Bob Christo - Flashback: My Life and Times in Bollywood and Beyond

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This collection published 2011

Copyright Heirs of Bob Christo 2011

The moral right of the author has been asserted

ISBN: 978-0-143-41462-9

This digital edition published in 2016.

e-ISBN: 978-8-184-75511-4

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

The first time I met Bob, he pulled the door handle off an Ambassador He also galloped full speed on a black stallion right past me and disappearedwith the horseinto a nearby bog; and the first thing we saw emerging was Bobs bald head, followed by a stunned stallion. Bob, of course, was grinning from ear to handsome earnot in the least concerned that he was supposed to have halted in front of me, saluted, dismounted and given me the latest military reportall part of a scene we were shooting for a FrenchTV serial so many, many years ago

Bob then proceeded to borrow my white pants, since his were now a darker shade of pale, and re-did the shot; with me, the commanding officer, waiting for his salute, my lower regions now covered by a towel

This was Bob Christo (for me, Roberto)largest than life, full of adventure and humour and such strength, of the body and soul and heart

And near the very end of his life, Roberto decided to write his book

As only he couldfor no one, absolutely no one, could tell the story of Roberto, except Roberto himself

Marlon Brando, Amitabh Bachchan, Raj Kapoorthese are the level of stars he has shared screen and real time with. For Roberto, nothing could be average

Loves, lusts, longingsthey are all there in vivid, even violent detail in this book. And if you thought Roberto was confined only to Hindi films, read on. Australia, Rhodesia, the Philippines, from the Gulf to Goa, Roberto has blazed his trailfighting, singing, dreaming, loving. He did it all

And the people who star in his story: Bruce Lees guruRoberto was so close to him Ian Smiththe man who tried to keep Rhodesia alive Parveen Babithe siren who lured Bob to Bombay Sanjay Khanthe man who took him under his wing And so many more

Robertos first forays into learning Hindi, and the strange rules of the Hindi film industry His family lifetragedy in Australia, and fitful happiness in Bombay His childrenscattered around the globe, and within Robertos large heart All this and much, much more

Butand this is what I loved about Roberto and his storythis book also deals with the truths of life: loss and sorrow, and the journey of a tough, tough man to find inner peace in a world he always dealt with on his own terms

Bob Christos book is as amazing as the manas complex, as straightforward, as trueand when you read it, you can remember him from one of his wonderful roles, or you can discover him as the mystery he was

Roberto, I tip my hat and my heart to you

You always used to growl, Tom, why dont they give me romantic roles?

The truth is, my friend, your own life was the most romantic role of all.

2011

Tom Alter