ONE IMPOSSIBLY FAMOUS local resident who heads several companies called up a friend last week and said, and I quote, “I want to meet Abhishek Bachchan, I hear he’s going to be Guest Editor of City Times. Can you arrange this for me?”

And he wasn’t joking. As I waited for Abhishek in the airy InterContinental lobby to bring him to our office I looked around at the bodyguards hired to protect him and wondered whether even these dozen or so imposing men were enough to handle his fans that night. And if you attended the Delhi 6 premiere you would have realised what a nightmare it was for security to keep away the thousands who had turned up to catch a glimpse of the star.

As for me I don’t have the privilege of travelling in a stretch to work, a billion in the bank, or a posse of beefy security men around me to keep my fans - oh all right, unhappy Hocus-Focus readers away. But I’m chuffed to bits that Abhishek wanted to do my job for a day. My job!

Back in our newsroom the CT team was super excited to report to a handsome superstar boss. They all turned up to work an hour earlier and I didn’t even have to ask twice. While the boys wanted to discuss cars, football and Aishwarya; the girls were happy to just get an eyeful.

Abhishek played his role as editor with mock seriousness telling us never to use the word ‘B*******d’and threatening to sack us if we made any mistakes. Chilling! He had a blast chatting happily about love, friends, family, movies and what it meant to be a ‘Bachchan’. With visible pride he noted his father’s photo published in the day’s issue of City Times and promised to fill us in on gossip about a certain actress. He listened intently to each question before answering thoughtfully, exuding an endearing childlike enthusiasm coupled with humility.

It’s tough being a star, I think. Always having to say the right things and being in the public eye, but Abhishek has admirably proved that he can handle the expectations and responsibility that comes with being Amitabh Bachchan’s son and is truly a shining star in his own right. Does he intend on making movies someday?  “I’m just happy acting. Being told what to do is what I do best,” he said with a smile.