Aamir makes him a known entity from non-entity

Brij Bihari Rai rubbed his eyes in disbelief when one of his aides in sweetmeat shop on Patna’s Bailey Road informed him one fine day that superstar Aamir Khan’s cavalcade had stopped there and the Bollywood heartthrob wanted to meet 47-year-old Rai.

It was on April 25, 2012. And Aamir Khan was on his way to Varanasi from Mumbai. The versatile actor had flown down to Patna from where he hired a sports utility vehicle (SUV) for Varanasi where he had to attend a wedding function in the family of an auto-rickshaw driver. Aamir was told that it would take nearly five-six hours while driving from Patna to Varanasi. He was also told that he could get his lunch packed from the best of hotels in Patna.

But Aamir had something else in his mind. “I don’t know who told Aamir Khan about me, but he made a surprise stopover at my shop en route to Varanasi and asked for a plate of much-renowned Bihari delicacy - litti-choka,” reminisced Rai, while recounting his first encounter with the actor. 

 The first bite Aamir took, he exhaled: “Arey yaar, yeh toh bahut garam hai. (This is too hot).” It was then that Rai tore off the front portion of litti so that the heat within could escape and it would be ready for consumption.

 “Ham apne hathon se unko litti khilayen. (I offered him litti with my own hand). And see his humility, he never complained or made faces. Smilingly, he took one bite after another and then said, “I am taking away this plate. I will eat the rest of litti-choka while travelling to Varanasi by road,” said Aamir.

The actor would have left Bailey Road (where Rai has his shop) but then one minor incident took place which made Aamir get down from the car. “There was a mad scramble among photographers to click his pictures. In the melee, the earthen pot in which the curd was kept fell on the ground. And before any lensman could realise his folly, the entire curd had spilled over to the ground.

 “Immediately, Aamir Sir got down from his vehicle and handed over a Rs 500 note to me. He said the amount was not for litti-choka. But it’s just a token compensation for the loss ‘you have incurred (due to curd) because of me’. I was taken aback by his humility, simplicity and generosity,” recounted Rai while speaking to Deccan Herald.

Rai is not highly qualified. In fact, he was not very keen on studies but he has ensured that all his four children get proper educational qualification in the field of their choice.

“I am just inter (intermediate) pass. But I ensured that my son becomes an engineering graduate, that too in computer science,” said a proud Rai talking about his kin.

“The eldest daughter, now married, is a science graduate from JD Women’s College, while the younger daughter has done her bachelor degree in computer applications (BCA) from the prestigious Patna Women’s College. The youngest son, my fourth child, has recently passed the intermediate examinations,” Rai averred while explaining that only proper education could narrow down the gap between the haves and have-nots.

“I am fortunate that my children are settled. My business has made a quantum jump after Aamir sir visited for the second time in December 2014,” said Rai. 

“Aamir was actually promoting his movie PK. And in the process, he had flown down to Patna. On December 6, 2014, he again made a surprise visit to my shop, asked about me and my family and then asked for a plate of litti-choka.

“It’s really delicious,” Aamir said. “I told him why don’t you give me some space in Mumbai where I could serve you and other Mumbaikars the same variety of litti-choka. Aamir smiled but avoided making any commitment,” Rai said.

When asked what’s so special about your litti-choka that even High Court judges and top bureaucrats families come over here to get it packed, Rai refused to share the recipe. But he shared the recipe of success.

“Nowadays, everyone says that ‘Aamir Khan-waale litti-choka ke shop se pack karwana hai.’ But success has not gone into my head. I remain the same ordinary Rai ji. I still sell litti for Rs 10 per piece and bharta (mashed brinjal) is free. Scores of rickshaw-pullers and thela walas come in the evening. Even if someone orders just one litti, I tell my aides that give him as much bharta as he wants. Pet bhar kar khayage toh. (At least he will have a full meal). And this gives me immense satisfaction. And by God’s grace, this trade has given me everything – name, fame and above all, education to my children,” Rai winds up the conversation.