New Delhi: India’s most popular comedian actor Mehmood’s 21st death anniversary, his younger brother Anwar Ali talks about the late actor’s passion for cars and stingray car that is five decades old and is still there
Anwar said, “Not a lot of people know the extent to which Mehmood bhaijaan would go to fuel his passion for cars. Bhaijaan found valid reasons for doing the most unthinkable of things! For special occasions like awards nights he would instruct our in house mechanic to paint the car he was going to drive, in the same colour as the suit he was going to wear! Painting the car would cost a hefty lakh and twenty five thousand rupees every time but we soon lost track of how many times some cars were re painted. Bhaijaan was undeterred. It was his signature style of doing things.”
Out of the 24 cars that adorned our garage on the ground floor of our family abode 134 Paradise, one car, Mehmood’s personal favourite attracted the most attention, namely the iconic American red Corvette Stingray a sports car with its own unique character. Anwar informs, “Mehmmod bhaijaan was the proud owner of the only Stingray in the entire country. Bhaijaan’s film Ginny aur Johnny featured the car in all its splendour. In fact it is believed that this is the only Stingray in the world to have a combination of metal and fibre glass body, a feat achieved by friend and vintage car veteran Abbas Jasdanwalla when the Stingray was brought to him in an “accident condition” as he states. Abbas bhai bought it from Mehmood bhaijaan forty years ago for a meagre forty thousand rupees. His ace team at his famous garage Mid Town Motors, resurrected it to its original beauty with a one of a kind modification.’’
He adds, “It was nostalgic indeed to see my budding actor son Akaar, shoot with the same Stingray five decades later at Abbas bhai’s sprawling home of vintage cars and horses, a true reflection that some legacies carry on.”
Mehmood had participated in a couple of car races too. Anwar recalls , “I remember a race in Pune then Poona that Bhaijaan participated in. He was very enthusiastic and confident that day. From a slow start to almost reaching the finish line first, we were cheering for him and admiring his grit, when all of a sudden, he seemed to pull back last minute letting go of the first position.”
He got out of the car beaming and waving much to our shock and surprise, as he had clearly lost the race. When asked what happened, he explained that as he was approaching the finish line he was gripped by the fear of somersaulting and the faces of his loved ones flashed in front of him leading him to flee rather than face a dramatic win!!! Bhaijaan and his antics!!
Never a dull moment with Bhaijaan in our midst!!!