A Date with Dheerudu

No prizes for guessing who the "Dheerudu" is. Me meeting this Dheerudu was as unforeseen as him acting in an adventure/action/fantasy film. But when the latter did come true,the former was not far behind. The irony is that it happens during the audio launch of this very fantasy film of his.

Now that the world knows I have met Siddharth...here I write what it felt like to meet my favoritest (if there's a word like that) star. This is my first time experience of having met a person whose this huge and crazy fan I am...not that I have been a fan of many over the years. But one thing I can definitely tell is that I have not been as big a fan or admirer of anyone as I have been of Siddharth. Period!

Firstly.. i need to thank the producers of  'Anaganaga O Dheerudu' for the conducting the contest. Its not everyday that a common movie goer like me gets an opportunity to get free passes to an audio launch that too for a movie as big as this. So thanks to them for creating an opportunity that i may never get again.
One thing I must confess here is...as much as I love watching all movies and like other stars of TFI too, i wouldn't have participated in the contest and traveled for 10 hrs all the way to Hyderabad if it was not for Siddharth.I may still go further saying if Siddharth wouldn't have attended this event.. i wouldnt have gone.So the "Siddharth factor" was the only driving force for me.

Let me now just take you where all the action took place.Thanks to my getting there to the venue of the audio very early,so much so that even the organizers hadn't still figured out where we were supposed to be seated, I got the first glimpse at Siddharth. He was still in his casuals--wearing a plain dark green T-Shirt,jeans,shades and a bag crossed over his body looking uber cool as usual and rehearsing for his opening act for the event under the instructions of his director Prakash Rao.

Then after a while the main event began with the entry of Siddharth..this time in his complete 'dheerudu' avatar!! As he entered on the float the audience cheered and I screamed!!;) He then showed a glimpse of his skills at handling the sword...all i can say is...now i cant wait for the film!!

Honestly,I didnt expect much more than getting to see Siddharth on stage.I was more than happy I was seeing Siddharth in real.Also if I had expected too much I would have been sulking if things go according to plan.So i went in with least or no expectations at all.

But as the event was coming to a close. I and Neeraja, a fellow Siddharth fan who shares the same kind of love and craziness for him as i do..who was there at the event on having won the same contest as i had and who was there for the same reason as me, decided that we are going to take a shot at meeting Siddharth,we ll not leave the venue without trying as it would be a shame coming so far or rather so near to Sid and not meeting him. Add to it I had my friends Vinay and Vimal, who are also Sid fans giving me company.

Thankfully for us... Siddharth was the last to leave the stage.And in no time he was flocked by people asking for autographs.He signed a few but by the time we made our way up to the stage he was almost leaving .Add to our qualms the body guards refused to let us get to him. Still I somehow managed to get to Sid.I still dont know why.. but as he was leaving he just turned back(total filmy i know..but thats how it was;)) I grabbed the opportunity and introduced myself with my name and twitter name.In an instant he recognized me.
Generally when you meet your favorite star you begin by saying--"I m a huge fan of yours". But in my case.. all I had to tell was my name and then he knew every thing else!!:)

To begin with,there was chaos surrounding us because by that time a lot of them had gathered, he was in a hurry too.more than him the security personnel were in a hurry trying to rush him off the stage but he still stopped..thats how sweet he is and thats how happy he was meeting us!!

Though I have it in my head... I m finding it difficult to pen down as to what the conversation was like...

He said "ohh Abhinaya..!!" with a pleasantly surprised expression and that lovely smile of his.I could see that it was all coming from his heart!!:)
I asked him for an autograph...He gladly gave one.
As he wrote "To 'My' Abhinaya" I was stumped. Then he asked me (yes yes....it was sid who asked questions..I didnt ask him anything..actually I was speechless.come on..you know how it is)
"Did you enjoy the event(audio launch)?" And I don't even remember what I exactly answered... hmm i think i said-- "oh yes... absolutely!!"

He then said "I enjoy reading your tweets" and I said "Thank you so much"

It was so sweet that he was trying to make a conversation while I just stood there overwhelmed by his warmth and not knowing what to talk!! That also tells how unprepared I was about this meeting.I hadn't even given a thought as to what I would say or ask Siddharth if I met him. I didn't even have a good book and a good pen to take his autograph!!
Damn....wish I knew Sid would be so sweet... I would have been more calm,composed and would have made more talking than him!!
"Sid..when can we meet again?I promise this time I ll talk more" ;)
(Well this is the greedy me speaking not withstanding how unplanned it was,I now want to meet him again;))

Again it was Sid who said... "Come we'll take a picture" And then you have this.. (I have to thank Vinay for clicking such beautiful pictures amidst all the chaos!!!)

And as he left...he said "I have to go... its late" with warm good bye,handshake and a smile:)

Everything happened so fast...I was totally in AWE of him.. taken aback by his LOVE and WARMTH,by the genuine smile and happiness he expressed on meeting us, his dignity,simplicity and humility!!As Neeraja put it later... "What a man!!"

We often see these words- "humble" and "down-to-earth" used to describe some celebs... but that day I found out the real meaning of it!! Trust me,though I have always loved and respected Siddharth, I now have a new found love and respect for him that goes beyond his films!!

You may say I should not be judging him from such a small meeting but then genuine,great people manage to leave a mark on you even in a short time...isnt it? Infact you get to see and know a lot about what they are in those very few moments!! I witnessed all this that day and I m so proud to say I m a huge fan...no.I think I have moved on from being a "fan" to a "friend" now....because Sid says I m among his "favorite twitter friends"..now what can I say? Feel so humbled by his gesture.

I cant write beyond that!! Some experiences can never be expressed and explained in words.I tried to give it my best but most of the time I failed to find words.But since I promised some of my friends that shall write about it..so I have.Some may feel I m exaggerating but all I can say is-you have to experience it to believe it!!


P.S: While I was confused about what the title of this post should be,this one was suggested by Githa and I instantly loved it!!So Thank you Githa....its perfect!!:)