Aruna Dhir’s Hotel Adventures With The Stars: A Glimpse into Celebrity Encounters
Upasana Kaura
The opening lines of the Foreword by Ruskin Bond could not have fit better for the author of Hotel Adventures With The Stars – “L Aruna Dhir is one of those people who pop in and out of your life from time to time, like a ray of sunshine bursting through the clouds. She is quite irrepressible!”
This rings true for someone who has not only been a PR and corporate communication specialist but also an author, YouTube host, poet, memoirist, and a recognised international hospitality writer.
From PR Professional to Author
From her first job at the Australian High Commission in India (alongside freelance work for several publications and dailies) to spending a major part of her corporate life as a Communication and PR professional at iconic hotels like The Oberoi, Hyatt, and most importantly, The Imperial, Aruna has had the opportunity to brush shoulders with some of the biggest names in the world—across generations.
As she mentions in Hotel Adventures With The Stars – “I have become a friend to Royalty. I have broken bread with Bollywood A-listers, sipped coffee with international stars, been knocked for six by the Indian cricket team, have taught Hindi words to globally-acclaimed authors in jest, savoured regular lunch dates with celebrated voices from international television, organised tennis and golf clinics with some living legends, had tea in the houses of others and turned a few celebrities into willing chefs at a hotel restaurant.”
One Chapter Per Celebrity
The author dedicates one chapter to each celebrity (or sometimes multiple personalities), sharing her experiences with them. The book features 27 such chapters. Each one carries a personal touch, like her interaction with Bollywood diva Dimple Kapadia at The Oberoi.
Aruna writes – “I noticed that she carried the weight of being a big Bollywood star rather casually. She was not even snooty and supercilious about her ravishing looks. That was a strong departure from scores of conceited women with half her beauty. The air around her was light and easy to breathe in as against being stuffy and obnoxious.” She also recalls how the Bobby star gifted her handmade candles, which she still treasures as souvenirs even after many years.
In another chapter, she writes about the bhidu of Indian cinema—Bollywood’s Golden Heart, Jaggu Dada, aka Jackie Shroff. This was during her time at the Delhi Hyatt. “For his simplicity, innate swank, originality, and humility, it is difficult not to like Jaggu Dada.” She even recalls asking him, “How do you manage to stay so unwavering and rooted, Mr Shroff?” to which he replied, “It’s all a matter of perspective, Arunaji.”
Encounters with Legends
The book captures close encounters with legends like cricketer Kapil Dev, author Khushwant Singh, supercop Kiran Bedi, actors Shashi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Shabana Azmi, Poonam Dhillon, Madhuri Dixit, and Neha Dhupia, filmmaker Mira Nair, singer Shubha Mudgal, and danseuse Sonal Mansingh, among others. A few additional ‘stars’ also appear, adding variety while maintaining the book’s engaging narrative.
A Nostalgic and Engaging Read
Each chapter is filled with engaging anecdotes that make one wonder how the author remembers these moments so vividly. Perhaps she always intended to turn these experiences into a book. Whatever the case, the effort is commendable.
Hotel Adventures With The Stars is worth a read, especially for those who love Hindi films and celebrity stories. While many personalities may not have made it into this volume, perhaps they will find a place in the next one.
