It was not just another day for the locals, particularly the street urchins, scattered outside the sleepy Kalighat temple complex here. As word spread about Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee’s visit, a huge mob descended from nowhere and chaos reigned.
Her career might not be in top form at the moment, but the Bengali actress — affectionately called “Bengal’s daughter” — still has the power to draw large crowds and prove how futile police arrangements can be when it comes to controlling star-crazy fans.
At around 5pm on Tuesday, the blink-and-you-miss entrance to the famed temple was surrounded by a group of policemen to usher Mukherjee’s convoy of cars and bouncers.
This caught the attention of curious passers-by and street kids (mostly semi-clad) who then started collecting behind the row of policemen to catch a glimpse.
Members of the media who needed to get a clear shot of the star had a tough time finding a spot as the milling crowd pushed and shoved. Needless to say, most had their smartphones, in video mode, held aloft.
A few of the choicest abuses were hurled as a deaf and mute kid tried to head-butt through the ring of photographers lined up behind a rope barricade.
The clock ticked by and anticipation ran high. And all of sudden a mad rush ensued when a high-end luxury car zoomed in.
Youngsters armed with smartphones, parents with kids perched on their shoulders and shopkeepers standing on tiptoes — there was nobody left who didn’t join in. A few scattered policemen shouted out words to control the public. The rope barricade was long gone.
“Ami dekhbo... aapni shorun [you move away... I want a view],” screeched an elderly shopkeeper as a media person wanted a better position jostling among the throng.
“Amra Rani ke dekhechi,” said a gleeful woman after her successful star-gazing.
As Mukherjee stepped out from the vehicle and went inside the temple, the crowd dispersed, only to come back again, with what seemed in bigger numbers and a vengeance.
This created a problem for the media as Mukherjee’s words to the clamouring reporters could be barely heard over the numerous but small verbal fights that broke out.
“I am here to seek blessings from the goddess at the start of my new journey [her marriage with Chopra] and for my next film,” she said.
Her forthcoming release, which has been directed by Pradeep Sarkar, sees Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta in a supporting role.
The actress told reporters in Bengali at the temple, “There is a lot going on nowadays... I urge women to awaken the ‘Mardaani’ [the brave woman] within themselves and be brave and strong.”
On her plans for the Durga Puja, Rani said she was looking forward to the ritual of ‘Sindoor Khela’ where married women apply vermilion on one another on the last day of the festival.
