For a man who has earned accolades as a poet, writer, lyricist and director, his humility comes as a pleasant surprise. With over three decades of work behind him, Gulzar is easily accepted as one of the most versatile, celebrated writers of the Indian film industry. Clad in his trademark white kurta-pyjama, he settles into his office (books cover most walls, and photographs of his children adorn the rest) at his bungalow Boskyana in Bandra, for a chat about the biography. His stature and charm cannot be missed, yet he exudes warmth that is a rarity among living icons. No wonder, in the conversations that followed with biographer Nasreen Munni Kabir, his contributions in making it fun and light-hearted resonated within the room long after the
interview. Excerpts:

Gulzar shares a light moment with author Nasreen Munni Kabir at his residence, Boskyana, in Bandra. Pic/Satyajit Desai