A man is a result of all the people he has met, all the experiences he has had, and of course his own thoughts, and personal agency over life itself. While one waits for extraordinary in the ordinary moments of daily mundane life, there’s already a moment formed in the matrix of time and space, awaiting it’s arrival. In this frequency of cosmic structure of interwoven mesh are the decisions and the making of one’s life.

Rajdutt, a man of unusual learnings and insights drawing from the very first thread of this mesh said, “As a student, I had no idea where I was going with my life. I studied what my father told me to. And amidst these mere ordinary moments and choices, life happened to me.” Narrating an incident of how he first started to write he said, “I experienced the fragility and cruelty of life while exploring the coal mines at Ballarsha on a school trip.”

He realised that he was living on the efforts of the coal mine workers, who were struggling to provide themselves a decent life. At the end of the trip he submitted an essay on the lives of these men which was later printed in Tarun Bharat. “This essay and meeting G T Madkholkar marked the beginning of my career and penmanship,” he added.

Rajdutt, the critically aclaimed National Award winning director, in an open interview with Ajey Gampawar at the first-ever Khasdar Jyeshta Nagrik Sanskrutik Mahotsav, narrated many stories, twists and turns, and moments of realisation in his life. He said, “When I graduated, I wanted to work at Tarun Bharat, but fate led me to Madras where I met Raja Paranjape and my life took a drastic turn.” After having worked with Paranjape, the famous actor, director and producer Rajdutt longed to learn more.

Rajdutt marked his career from an editor, assistant director, to a director. His journey ever since then was an upscaling line on a graph. From Madhuchandra, Sarja, Pudhcha Paul, and many such award winning series and movies are to his name. Grateful for the experience he has had recounted the contribution of prominent personalities like Bhalji Pendharkar, Raja Paranjape and Lata Mangeshkar in his long successful career. He said, “Learning is a two way process. On one end is the learner and on the other end is the Guru. The Guru has to be willing to transfer the knowledge to his pupil. And in that regard I have been so blessed.”

Rajdutt’s life, a daring adventure -- full of love, laughter, and life reflected from his ever smiling face. Although, his face framed gently with silvery white hair and kind demeanor may be the result of life’s inevitability; but his thoughts, words, and actions exhibited a lust, an young enthusiasm for life. The audience awestruck of this extraordinary moment of their lives relished the interview and the melodious songs sung by the artists. The ‘Jyeshta Nagrik’ were left nostalgic of the moments they remembered, experienced and lived. And for that precise hour, they were once again young with the same zeal and lust for life.