by Subhash K Jha

Q: It's been quite a time for you!
A: Yes, still a long way to go. I'm still weak. Internally, I'm yet to heal completely. It will take at least six to eight weeks. And then, I think complete recovery will take about six months. So I don't know when I'll get back to work....

Q: What about dubbing and less arduous work?
A: Any kind of work is out for now. Right now, the main fear besides the physical weakness is the infection. I can't go into crowded places since I'm right now susceptible to infection.

Q: Was this illness similar to the1982 incident?
A: I didn't know what was happening. We knew the circumstances that put me in the situation in 1982 (the accident on the set of Manmohan Desai's Coolie). Even when I was hospitalised on this occasion I had no clue of what was happening.

Q: Your illness generated unprecedented hysteria.
A: When you're in hospital in the ICU you're in a confined area, and you don't know what's going on outside. Once I got out of the ICU, the reaction of the outside world began to filter in to me.

Fortunately, we're living in modern times. There was a television in my hospital room. It was overwhelming, to see the expression of people's emotions and love. Their sincere prayers and penance for me.... I can't express what it made me feel.

Q: Your recovery has been relatively quick.
A: That's because of the right decisions were taken at the right time. The doctors were competent and ready. The decision to operate was taken immediately.

Q: It's felt that a day was wasted in Delhi.
A: The exact nature of the malady wasn't immediately traceable in Delhi. The perforation was in the lower intestine and the infected area had got stuck in the larger intestine. But the good part was...the perforation was being blocked and the poison didn't spread in the stomach. I was back in Mumbai the same day.

Q: You visited Tirupathi and Goa?
A: Yes. Tirupathi was an overnight visit. Then at year-end, I was with family and friends at Goa. The doctors were with me.

Q: Any special moments during this harrowing experience?
A: Yes, the fact that I recovered as quickly as possible...and the outpouring of great love.

Q: Sometimes it seemed too much?
A: No. People came at designated visiting hours. Not everyone was allowed to meet me. But those were hospital rules, nothing to do with me. They came, met Jaya, Abhishek and Shweta; wrote wonderful things in the book, which I'll cherish forever.

Q: When will you return to work?
A: I'm unable to put in a time frame, when I will return to work. I don't know how my body will heal. I wish I know what my body was thinking and saying. If I did, I wouldn't have been in this situation in the first place (laughs uneasily). Now I'll just have to wait. But physical work is out for now. Because a part of my work is physical.

Q: Does the pile-up of work look immense?
A: Not really. The producers have been understanding and kind...whether it's Karan Johar, Ravi Chopra, or KBC....they've all been saying , ‘You get well first.'

Q: Will KBC be your first priority?
A: Let's see. We've been in talks. I think my episodes have ended. They'll have to make-do until I can record for them.

Q: So much free time on your hand now...
A: Yes, I haven't had a break for some time. But I'm not restless. I'm waiting for my body to recover. I'm getting the time to do so many things that I had left unattended...it could be clearing up a cupboard, or putting my books in order.. Most of all I'm being able to spend time with my family.

Q: And introspecting?
A: I don't think you need to make time to do that even while you're working.

Q: This illness again proved your iconic status.
A: I don't like listening to such things. It makes me feel exalted way beyond reason. I don't believe in being an icon. I'm merely grateful to people for their love. I don't know what I've done to earn it. But I'm grateful to them.