And, so, as I said some weeks ago, it is time to say farewell to you, my friends. I tried my best till I could but I can’t any longer. I am a human Kher after all. But the load is getting heavier with time and time in turn, is playing havoc with me. I am too busy with too many things both mental and physical — my company, J. Radical, my own work as an actor which I have taken seriously again because of the incessant request from thousands of admirers like you, my endless rounds at doing all that I can for the sick and the downtrodden, my theatre workshops and now I am about to stand on the most delicate threshold of my life. I am all set to direct my first film. That’s why I sometimes ask God to grant me more than 24 hours in a day, some more stamina and many more ideas (not that I have a head full of ideas already) to carry on the good work which he has helped me all the time.

It was great while it lasted. I received countless letters both in the Screen office as well as my own office and my home. It started off on the art of acting but I was forced and inspired to switch on to general subjects because my readers had tremendous trust in what I said, advised or valued.

I feel happy for all whose answers I could find the time and inclination to answer. I did not answer all of them because some or most of them were irrelevant and couldn’t be answered in a serious paper like Screen which many called ‘‘The Bible of the industry’’. No, I am not going away for ever. I will come back to Screen in some form. I will never forget all those readers who kept on writing even though I didn’t answer their questions sometimes. My prize for the man who kept on asking dozens of sensible questions almost every week goes to Mr. T.R. Anand of Sarangabad.

Let it not be farewell but fare-well. Till then Good-bye, Namaskar and Shabba Khair.

Your own, Anupam, who will always be your own.

SANJAY SAWANT, Satara:
I am not a communalist but why have so many Marathi artists made their entry into Hindi films of late?
Just because they are talented and the Hindi film industry is woefully lacking in talent. This is one industry which has shown the world that it doesn’t believe in `isms’ when it comes to talent.

LEENA PATEL, Pune:
Why don’t the police take action against acting schools which are in most cases disguises for various kinds of nefarious activities?
You know as well I know. All those who run these ‘schools’ know how to run them without getting into trouble. They are all occupied in one big racket and nobody seems to be doing a thing about it, the authorities concerned in most cases.

SURYA SHETTY, Bangalore:
Do you feel nervous on the eve of starting your first film as a director?
Very sure and very very confident. I would not have taken such a giant leap otherwise.

SUNITA RAO, Kanpur:
I have just returned home after trying my luck to make it as an actress. I couldn’t even make it as a junior artist. I will always curse the industry that gave me so much pain.
No, no, why curse the entire industry because you couldn’t make it? There must be something wrong somewhere or destiny must have played a dirty hand. You should have known yourself before falling a victim to all kinds of sharks who gave you all the pain you talk about.

SUBHASH CHAKRAVARTY, Calcutta:
Why does Mithun Chakraborty not shoot in Mumbai?
Some questions are very delicate to answer. It is better to leave it to the parties concerned. One thing, however, Mithun is sure. He will never again shoot in Mumbai come what may. This statement naturally leads to more confusion and controversies which are best untouched in these dangerous days.

RAMDAS SHETE, Kolhapur:
Why do Punjabis always get preference when it comes to acting?
It was very common at one time. Not any more. Now we have only one community which is given preference, the community of the talented only. l
P.S. This is the last column of Anupam Kher. Next week we will start a new column based on writers.