'Chiyaan' Vikram does not need any introduction in India, or does he? The versatile actor had an embarrassing-yet-exciting experience on a flight from Mumbai to Chennai. His fellow passenger did not recognize him. And the fellow passenger was the one and only Sachin Tendulkar.
Vikram revealed his fanboy moment during an interview with Manorama News. "I was returning after a program in Mumbai. I did not get a window seat. I was wearing a cap. Then I heard somebody calling out 'Sachin, Sachin…' I wondered if they mistook me for some Sachin.
"Then someone walked up to me and sat near me. It was Sachin! I was wonderstruck and just uttered, 'Oh my god'. He turned to me and said 'hi'. All I could say was 'sorry sir'. I was embarrassed. I was also disappointed that he did not recognize me.
"Amitabh ji and Abhishek know me. So Sachin should also know me, I had thought. In fact he had no idea who I was. I can't tell you how I felt. I was restless.
"When I walked into the aircraft, some of the other passengers had come to me to take selfies. I hoped someone else would come for my autograph and then Sachin would ask me who I was. But no one came. I was disappointed again. After a while we were served food. I could not sleep. We had to spend two hours together.
"I thought I would talk to him while we got down from the flight. But the fan in me could not wait. I talked to him. I said I was an actor. 'You may not know me but Rajini, Amithabh, Shah Rukh and Aamir know me. Most people in India know me. But I am sad that you don't know me.'
"He was very sweet. He listened to me without any irritation. I told him I did not want to disturb him. But he surprised me. He said let us talk for some time. He let me ask anything about him.
"All we talked that day was about my son and his son. That was beautiful. I never had such a fan moment in my life. All excited, I texted my wife and friends that I was with Sachin. They replied asking if he knew who I was! Everyone had the same kind of response.
"Whenever we see someone we admire, we try to take a photo with him first. But we have to respect them. That is what I did. I never had such a fan moment in my life. Even if came across Brad Pitt or Robert Downey, I would just say a 'hi'. But this was Sachin. I couldn't have slept that night had I left without talking to him.
"I asked him why he was not aware of my existence. He said he did not watch Indian movies. He watches foreign movies once in a while."
