It was 2003 or 2004, I was in Mumbai reporting film stories for 'The Week'. I was talking to Raveen Tandon at H2O, a seaside theme park owned by Suniel Shetty when I first glimpsed 'Anna's' mighty Hummer whiz past. What is anybody doing in a Hummer through Mumbai streets, I wondered quietly. And what is somebody who is not a Mr Olympiad doing with a Hummer, again I wondered quietly. All the while, Raveena was judiciously avoiding Akshay Kumar in her conversations.
Whatever for my quiet musings, Suniel Shetty will always be remembered as among the first Hummer owners in India. And I will always love him for that too! My sentiments aside, he also had the pure brawn to pull it off, probably a little more bulk would have helped. Nevertheless, if any star could vibe with the Humvee, it was Anna!
Back at office, I logged into the fantastically interactive Hummer website and custom-built my dream Hummer and sent it to GM head office. The day I got a reply from some veepee of sales, i bought lunch with beer for my entire bunch of colleagues! The gus was really sad that at the moment I had to import the vehicle as there weren't any outlets in India, thereby nullifying all warranties. I didn't ask whether anybody enquired about airbags in a Volvo. But I replied stating my immense disappointment and frustration (at not being able to raise the couple of crores - not mentioned).
Suniel Shetty is pure brawn, no apologies. No pretensions either - about a genial lineage or a man misunderstood. The equation is very simple: you mess with him, and before you say 'idli' you will be writhing on the ground, counting fallen teeth. The Hummer fits him to the T. The H1 would have been a better fit, though.
But an Endeavour?
An Endeavour is a struggling SUV - doesn't know whether to be a true-blue SUV or a comfy family wagon. It is an imposing goliath - gets as much respect on the road from other cars as my Bullet 500 gets from other bikes (Slimy, me!) But it reminds me more of a yuppie who has rolled up his sleeves for that post lunch session of arm wrestling. Once it is over, he will be back at his desk, staring into the monitor, sleeves down, et al. But watch him going to the coffee machine - he will be flexing his arms and biceps at shiny surfaces all the way and back.
Our Anna is brawny, no apologies. No pretensions, either. He is not your 9to5, rolling up his sleeves after a month of hitting the gym. Anna, I heard, travels with his weights. The Endeavour and Suniel Shetty are like chalk and chocolate; chocolate being the Endeavour. Then, if his decision to plug for the American behemoth has anything to do with Harbhajan showing his interest to get a Hummer, Anna, you are on. Just wear that necktie!
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