Bob Christo (Foreword by Tom Alter) Website design By BotEap.comEditor
Penguin Books India Website design By BotEap.comPages
280 Website design By BotEap.comPrice
Rs 399/- Website design By BotEap.comISBN
9780143414629 Website design By BotEap.comI distinctly remember that fight sequence from the movie Kaalia where everyone lines up while food is distributed and Michael (actor Bob Christo) decides to spoil the decorum and breaks the line. As one of his crippled inmates steels himself and decides to retaliate against this muscular white man, Michael yells, “Hum jahaan khade hote hain line waheen se shuroo hotee hai” (The line always starts behind me). Immediately after that, all the other prisoners in line go and stand behind Michael. Website design By BotEap.comThe most I knew about Bob Christo at the time was that he was an actor from Australia who was recognized within the Indian film industry as the “bad man” of Indian cinema who played the role of collaborator, hostile prisoner or British officer. Website design By BotEap.comThe septuagenarian Robert John Christo, popularly known to the world as Bob Christo, died in Bangalore (March 20, 2011) endearing himself to millions of Indian film fans for more than two decades, which included more than 230 films and 15 T.V. series. Website design By BotEap.comThe newly published book Flashback: My life and times in Bollywood and beyond for Penguin Books India provides readers with a wealth of insight by sharing the best and worst moments experienced in Bob Christo’s life. The biography of the actor was to be published by Akshay Kumar in June 2011, in which he planned to work in Hindi cinema again in an Akshay Kumar film. Website design By BotEap.comThe book provides an interesting perspective on the many roles (Engineer, Adventurer, Lover, Mercenary and Bollywood villain) played by Bob Christo in real life, as well as being credited as one of the renowned villains in the Indian film industry. in real life. Website design By BotEap.comThe autobiography traces the memorable journey of this civil engineer from Sydney, Australia. Bob was a strong believer in the discipline of reading and was also a prolific writer earning recognition for achieving top grades and awards for writing outstanding essays since his school days. Website design By BotEap.comBob’s wife died in 1974 in a car accident, leaving him with the responsibility of raising their three children. In 1977 he decided to pursue his career in Civil Engineering and was appointed to his assignment in Muscat. But fate had plans of its own for him. As soon as he resumed his work in Muscat, he was told that his friend, the American screenwriter George Marzbetuni, suffered a massive heart attack and was hospitalized in the ICU of Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai. Website design By BotEap.comBob decided to go back to Mumbai for a couple of days to visit his friend in hospital. George was unable to stay long in India to shoot the English version of the film. abdullah as his family was headed to India and had decided to take him back to Los Angeles Website design By BotEap.comGeorge wanted Bob to write reports and make sure the team followed the same script he had written for Abdullah. Alternatively, if Sanjay Khan wanted Bob to play a part in his film, George suggested that it was his (Bob’s) decision to go ahead with it. Website design By BotEap.comOne big success ended all of his previous failures, and as time went by, Bob kept himself busy and occupied with various opportunities that came his way on the road to achievement. Abdullah, Qurbani, Kaalia, Namak Halal, Mard, Mr. India and Agneepath were some of Bob’s opportunities and he also had the opportunity to share the screen with Marlon Brando, Amitabh Bachchan and Raj Kapoor to name a few. Bob also took special Hindi classes with the help of Qadir Roomi, who visited him every morning at 8 am, six days a week, to teach him the national language. Website design By BotEap.comIn 2001, Bob decided to retire and left Mumbai for Bangalore to work at Sanjay Khan’s hotel, The Golden Palms Hotel and Spa, starting out as a gym manager and yoga teacher. Once the hotel was fully operational in 2002, Bob became the fitness director. A spinal injury caused Bob to quit his job at the hotel and in 2006 he began work on his autobiography. Website design By BotEap.comThe book is divided into three parts that give the reader a detailed account of how the experience enriched his life. His journey is covered in the book as follows (Part 1-Hong Kong-Philippines, Part 2-Africa to India, through the Middle East and Part 3-India Odyssey). Website design By BotEap.comIn the prologue to Tom Alter Bob asks, “Tom, why don’t they give me romantic roles?” To which Tom replies, “Honestly, my friend, your own life was the most romantic role of all.” Bob agrees that when he looks back on his life, he feels hurt. Website design By BotEap.comBehind every success lies unspeakable pain in one’s heart and the pain is usually revealed when the individual reaches the top. The key message that the author (Bob Christo) wants to convey to all of his readers is the great mix of joy and sadness that he experienced in his life. It was the life he fully lived. And why not, as long as there is life there will be struggles.