Read part 2 here: Rajesh Khanna loneliness killed him: Yasser Usman
Sakshi Raina: Did you find any difficulties in finding all these resources and integrating them together coherently?
Yasser Usman: Yeah. Normally in our Indian society and not talking about only Bollywood, even general people are not open to talk about their personal lives. It is not so difficult in the west.
At the same time so much was covered about Rajesh Khanna during his superstar days. I spoke to his family and they said that they weren't interested. I think that they were scared or the other reason could be that they didn't knew me. I understand their point of view.
But his life was covered so extensively that I had to gather all those magazines and newspapers. It took me around 1.5 years. It was difficult but it was worth it!
Sakshi Raina: You're also a blogger.
Yasser Usman: Am I?
Sakshi Raina: You own a blog where you write movie reviews. It's not active though but yeah.
Yasser Usman: Actually yes. I'm very lazy to blog. I have watched all the Hindi movie since the last 20 years. Every Friday morning, I have to wake up and catch the first day first show. It's been a ritual. Even when I wasn't a professional, I did it and now I'm in media. I do it in Hindi because it is a Hindi channel.
I used to be an active blogger when I used to write for a website called dearcinema.com. It was a very popular website. It has now been shutdown. Now since you have reminded me, i'll update it once i'm back.
Sakshi Raina: What is your view on paid journalism?
Yasser Usman: It is bad. It exist but not all journalist participate in this. For example, if you take The Times Of India, there is a small disclaimer in the bottom that says that they aren't promoting this and is paid.
Sakshi Raina: It's a different thing. I'm talking about journalist being said to take sides of a political party and be biased.
Yasser Usman: It has always existed Sakshi from the beginning. It is just that the war is too much in the open now. People are taking sides. Not every journalist are a part, there are a few of them but as a policy, I feel that it is very bad. I have never been a part of it nor I endorse it but it has always existed.
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and my favorites! Something that he said in a way that got me new insights and I couldn't help more but agree. I have learned so much from him.
Yasser Usman on freedom of speech:
If they tell you to ban books or movies. My stand on it is that if you're angry with my book or unhappy with my book, write a book and prove it to me that it was wrong. I'm okay with that. Write a stronger book and tell me how it should be done. This should be the solution, not banning the book. Then what is the meaning of freedom of speech?
Yasser Usman on Ebooks Vs Paperbacks:
Let's not compare paperback books and e-books. It doesn't matter. It's like saying, do you prefer a VHS Tape or a DVD? How does it matter? They both were good in their times. At the core, the content matters. If a book is bad, how does it matter to read it in an e-book or a paper book? It is the reading that matters.
You can find Yasser Usman on his website or Twitter.
Click here to buy his book on Flipkart.
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