Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan dug into the treasure trove of his memory to bring out this wonderful story about the time he was shooting for Ajooba. This is the memoir he posted on Facebook verbatim.
"This is Shashi Kapoor the director in the film 'Ajooba', a fantasy film on the lines of Ali Baba and Flying Carpets and Gini's, made in collaboration with a Russian Production - a co production of sorts, with a mix of Russian locations, artists. I believe this is a picture taken on the sets of the film in Russia, then Soviet Union, when we were shooting at that wonderful world renowned location of Yalta, on the Black Sea.
Politically and historically known, because of the famous conference that took place between the Allies and USSR during World War II, but also climatically known to be a great health resort because of its climate, environment and the 'air about it'. Especially for asthmatic patients. A location where the leaders went for rest and relaxation.
I took a flight to Simferopol, I think and then drove to Yalta, a couple of hours, past the 'Bear Mountain' - a huge chunk of mountain, which looks like a bear stooping down to drink water at a water body ... An amazing sight! Did the Russian symbol of the 'bear' come from this? I wonder!
One confirmation that the picture is taken in Yalta, USSR then, now in Ukraine, is the missing stick in the hand of Shashi Kapoor! In Mumbai when we started shooting he would move around with a stick on set, gathering his troops and bringing them to order, and generously using it if indiscipline occurred! He lost the stick in Russia! Thank God!
My Mother's role in the film which had Dimple Kapadia opposite me, was played by a top Russian actress. She spoke her dialogues in Russian and we in Hindi... And we did quite well. The film was released in Russian and Hindi.
Many fond memories of the film and indeed of the entire stay in Russia and the friends that we all made, still remain so recent and fresh in our minds.
On a pleasant and cold evening while taking a walk by the seaside, I noticed a man from a small shop looking at me and making gestures with his hands, that looked like he was rotating something, and then would quickly switch to his fingers as though they were flicking a coin ! I wondered if he was inviting me to a game of roulette! But when my interpreter asked him what he was doing it was revealed that he was acknowledging me as an actor of the film 'Sholay'!
The rotating action was the rotation of the film reel in the projection room, and the coin flick... Well do I really need to explain that?"
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