When real-life teachers script Bollywood moments | Lucknow News
From reel heroes to real-life mentors, some guidance stories feel straight out of a Bollywood movie, and these are no exception. This Teachers’ Day, Lucknowites share their mentor stories so cinematic they could match Bollywood scripts. From hidden musical talents discovered by life-changing mentors in school corridors to corporate bosses who turned into unlikely guides, these tales prove that the best mentors don’t just teach, they write destinies. Read on and get inspired.
Shadaj band with their music teacher Anshuman Singh (second from right) in 2014
The ‘Taare Zameen Par’ TransformationJust as Aamir Khan discovered Ishaan’ Taare Zameen Par s artistic gift in the emotionally gripping film Taare Zameen Par, school music teachers, Anshuman Singh and Amit Singh, spotted a hidden spark in a group of boys, leading to a school band that eventually became one of the city’s most celebrated music bands.Musician Harshvardhan Singh Negi, one of the band members, credits his school music teachers as visionaries who shaped their band’s journey. He recalls, “Around 15 years ago, when schools barely encouraged cultural activities or music, our first music teachers recognised our talent when he found me, Vikrant and Aditya, hiding in the music room to play instruments. He saw potential where we only saw a hobby and formed us into a school band.” “Similarly, Anshuman sir, also our music teacher in school, was a member of a known city band. He took us further and shaped us into the musical group which was then called Astitva. We now call ourselves the Shadaj band. He added layers to our understanding of music, introducing us to different artists no school curriculum would cover.
Harshwardhan Singh Negi
From those quiet music room days to now opening at India’s biggest festivals, it’s been quite a journey for us because of these two mentors. A teacher may not walk your entire path, but they shape you in ways you understand only years later– Harshvardhan Singh, Negi, member Shadaj Band
Anil Kumar was to Taruka, what Shah Rukh Khan was to the Women’s Hockey team in Chak De! India
The ‘Chak De India’ coachFormer Asian Games tennis player Taruka’s relationship with coach Anil Kumar mirrors the Shah Rukh Khan sports mentor saga, Chak De India. Reflecting on years spent with her coach since age seven, she says, “A sportsperson is incomplete without their coach. I’ve known my coach, Anil Kumar since I was seven, when I was practicing gymnastics. The first time I walked onto the court with him, he became more than a coach; he became my mentor and my anchor.”
(L) Taruka Srivastava’s coach Anil Kumar (R) Taruka Srivastava
Recalling her tennis training period, she adds, “With my mother being in a government job, I often stayed at his house during my training days, and there were times when his wife would cook for me, making their home my second home. From preparing me for the Asian Games to ensuring my safety during tournament travels, he was always there quietly, guiding every step through every failure and win.”
BCCL
The ‘Paathshala’ protectorFor dancer Zehra Ali, who has earned accolades and millions of Instagram views, class teacher Aparna Srivastava became her champion. “I was always in the auditorium, dancing and participating in every cultural programme. My class teacher Aparna Srivastava helped me become what I am today. There were instances when my bag was caught with mobile phones for dance practice, and she shielded me, helping me pursue my passion.”Mentioning another of her mentors, Amrit Sinha, under whose guidance she learned to dance in school, Zehra expresses, “My journey in dance, with him as a mentor has truly been beautiful.”
Sushmita Sen played a teacher in Main Hoon Na
The ‘Main Hoon Na’ style classroom storyEchoing that classic Sushmita Sen and Shah Rukh Khan vibe in the film Main Hoon Na, Sameer Khan, a techie at a corporate firm, recalled a story that brings to life the timeless teacher-student crush away from an aspirational one. “It was in Class XI when my fear of teachers transformed into beautiful friendship, thanks to my young psychology teacher,” he recalls with a smile. “There was this unsaid bond.with her, unlike which I had with other teachers. She never got angry with me even at my weirdest questions and explained everything so patiently,” he says. “I fell in love with the subject and it is credit to teachers like her, who removed fear in the students and made asking for help easier. Life wrote its own sequel, four years later, I ran into her at a music festival. She was in trouble and recognised me instantly, asking me for help. That moment felt like the perfect epilogue to that teenage story,” he adds.
Naveen Kaushik (R) played Nitin Rathore in the film Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year, who mentors Ranbir Kapoor to start his own venture
Mr ‘Rocket Singh’s’ cool corp mentorLike in the movie Rocket Singh, where a fresh graduate fights to make his way in the corporate world, Saad Siddiqui, a creative director at a marketing firm, found his guardian in the professional sphere. “Teachers’ Day evolves with time as you grow older, but one is never short of needing a mentor,” he reflects. “The true value of a mentor came to me during my first corporate job, where I met my boss, to whom I will forever be grateful and indebted in life. He guided me throughout and bore with me through incessant work questions, allowing me to make mistakes. In corporate settings, one experiences imposter syndrome and confidence issues, and he helped me overcome that, making me someone who now writes ads for big brands. He who taught me from writing my first ad to creating my first presentation.”-Amina Ashraf
