Gallery
Interesting Stories
Anup Jalota
Our First Meeting
It was 1978. Vishi Kapila from Burlington asked if I would introduce this very good artist from Mumbai to our Toronto TV program producers.
Later that week I met this pleasant young man. Following pleasantries over a cup of tea at our home, we went to the Global Studios on Barber Greene Road.
Sherali Thaver & Lali Ji said, “Mehboob, we don’t know this artist, why don’t you do his introduction” There I was on screen introducing Anup Jalota – whom I had only just met myself that evening.
Since then, Anup Ji and I have been in constant touch with each other. We make a point to meet at every opportunity and catch up.
Jagjit Singh
I met Jagjit Singh & Chitra Ji for the first time during their 1978 concert tour in Toronto. My friend Ken Kassam and I organized their Ghazal Evening with some two hundred of my friends at the Wynford Drive Holiday Inn (now known as DVP Hotel) During that visit we met at two other occasions.
Eighteen years later, in 1996, I had moved to Sydney, Australia on a two year assignment. By now Jagjit Ji was an artist with International Fame.
Jagjit ji’s sold out Gala Concert was organised by my good friend Surjit Singh. After the concert, Jagjit Ji decided to spend the next four days in Sydney before meeting Chitra ji in HongKong.
So the next four days I had the good fortune to accompany and socialize with Jagjit ji. A truly wonderful and memorable experience.
Khan Sahib Mehdi Hasan Toronto Visit
It was 1978. Khan Sahib Mehdi Hasan S was already the proclaimed king of Ghazals. I had to meet him. I was truly mesmerized with Khan Sahib’s singing. So once again, Ken Kassam and I teamed up to organize a Ghazal Evening at the Wynford Drive Holiday Inn.
Khan Sahib was kind enough to accept me as his “shagrid”.
Practically every evening during those 10 weeks it was my good fortune to spend time with Khan Sahib. Some evenings attending his Ghazal Mehfils and others just spending time with him learning or simply listening to him share his experience