Soon I learnt that Sachin Kehdekar was going to be the 'dost' (the anchor or  host) of the show. There are not too many from the film industry that I would kind of like to go and shake hands with (I have always like Sai Paranjpye (Sai Tai), not just because she is my second cousin but I do like her movies and dramas and Nasirudding Shah and there are a few others) and Sachin is one of them.  I was happy.

I reached Mumbai on 12th - one day before the actual shoot to see rehearsal. Went directly to the set.  Rakhee Yadav had given me reasonable detailed instructions - the studio was Aaram Studio in Italian complex. Bolywood - Italian complex - Studio had created a kind of very different (beautiful) picture in my mind. But in fact the approach road to the studio was a narrow lane and I had completely missed it. The look of the studio from outside was such that I asked myself am I going to work here. Well as I entered I was greeted Aparna and we straight a way went to the set and then green room. There was a room marked anchor - it was kind of no - no room for every one - very few could enter the room just like that. Sachin was inside the room. The room was small about 3 by 3 meters, with one small bed, had about 75 cm by 75 cm cubical as washroom and a big mirror.  After a brief introduction, which was just hi - hello. I will not say that he was a snob but it was not a kind of meeting a person with whom you are going to work for next few days. Though I have always liked his acting on screen but I was also aware that what you see on screen and what is in real life could be two different things all together.  I was there for my knowledge of science and ability to pass it on to others. I have my own role to play and he had his. I was escorted to the room adjacent to it - it was a very similar room. But from a look of it I know it was not mine.

There were two rooms just above these but slightly smaller. Approach was by metallic ladder-cum-staircase. One of the room had two sofas and a very big mirror where face make up was carried out. Second one had a few chairs, it soon appeared to be kind of common room. My bags were kind of shuffled between these rooms for a while and later placed in the room next to Sachin's room. I was getting a bit upset by now. For me I have experienced various kind living situations - reaching a place traveling as pillion rider on M80 in the ghats  for 45 minutes to reach a school to give a talk and then staying in small room with toilets far away to a king like reception and staying in a well staked apartment.  I was getting a feeling of being tossed around and it was not acceptable.

I decided to wait and watch (I was there hardly for half an hour). It is a big thing and these people were probably just settling down. Soon I was introduced to the director Ajit and others. Discussed the 'Script' in 'Sachin's Room' and marched to the set. Slowly we were getting used to each other. I was addressed as professor or doctor even though I had told them categorically  not to do so. I then told them that I am not PhD nor MBBS so they cannot call me doctor and though a teacher with BSc or MSc in a school or college could be called professor, in my organization professor is a very senior position and I am not occupying that so just Shri Arvind, Arvindji or just Arvind or even Arvind Paranjpye would do. Since Sachin was to do the talking I explained the fact to him in Marathi and he immediately caught on. We had a few  rehearsals that took us to past 9:30 p.m.

Archana told me that my living apartment was not too far and I will be taken to the apartments every day and would be brought to the studio. If my living apartment was not too far then I could always cover the distance on foot, I told them. No was the answer - they are going to make arrangements for my movements between the two places. Studio and apartments are not all that close.  I realized that 'not too far' is of course not an absolute but a relative term. It took us about 30 minutes by car to go to place that was near by. It was well furnished apartment with two bedrooms, sitting cum dinning and kitchen. I sheared this apt. with Dr. T. V. Venkateshwaran (who is fondly called TVV) of Vigyan Prasar  who joined the next day. He made my life enjoyable and more importantly fruitful. We could discuss the problem more at par and we understood each other. But it could hardly be called that we lived there. For three night I was reaching there after 10 p.m. and we were out by 8 a.m. 

The 'real' thing started on 13th.  Four episodes were shot that day.  Four contestants and three segments. In the first segment Sachin would perform two experiments on stage and ask 8 (4+4) questions related to the experiments. In this segment question could be passed. In the next segment on professor Gadbad Kar (or Prof. GK) walks in. He has some wearied theory based on his observations. Now Sachin would ask him a question if the theory proposed by Prof. GK was right or wrong and why. This is non transferable round. Last was buzzer round in which 8 questions are to be answered by hitting the buzzer. First one to hit the buzzer gets to answer the question. This was the only round with negative marking.

Having said this I am now summing up my total experience -

Starting with Sachin - it was quite justified that he should have a room for himself, however small that may be. He is playing a major role and talking continuously and quite often the same thing again and again. At times he may make mistake in delivering his lines and then he would drop his shoulders in frustration and request for retake. But by and large all retakes were because problem that was elsewhere. There may be additional sound or no sound from a particular microphone transmitter (these were attached to our bodies), once there was a colour loss. Even I started getting used to. Once everything was ok and I noticed that signature images were not coming and I reported it to the director. So he was speaking his lines without getting angry (at least not showing it - a difficult task indeed). What I liked about him was that he wore such a charming smile on his face and always.

Then back stage we used to argue about the questions to be asked and how and what is write and what is wrong. For us it is absolutely normal to see an experiment fail during a public demonstration, even though we have performed it again and again. But  not for Sachin (who actually has nothing to do with it) and certainly not for the show. Then there was Prof GK (I think it will be a hit segment) - it was very easy for them to have funny conversational dialogue with each other but Ajit had to see that they do not over do it and more importantly the right question is to be asked to the participants. Now for myself physics/astronomy/maths was no problem but biology, botany etc. was some something different this is where TVV helped a lot in fact he presence was kind of reassuring.

The first day went off very well - on second day we had better interaction - among ourselves most importantly though  initially  Sachin and Professor GK said that they have a feeling were going back to school (and who wants to go) now they were taking lot more interest in the programme - not just the programme but the science part of it. And on Friday there was total diffusion. At times we joked told stories and chatted together

GK is a happy go lucky man - often sang (has a good voice) to himself and enjoyed his role - he even asked me many questions told me stories about film industries - he wants to become pilot. Very sweet person.

Aparna and Priya typed the scripts in English and in Hindi arranged questions made q card and then there was Jaya - who talked science with us and very very nice person. Constantly on the move - when in doubt checking it and telling us what to do.

Soft spoken Priya was responsible for arranging the experiments - she as a pleasing smile. Poor girl - when the experiment went wrong she was sad and upset. Rakhi Yadav took care of transport and interacted with us.

There is still lot to write but later ...

Some pictures

Sachin tries out the experiment in his room before going to the set

     
Niyati and Archana - typing and re-typing the script in English and Hindi.
In the second picture Jaya is making an hurried exit - do not have good picture of hers. (Sorry Jaya)
One thing that that so pleasant to here was when some thing was required these girls would shout spot dada, light dada etc
there was such a lot of apnapan in their call.
These people (spot boys etc. ) were extremely nice and helpful. On the last day I had developed sore throat. I was looking around a bit uncomfortably and the coffee data asked me if I need some thing. I asked can I get some warm water. He said yes of course I can and then added - don't request ask for it. Then soon after the lunch he came and asked if we want some coffee and then I said could I have some black tea and again he said of course and then added 'hame sharminda mat kijiye jo chahiye mang lijiye' do not insult us ask whatever you want.

    
Sorry guys - I have misplaced your names - but it was indeed nice meeting you - believe me I will not forget the time I spent chatting with you.

         
The participants and the other crew off the state - without them the show cannot happen

Juved bhai made my face look good - he is Mukesh Khanna (Bhishma pitamaha and Shaktiman fame) makeup man. A very kind hearted man. I will not forget Mushtaq bhai and his friend who helped me to go from one place to other and looked after our requirements at the apartments.

Thanks for making my visit such a memorable one - thanks to every one