who knows anything about heroines and they will tell you how good our Indian heroines are - some of these selling great, both in the earlier and the present generation.

Please mail your questions to: Through Anupam, By Anupam, Screen, Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400 021.