Inspired by Claudia, writes Niranjan Iyengar

When you sell stories for a living, you inevitably hit pockets of complete ennui. There are days when your work seems unfelt and you are swamped by a general feeling of creative lethargy. That’s when you clutch at straws for inspiration. One such inspirational story for me is Claudia Stapp’s!

I met her at a press conference many years ago in Germany. Petite, slightly plump, Claudia proudly wore all of her 58 years on her face. But her inquisitive eyes sparkled with enthusiasm when she spoke. She met me again a year later in Mumbai.

After teaching in Germany for 30 years, Claudia discovered Shah Rukh Khan and her life changed! She watched all his movies, Googled him a million times and participated in various forums discussing SRK and Bollywood. And during this journey, she chanced upon several heartwarming stories of how Shah Rukh Khan’s persona –- on and off screen -- had deeply affected people’s lives to change them forever. Armed with 75 such stories, she wrote a book and promised all her contributors that she would hand it over 'personally' to Shah Rukh. 

Interestingly, she was not aided or funded by anyone during this project. She took a four-year sabbatical from teaching, for the project. She had no backing from any publishing house. She collected all the money she had saved to come to Mumbai to give SRK the book and make him aware of his power over people. “I stood outside Mannat three days in a row hoping for Shah Rukh to notice me!” she smiled. And notice her he did! She asked him for 15 minutes and he told her politely to get in touch with his secretary.

Claudia was jubilant. But it wasn’t that easy. The secretary refused her the time of the day. “It was her job to protect Shah Rukh from people like me!” Claudia laughed casually. She reached Mannat again. Luck didn’t favour her this time. Her money was dwindling. No headway! She called up the secretary again and was asked to hand over the book so it could be passed on to SRK. But Claudia refused. “I had a responsibility to my contributors. I had to give it to SRK myself!” she smiled. 

Finally the secretary gave in and called Claudia at 12 the next day. Claudia reached the office to find her (secretary) unavailable. From 12 noon to 9 pm Claudia regaled the office staff with her stories. “The security guards offered me drinks and food!” she smiled. And at 9 pm, SRK walked out of the cabin. He greeted her warmly and accepted the 'present' from Claudia. “I don’t know whether he went through it, but I have fulfilled my duty!” she said, relieved!

I was struck by her tenacity and perseverance for a job so simple. “Why didn’t you call me for help?” I could not help but ask. “I did not want to use you! It was my job. I had to do it!” she answered.  

Claudia’s project may not represent much beyond an anecdote about a foreigner’s obsession with Bollywood, but for her it was an important mission that she took pains to complete. And for me her story is inspirational enough to get my job at hand done!