Veteran journalist Ali
Peter John, on his 67th birthday, released his book Love Letters From Legends
To A Vagabond - a collection of fifty letters to him from the legends of Hindi
Cinema in his career spanning fifty years. Interestingly, the occasion saw Ali
Peter John receiving his 51st letter from Shah Rukh Khan.
Ali Peter John's book,
Love Letters From Legends To A Vagabond, printed by SL Prakashan, has letters
from Dev Anand, Amitabh Bachchan, Sunil Dutt, Dilip Kumar, Jacky Shroff, Rekha,
Jaya Bachchan, Subhash Ghai, Sonu Nigam, Pran, Yash Chopra, Vinod Khanna,
Sachin Bhaumik,Raveena Tandon, BR Chopra, Simi Grewal, Hridaynath Mangeshkar,
Lata Mangeshkar, Ramanand Sagar, Rohini Hattangadi, Dara Singh, Sooraj Barjatya,
Asrani, Amrish Puri, Chandrashekhar, Bhawana Somaaya, Rishi Kapoor among
others.
Ali Peter John's column
Ali's Notes in Screen was a feature for 44 years. Bachchan admits in his letter
of the impact of Ali's column on him, "I walked out of my house today
feeling better, a little more jauntier, and my adrenaline flowing in excess...
I really have no words to adequately express my joy and my thanks for the
coverage of my interview today."
"Water offers great
resistence to nothing but flows around all things but it will erode anything
that stands in it's way for long. With its character of flowing over, under, on
the sides, in front, in the back and through anything which it erodes, it is
almost impossible to stop. Always remember that whenever its flow stops... it
starts to stagnate! I believe our lives should be lived in such a manner!! You
should be proud of yourself 'cause I am!!!," writes Rekha.
This is a feeling that
Kumar Mohan, Eidtor-In-Chief, Bollywood & TV Reporter echoes, "Ali
Peter John met with an unfortunate accident that cost him his toes recently.
The next morning from the hospital, he sent me his next column. Such is his
energy and zest for life."
Subhash Ghai admits that
Ali Peter John is "motivating" while Vinod Khanna confesses that Ali
Peter John has "lived a full life and expierenced more than an average
human being."
Simi Grewal says that she
touched and moved by Ali Peter John's beautiful feelings that "I wish this
piece could be published in every magazine in the world."
Lata Mangeshkar admits
that she has been reading his column and tells him "you have always been
very generous in your words of praise for me."
But the last word comes
from Dev Anand who writes below his note "from one of your fans, love Dev
Anand."
Need we say more!
