Hanging out with Telugu newspaper journos is fun. Apart from the hot gossip, you get to know the many jargons that have creeped into film journalism. In these many years of journalism I have learnt many euphemisms, how to respect actors and actresses while you are addressing them, etc. Many directors and actors don’t wish to be called in first person with their names for example Appa Rao garu and Subba Rao garu. In heart of hearts they want to be called hero garu and director garu. If you forget never mind, their assistants remind you or give you a hint. Once I had spoken to Rajashekar garu and during the confabulation he gave me a broad hint. He summoned his driver and told him thrice, “Ask madam garu if he wants hero garu to pick up the kids from school or if she wants to go.” That sounded very elaborate. I for a moment thought I should call his driver, driver garu too.
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