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The Mohan Deep Chat

Unusually, for a journalist he was not afraid of speaking his mind. And that's what made the 120-minute- long Chat a lot of fun.

Check out the transcript. No wonder Mohan's Madhubala is one of the biggest bestsellers today.

SNAP (Mon Aug 19 19:40:01 1996 IST):

Hi, Mr Mohandeep...

FilmFan: Indonesia, so what do u do......I'm really looking forward to questioning Mr Mohandeep on his autobiography of Madhubala........plus get a inside dope on the gossip mills

FilmFan: Indonesia, so what do u do......I'm really looking forward to questioning Mr Mohandeep on his autobiography of Madhubala........plus get a inside dope on the gossip mills

Filmfan: Do u think Bobby Doel hampered his image by getting married?

Hi Snap

Thanks.. S.. I am looking forward to that too.. hope he comes in soon :-(

Filmfan he will be coming in anyminute.so what do u do?

S.. nope I don't think so.. Bobby is too handsome for that..

Hey, is the guest of honour in yet?

Hi.. Me.. that's quite a handle..

Me: 15 minutes ....the countdown has begun.123456789

Hi..S..

Film Fan... ain't it, just! :-) Is the sun over the yardarm, where you are? Care for a mug of beer? (\_/....

Nope.. no beer, how about a glass of milk?:-)

\/ /\

Knock knock, who's there? *s*

Film Fan...gone to look for a cow, be right back... *LOL*

Me.. not a mad one I hope..*s*

Film F... Wasn't mad when I found it... can't guarantee its state of mind after I get done getting your milk... *L*

Hi, this is Nikhil Lakshman, editor, Rediff On The NeT and I'd like to welcome to our Chat Show, Mr Mohan Deep, the journalist and author whose biography of Madhubala has generated a great deal of controversy. Welcome Mohan and I hope all of you like this Chat. Thank you for joining in.

Me.. then it must be definitely MAD by now....look out!

How much do Indian writers get paid,Mr Deep?How much did you get for writing this great biography?

Hi everyone

Hey, does that mean Mr Deep-and-mysterious is already in here?

Hey.. He's finally come.. Hi Mr Mohandeep..

Mr Mohandeep.. is this your first and last Biography of a film star?

H'lo, Mr Mohandeep....

Sunny: Let's not go into the money part.(Hahaha) IT guys you know...Seriously,this is my first book in English,The question even I want the answer to is how much am I going to get for my second book!!!

Filmfan:Yeah the mysterious Deep-throat is here. Yeah,first and also last.I don't think any other film star would be as interesting.Politician,yes.UNderworlddon,yes.But not a film star,again.

Mohanji.. Tell me,, how did you gather information for your book? Did you speak to all the people you mentioned in the book?

Dear friends,how did you find my book on Madhubala?Be honest.Brutally honest.

I read in Outllok that Madhubala's family is upset with the book. They have called you a lot of names... how much of the book is fiction? How many years did you reaserch it? When was it written.. i mean in how many months...

Was it Nari Hira's idea that you write this book?

Mr Mohan Deep... Just curious about something - why is so much of film-writing concentrated on the who-sleeps-with-who thing? I mean, everyone sleeps around, irrespective of their profession, so how does it become news when a film star does it?

phew! finally made it. tell ya guys, traffic in bombay is a monster these days. hello all!!!

Why did you choose her? because she was dead?

Mohanji.. I will tell you honestly if you promise not to get bugged.. I found it quite crude...

Mr Mohandeep.. Actually.. I thought that there was no need to write about the Venus of Indian Cinema in such a manner.. No wonder you ruffled so many feathers...

er.. sorry to butt in like this,

Dear Snap: I spoke to everyone I have quoted in the book and also read everything I could get about Madhubala.It was an interesting period as unlike in case of stars like Meena Kumari (boring...),Nargis (maha-boring...)there was no book on this beautiful actress.Incidentally,some of the guys I interviewed tried to disown the interviews but Hahahah I had them on tape,and the tapes are still with me.A friend sitting next to me asks who was the star who disowned the interview.It was Shammi Kapoor.He didn't really deny.He underplayed his role and seeing the noise created by Madhubala's sister (who wanted some attention) he changed his tune and tone.The man who gave me so much juicy stuff about Madhubala made an about turn and accused me of cashing in on the dead.I hit him back but let's not go into all that.Let me just say in a line...Mr Shammi Kapoor fell in my esteem after that day.

The point is not whether it was crude or well written. I applaud the fact that it was written at all. There is too little of movie bios.

You mean, Shammi Kapoor, who is cashing in on the Internet so much that it would seem that he invented it.

mr mohan - this is veekay from hong kong. Is there any new hindi movie that I can take my small kids to and don't feel akward seeing it ?

But Mr Mohandeep.. being a journalist you should have realised that people back out everytime.. and Shammi Kapoor is notorious for that.. But seriously.. don't you think that his biography will be interesting considering the colourful life he has led? Any comments?

Mohanji.. But why have you defended her actions so much? I mean if she was a tease, what's the point in analysing that?

Tell me: Why did Madhubala disown Dilip Kumar? Was it because she feared Ataullah Khan? Did she recover from that blow?

Mr. Deep, do you have any juicy gossip on any current stars?

Salaam, Mohansaab! Do you think she was as good looking as Madhuri Dixit?

Veekay, are you Smita's hubby?

Mr.Deep,I think your book is the best biographical book I have ever read in my entire life!!..and I'm all of 45.Tell me,what inspired you to write it?

Is madhuri dixit getting married now?

Mohanji.. But why have you defended her actions so much? I mean if she was a tease, what's the point in analysing that?

Hunter, kya States mein pahunch gaya Mohansaab ka kitaab?

Mohansaab?

Mr Deep... Dunno whether my question was ignored because you didn't want to answer it, or because it got mislaid in transit... reposting: Why do people make a big thing about stars sleeping around? I mean, doesn't everybody?

Snap:I find it rather amusing that anyone should consider this book `crude'.Its going to be a part of film history.Twenty years down the line if anyone wants any info on the most beuatiful Indian film actress,he can look up this book.

Dear Filmfan,If not about Madhubala do you think I should have written about Tun Tun?

Dilip Kumar (I hope you aren't that Dilip Kumar!),Yeah Madhubala's family,rather one publicity hungry sister of Madhubala claimed to be up set.I couldn't understand why.First,I have written the book in a very positive manner,trying to understand Madhubala,and if I've written about her love life I have done it with understanding and respect for her.I don't at all believe that her love life belittles or degrades her.The Venus of Hindi Cinema had all the right to her love life.Rather,more.Her family is a little defensive because these jokers have a different set of values.Artistes live by different set of values.Madhubala did.She also has to be seen in the context of the sword of death hanging over her.Tell me what kind of love life a woman who has the entire population at her feet,will like if she knew that she may die any time?And can we blame her for that? Mr Nari Hira didn't suggest the subject.Actually,this happened nearly two years back at a party thrown by Magna.I offered to write a book for his,then new,book division.He asked for the subject.I asked for 24 hours since this was a spur of moment,over three pegs of whiskey offer.He said okay.The next day I sent him a one line fax.`I think a book on Madhubala can be sensational.'I chose her because I knew nothing about her at that time.Nothing.I had only seen three of her films.`Mughal-E-Azam',`Kala Paani' and `Chlti Ka Naam Gadi'.I thought I'll enjoy finding out about her life.I certainly did.

Hi K L saigal - I'm not smita's hubby.If so, who's hubby am I ?? Guess my dear !

Has salman khan married somy ali?

Hunter.. I am not talking about the info which was little anyway.. it's just writing...It could have been done a bit aesthetically you know..

Saigal bhaiya,States mein $8 mein mil raha hai yeh kitaab.

Mr Deep, are you in much contact with movie star? which star is the nicest person?

Snap:Let me ask you one question;Have you read the book,or have you only read only the review of some dude?

Mr Mohandeep.. didn't mean to offend you.. Another thing it was not really clear about the reason why did she not marry Dilip Kumar if she always got what she wanted.. According to your book.. her father certainly didn't have any control over her..

What kind of a person is Nari Hira to work with?

Hunter.. tell me something.. are you here to chat with Mohanji or with me??

Investigative reporting is one thing, sensationalizing is altogether another thing. Which catagory does this book belongs?

Dear Me,We write about `Who-is-sleeping-with-whom' because everyone is interested in the private life of public persons.As to why is everyone interested I think everyone likes to identify with the idols and find a justification for their own deeds (or misdeeds).Besides,I think in all of us hides a voyeur.

Dilip,If you wanna know the entire story about why Madhubala and Dilip Kumar didn't marry,you'' have to read the book.

Snap:I am justifying her love life because she isn't here to defend herself.Her family is maligining her by being so defensive,by calling my book the work of a sick mind,by their lies.I think I'm glamourising her...something she deserves.I genuinely believe that all great artistes have a right to live their lives the way they want.They give so much of themselves to us,can't we give them this little?

Investigative reporting is one thing, sensationalizing is altogether another thing. Which catagory does this book belongs?

Mohanji.. you are right.. but you have contradicted yourself in the book.. you say that Dilip Kumar had already fallen out of love with her, but the Naya Daur case.. he declared his love in front of so many people.. It's confusing...Please clear that for me..Thanks..

Mr Deep... by that justification, how come no one writes about the sex lives of Bollywood journalists, for instance?From what I hear, all kinds of things happen between the sheets - and I don't mean newsprint...

Mr. Deep, am I being ignored on purpose?

~Me~ who would buy that book if anybody did write about B/W jounalists.

Do you have any idea on who the subject will be for you next book?

Me:Who'll buy the book?:-)

Madhav... hey, does a voyeur really care if a star is sleeping with another star, or with a journalist?

Me~ do you mean you've heard rumors about stars sleeping with journalists? is that why the same bunch hog the tabloid covers all the time?

I thin Madhubala was very very glamorous and now she is even more so,after your book,Mr.Mohan.How much has this book sold?I read it in one sitting,spent the whole night.

Do you have the scoop on any current going ons in bollywood,that everyone is whispering about?

Why did Madhubala fall for a lardbutt like Dilip Kumar?

is he still here?

Madhav,I'm an investigative writer and everything I've written in the book is double-checked.I can challenge Madhubala's family or anyone else to meet me in any public forum including a court of law.I'll prove every word I've written as correct.If her story seems sensational it is only because her life was sensational.

Shaan: First,who is more beautiful...Madhuri Dixit.She is a beautiful person.She was a neighbour.If you want to know some hot gossip...Here is a sample but it has to be blind.A star-politician has a keep who he has settled in a building in Khar.The expenses are shared by three persons...He,a producer chamcha and a distributer.The girl is a Bengali. If you want another gossip item...Well,an actress who is very busy on TV and usually plays negative characters,is a lesbian.She makes a foursome with her so-called boy friend,an actress friend of hers and her husband...This is the kind of gossip I love to write.Unfortunately for you - all who have interest in the private life of public persons - the laws in our country don't let us write so boldly.

Shaan... :-) There's a journalist in here, why not ask him?

is he still here?

Mohanji.. you are right.. but you have contradicted yourself in the book.. you say that Dilip Kumar had already fallen out of love with her, but the Naya Daur case.. he declared his love in front of so many people.. It's confusing...Please clear that for me..Thanks..

Mohan, folks, let us keep off the innuendo, please. Rediff is a clean site, and we could skip the scuttlebutt. Please.

Snap:Dilip Kumar was under oath,I am not.Hahaha.But seriously,Dilip Kumar is known to have lied about Asma by keeping his hand over Holy Koran.His crediblity is zero,or less.

Why don't we skip the sleaze? Let us discuss the glory that is Indian cinema. Dilip Kumar is a great actor, a legend, the finest actor we have. Could we cut the crap about him please?

Hamburger:Thanx for the support and the compliments.I wanted them.The book is selling faster than hot kandha bhajia on a rainy evening.My work is beeing appreciated.

Mohanji.. why have you called her a narcissist actress? of course actresses are but don't you think everybody would like to have their partners or spouses for themselves? I am talking about Kamal Amrohi....

Mohanji.. why do journalist overrate themselves by believing that they make or break actors?

Someone early on in the Chat asked how many years you spent working on the book? no answer from you. Was it a quickie?

Bindu: Dilip Kumar is over-rated.Once upon a time he was a reasonably good actor and by manipulations,politics and playing games he got himself elected to greatness.The real great actors are Ashok Kumar,Motilal,Balraj Sahini,Sanjeev Kumar and Naseeruddin Shah.

I disagree. You can be a politician off sets. How can you manipulate your on screen performance?

Bindu:Yeah..this was a quickie but well researched quickie.This is why not a single statement can be disproved,and talking of months I took it took me 8 months.

Writing a book on Madhubala does not give you the legitimacy to criticise and dismiss Dilip Kumar.

Eight months to write a book is a quickie, Mr Deep. Peopl,e work on movie bios for years in the West, that is why their books are authentic. Your book will always be what it is-- gossip.

Since you talk of investigative journalis, what is investigative journalism in this country? There is no such thing. You delude yourself by calling yourself an investigative journalist.

Mohanji.. why do journalist overrate themselves by believing that they make or break actors?

Bindu:By maskofying/bribing critics,by brain washing the readers/viewers...There are many ways.Why do you think simple souls like Ashok Kumar were never considered great actors?In fact,I remember there was an entire lobby of journalists which supported Dilip Kumar and there was another lobby which supported Raj Kapoor.This happened at the time when `Ganga Jamuna' and `Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai' were being produced and released.I can go into details with names,incidents,happenings if you want.But then we will go away from Madhubala and myself.WHY DON'T YOU ASK ME SOMETHING ABOUT ME?

Mr Mohandeep.. why did she not marry Dilip Kuamr when she got what she wanted? Her father certainly lost control over her as your book indicated...

Snap: No,I don't think that one journalist can make or break a star.NO.But a lot of them together can certainly do it.Remember what happened to Amitabh Bachchan?

Mr.Deep, who do you think is going to be the next big superstar?

Mohanji.. how many years have you been in this profession? Do you know a lot of stuff on film stars? Which magazines did you work on first?

Bindu:Comparison with the books written in west is pointless.As pointless as the comparison of our films with their's.I insist that mine is not a gossip story since a man like my can write a gossipy book in less than a week.

Do you still contribute to filmi magazines or newspapers, or are you just working on promoting your book?

Good Evening Mohan! Tell us something about yourself...

Snap: I've been a writer from age 12.But I've been a journalist,and a freelance at that,for the last 17 years.I've written for scores of important publications.If you read you would know.

Shaan:The era of superstars got over with Amitabh Bachchan.We will only have mini-stars now,but happily for them they will make more moolah than the superstars ever made.Movie business is expanding.

Mr. Deep do you know if Madhuri is getting married, lot of gossip that she married a gujju doctor in chicago over the internet? Is the buzz going around in Mumai as well?

Mohanji.. How do you manage to get this kind of information? At parties? As a freelancer that must have been difficult...

Shaan and AjayK: I'm writing another book..This is a novel...and have one column in `The Daily' which appears every Sunday.I'm also writing some scripts for serials but they have yet to be made.My main obsession at the moment is my novel.`Madhubala' is a diversion.I'm not trying to promote the book.The book is promoting itself thanks to the life she lived ,thanks to her beautiful face and personae.

I've been a stardust, movie, cb, star and style reader for years? have you been Miss Kitty or madam M, etc. you sound like that when you don't mention names? Madhuri and Sridevi are not superstars?

Is your new novel going to fictionalize the movie industry or is it on something that's not related to the biz?

What is your novel going to be about?

Snap: Information comes to you if you're known for writing film columns.It is difficult for a freelancer if he attends parties (which I don't) as nothing much happens there except an occasional brawl.The information which is leaked to freelancers in parties is usually a plant.I get my stories ,rather used to get as I've not been writing gossip for quite sometime,is by using contacts and sources.Stars talk about their rivals,star wives gossip,make up men,drivers (always,always),chamchas,PROs and a lot of other people who live on the fringes of the industry provide information.For me the biggest source of information is my contacts with the police.Lots of times film people and celebrities need police help but they dislike the news becoming public.Here they seek help without registering the complaints.Such stories often end up in my kind of columns.This is why I dislike being branded a gossip writer.I write gossip,true.But my gossip is not a cooked up,table job.It is the truth about the private life of public person.

Hi!Mr.Mohan.Read your book.Its a very well written one,I must say.You've made Madhubala immortal.They don't make `em like her anymore.

Do you make enough money by writing to survive?

Bindu and Shaan: My next book,a novel,is not about film industry.In fact,except for a little character which appears in one chapter,no character has filmy background.It is about the modern day Bombay society.I compare the present society with the days of BahadurShah Zafar's Lucknow.There is a lot of money around,there is more liquor than milk,and everyone is into a good life...I'm showing the present day people from lower middle class,middle class and real high class interacting in this novel.It is becoming a fascinating book.

Mr. Deep which serial do you script for?

Hello! is the chat still on!!!!!!!!!!!

No,I don't make enough from writing novels to survive for the simple reason that this is my first book.But I've survived for over 17 years from freelance writing.Hopefully,I'll make a career in writing books...If my next book sells like Madhubala is selling.Larry: It is not true that they don't make 'em like that anymore.Madhuri,why Manisha Koirala too,are the girls future generations will go bonkers over...Like MF Husain.

Daffy: The chat is on..Sure.

Shaan: I'm writing scripts but nothing is on air at the moment.Frankly,I need to become a little tame before my kind of stuff is accepted.Or the channels have to become bold.

Mr. Deep, on a scale of ten how do u rate indian film journalism.

Mohanji.. Do you think that jopurnalists are like PROs for the filmstars? They give them enough publicity...

Daffy: Indian film journalism is not one single unit.I would rate it between 1 and 8...8 for the best.`Stardust' is the best .Worst,you don't ask me.

Snap: Journalists become almost PROs when they do goody goody pieces.Not all of us do that.As for the publicity they get..well,let me tel you what Pablo Picasso used to do.He would hire two PROs.One would criticise his work,lambast him in print and another would defend him.He made sure that he remained in news.In media,only those who are interesting remain in the limelight.

Mohanji.. so who in your opinion is interesting at the moment?

Tell me about the other Indian authors,Mr.Mohan.What is your opinion about them?

Snap: Though Nari Hira has been my publisher and when he is the publisher,he also is the de facto editor,but I've not really worked `with' him.Articles I contributed to his magazines: `Savvy',`Island' (My favourite).`Madhubala' happened when he liked my one line subject...And that makes him a great publisher-editor.He recognised the possiblities with one line proposal.I consider this man a `one man publishing industry'.He has vision and guts.

Mr. Deep, do u agree to the comment that Film journalists make or break an actors career

Mohanji.. yes I consider Stardust the best magazine compared to the others.. but do they write the truth.? Do they withhold information too? I hear sometimes journalists are askd not to write something which is very sensitive..

Lawrence: Among Indian authors my favourite authors are Sarat Chandra Chatterji and Dharam Veer Bharati.But I guess,times have changed and Indian writing in English has come to stay.I don't want to talk about the present generation of writers.Yet,one thing is certain.The most popular name is SHOBHA DE.Not only the female writers imitate her but I find other glamourous women (models and actresses) too envying her,wishing to write like her and unable to do it bitching about her.

What are you working on now,Mr.Mohan?

Now to the age old question about india˙

Are you still there,Mr.Mohan?

Snap: Nowhere,no one can write the complete truth as we know truth.Often,we delude ourselves.What `Stardust' writes is truthful gossip.It also is possible that at times journalists are asked not to write certain things/to write certain things.What is important is that there is an openness because of magazines like `Stardust' which chronicle the life styles of today's stars.If someone was to write a biography of Madhuri 20 years later he won't find it as difficult as I found when researching Madhubala's life.

Now to the age old question about indian film industry, how bad is it?

Yawn... it's been a long day. Good Night.

I was shocked when I read that Kishore Kumar used to beat up Madhubala!!Really revealing book!

Daffy:I don't think that we can sit in judgement over an entire industry - a cultural unit which influences value system - but I can only say that life style in the industry is a reflection of what happens in the society.The difference is that happenings in the industry are seen,heard and talked about.Frankly,talking of morals,I've seen some real amoral things happening in small,backward towns. They see movies,read glossies and imitate.

Bindu:Good night and sleep tight.

tell me about the fan mail you received.You must have got loads after this book!

Sorry guys! my boss came in had to leave

Everyone[Madhubala fans,my fans and critics]...It has been an exciting evening for me with endless questions,some sweet and some sour...Thank you...and good night,sweet dreams.

Totally irrelevant question!! Mr.Deep are you typing in the answers yourself or is someone doing it for you?

Bye Mr.Mohan.It was great talkin'.Sleep well.

Thank you, Mohan. It was a pleasure.