A Superstar and how he inspired his team through.......an SMS

Once upon a time there was an actor (currently Superstar!) who came into the movie scene on his own. He had no godfathers. He was a struggling candidate but became hot property after he acted in a movie that went on to run for ten years and broke so many records. After that, whatever he does became “hot-stuff”. Now with the advent of the new age media, he’s far more popular than his contemporaries and even the older ones. Some of them try to even irritate him with their blogs, but he’s unfazed.

After the blockbuster of the last year, he felt like he has to improve his reach to the people. So he bought a cricket team when he got a chance and took night-outs (actually burning the midnight oil!!) to learn the game. And fortunately he got a team with some wonderful cricketers. And the first match was a classic. Comprehensive win was the result. He thought he was in making of another blockbuster.

But after some matches, he found his team was not performing like he wanted. In his words, “Not reaching up to their abilities”. Also he tried his level best to be present in the stadium during the matches taking breaks between the shoot of his TV program that finds the “adults-who-are-not-even-smarter-than-a-fifth-grader”. Towards the end, even the WCCI (We Control Cricket in India) with the help of ICC (I too Control Cricket) held him saying that the team owners are not allowed in the dug-outs as it may increase the probability of bookmakers inside the dressing room of players. He took offense in relating him to the bookmakers, saying in public that he won’t be even coming near to the stadium where his team plays. But somehow, WCCI pacified him and asked him to come back.

Then came the bad luck. Rain played spoilsport, but ensured that his team is out of the tournament. Anyway, he didn’t back out, but send an inspiring (according to him!) SMS to his team.

It read “Many times I have made movies which don't do well…which was not at all because of me!!....When I'm doing them, of course, I don't know they won't do well....Monetary issues……wife and kids....The story is written by somebody else and I just do my bit as an actor…honestly...But I have a way of dealing with flop stories; I try my best to keep my character in the film….you know, I’m an actor when I’m not a Superstar....It's a normal thing in the world….as 95% of the movies in our movie industry are flops or super flops....People like to hit you when u r down….It’s very easy for them, to hit when you are down.... So, we will be hit….I’m sure about that; not sure whthr u ppl r sure .... No stress…or strain.... It will make us stronger…We’ll consult Ayurveda physicians also, if required..... The only way to avoid this is to win…..at any cost.... That's one of the reasons why everybody likes to be a winner….by now you would have understood how I do lengthier dialogues in movies...And if you keep losing, you will have to bear my long….next time it will be longer……boring messages”.

Alas!! It had an effect. The team captain, affectionately called Bengal Leopard, played the innings of his life, won the match in the last over. His hitting reminded of Police Lathicharges. He butchered the bowlers. Later in the presentation ceremony, when asked what triggered that innings, he told, “We got an SMS from our team owner. Even to read that, it took almost one hour and to understand another two hours. It was in my mind when I came out to bat. As he’s the team owner I couldn’t do anything, but only play. I tried my level best even in this old age, to hit every ball that came to me. Fortunately, I was successful. We can’t bear such an SMS again from him. And we don’t have any problem between us. It’s all hollow and media created!”