Autos - the preferred Bollywood vehicle

Mumbai: While commuters in Mumbai are held to ransom by frequent auto strikes, many Bollywood stars are shunning their luxury wheels to hop into the humble auto. They say it is a practical ride on Mumbai's busy streets.

Filmmakers Imtiaz Ali and Rohit Jugraj prefer the auto to their four-wheel rides. Imtiaz, who is directing Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar, has also introduced him to auto rides. The two are sometimes seen zipping around in three-wheelers.

Unnoticed
Though stars can hardly board an auto unnoticed, it doesn't stop them from hopping into one in a rush. Recently, Katrina Kaif who had to reach the airport in time simply hopped into an auto rickshaw. The autowallah swooned on seeing his superstar passenger.

"I had an early morning flight to catch. And my driver did not show up on time. So I flagged down an auto and jumped in. My staff arrived later. What's the big deal?" Katrina says she enjoyed the ride and wouldn't mind doing it again," says Katrina of her ride.

Fried
Since most stars live and commute extensively in the city's Western suburbs, autos are a convenient ride. Says Bheja Fry actor Vinay Pathak, "I use the rickshaw very often. I travelled by auto rickshaw very recently, just the other night. I needed to reach my movie theatre fast and I did not feel like driving."

People
Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia likes to commute by auto rickshaw too. "I love commuting by autos. I get to observe people from close quarters and also get time to think," he says

Actor Shazahn Padamsee says, "I used to travel by autos for the longest time. When my driver doesn't show up I still use the auto to commute in Bandra."

Actor Sonu Sood thinks Mumbai life would be paralysed without autos.

"The other day, I went to the airport in an auto when my driver didn't show up on time. I am no stranger to auto rickshaws," he said.

Promotions
Apart from a commuting, stars and filmmakers are using the humble auto to promote their films as well.

Recently, producer Sunil Bohra flew down to his hometown of Jodhpur and hired a fleet of autorickshaws to promote his new film, Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster.

"When you get on a three-wheeler there is an immediate connection with the masses. I found local people responded immediately to my marketing on autos," says Bohra.

Mahie Gill who was seen commuting in an auto rickshaw in her most recent release Not A Love Story, is no stranger to the three-wheeler. "In fact I always used to travel by auto, until I bought my car some three years ago. I still grab an auto sometimes when there's a lot of traffic and I need to reach my workplace on time. I find it convenient and a liberating means of transport. And it somehow keeps one rooted to reality," she says

Easy
Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh still prefers the auto to his car.

"In fact, he went to his office in an auto, when this writer interviewed him. Udaan's young protagonist, Rajat Bharmecha who is from Delhi says, "I do travel by autos. In fact so many people use autos. They get handicapped when there's a strike like the ones we have seen recently. I personally love speeding in autos late at night. So much more fun than the car."

Nostalgia
Theatre and film actor Lilette Dubey gets nostalgic about the three-wheeler.

"Hai, woh bhi ek zamana tha in Delhi in college, haggling with the autorickshaw-wallah (That was the time, haggling with the autorickshaw drivers in Delhi during college). Those days the meter for some mysterious reason never worked! I did get a chance to use an auto recently, when my flight got cancelled and I had to rush from one terminal to another. Would you believe it, the driver charged me a 100 bucks. Some things never change!"

Tantrums
Actor Nikhil Diwedi travels by autorickshaw. "But I see a huge difference in the attitude of the auto drivers in the last decade. Earlier they were more professional and disciplined. Recently, I hopped into an auto when I could not locate my car in a car park, lost my bearings somehow. I don't support their strike though."

Actors sometimes have a tough time dealing with temperamental drivers and paucity of parking space.

Says actor Aditi Rao (of Delhi 6 and Yeh Saali Zindagi fame), "Considering the scarcity of parking space in the city and hardly any pavements to walk on, it is more convenient taking an auto, especially in Bandra where my car gets towed quite frequently. I had to travel by auto very recently."

Strike
Minissha Lamba feels the auto strike is justified to a point.

"Their livelihood is at stake. But at the same time the people are being inconvenienced as their daily mode of transport to work is disrupted."

Filmmaker Onir says, "I still travel by auto. I don't think they fudge meters that much. For a fare of Rs 100 they might maximum cheat Rs 10 whereas cops take bribes in hundreds from autorickshaw-wallahs."

Singer Sunidhi Chauhan took an auto recently to a recording. "It was fun, as usual," she signs off.

Ready for a morcha
The Mumbai Autorickshaw Union along with other unions has called for a morcha on Monday October 3, to press for certain demands. Their demands are titled rather combatively: Hamein Jeene Do or Let us Live.

Some of those demands are:
>> There should be a rise in fares so as to facilitate rickshaw drivers to earn at least Rs 25,000 a month.
>> Autorickshaws should be allowed to ply within the city.
>> Given the rise in price of spare parts and other accessories of auto rickshaws, rickshaws should be allowed to raise their fares every January.