Billu Barber

It’s a weekend, a slow Sunday like any other, 26th October 2025.

So Ali (my son) has selected “Billu Barber” starring Shahrukh Khan (SRK), for our family movie day.

Entangled into the “thick of thin” life affairs, I am not into movie watching anymore. A confession to make, yes, I was the die-hard SRK fan with “Dil Se” my favourite movie.

Isn’t it amazing that SRK, as a hero, casts his spell over generations? Yes, my son is also a member of the SRK fan club 😊.

Billu Barber (Irfan Khan – the genius) doesn’t even have a decent salon chair. The only thing, the barber chair in his salon, limping with a broken leg, mended with a wooden stick.

Economics and income are not on Billu’s side. But one thing, his Dignity.

Despite the financial misery, social bullying, and family vulnerability, he is not willing to auction his Dignity.

Sahir the superstar (SRK) comes to Billu’s village for a movie shoot project.

The old relation, a secret, spreads through the village like a pandemic, that Billu and Sahir (the movie star) were friends.

Billu doesn’t want to approach his friend…..

His dignity doesn’t let him….

But Sahir (SRK) at the end finds him, embraces  his childhood friend, and reconnects.

So, the movie ends, and Ali (my son) asks me, How was the movie…..?

Hiding my tears, overwhelmed, I smiled with my compliments, “very nice”.

Ali doesn’t know he has kindled my suppressed bonds. My childhood friendship, its warmth refrigerated at sub-zero by life’s treadmill.

I am not a superstar. But, I do know there is a Billu in my life. His image blurred on the movie screen of my life.

I need to go back…. and hug my yaar (my buddy), my Billu.