Dehradun, March 8 -- From the archives.

I think the year was 1998! Mobile phones had just arrived in Dehradun. To begin with, there were two players in town - Escotel and Ushafone. I was sitting with Arif, the head of Ushafone and I saw Sunil Saini, the Executive Producer of Pachisia Films, enter his office to pay the bill for actor Sunny Deol's satellite phone. I had met the EP twice earlier during the recce for Arjun Pandit and had also met legendary Rahul Rawail, producer NR Pachisia, and others. The Assistant Director, Information (now retired), Dr Anil Chandola introduced us to these filmmakers.

A few days later, the then District Magistrate of Dehradun, PK Mahanty, who is a dear friend too called me and asked me to help Sunil Sain...