Click on the pic to view slideshow When I called up Vinay Pathak, the critically acclaimed off-beat actor, to invite him for my column, there was a gentle request – “I love the sushis at ITC Maratha’s Pan Asian.” So, Pan Asian it was where we met for lunch and the kitchen staff seemed to know exactly what kind of a sushi platter he preferred. The Bhojpuri native had turned vegetarian when he was a young adult, the reason being, “I took part in socio-politico plays and was also an activist. There was a phase when I donned khadi, followed Gandhiji’s principles and turned vegetarian.” Though he did try having non-veg later but his system rejected it creating allergies. The friendly Restaurant Manager Chirag helped us with starters of Mixed Veg Tempura of bell peppers, babycorn, French beans, mushrooms and onion rings in a thin batter was light and airy. The barman quizzed us about the drink he served us and full marks to Vinay’s gourmet palate for identifying the main ingredient of cranberry juice in the drink that is yet to be named. So may we suggest some naughty names like Vivid Vinay or Perky Pathak for the drink! Alumni of State University of New York at Stony Brook, he acted in many plays and realized his real calling. Back home, Vinay’s constant companion on television shows has been Ranvir Shorey and their talk show Ranvir Vinay Aur Kaun on Star TV is still remembered by viewers for the wit and humour. House Arrest, Duniya Goal Hain, Great Indian Laughter Show and Cricket Crazy were some of the shows Vinay enjoyed doing on the small screen. Of course, after several small roles in films, it was Bheja Fry and Khosla Ka Ghosla that shot him to fame on the silver screen. The Veg Sushi Platter arrives with a flourish and Vinay finds it irresistibly tempting. Wielding the chopsticks appropriately, he goes for them with élan, dipping each sushi carefully in soya-wasabi sauce. The varieties on the platter were Cream Cheese Asparagus Maki, Veg Californian Roll sushi, Pickled plum Nigiri (had a sweet and tangy bite), Cream Cheese & Tomato Nigiri and Asparagus Nigiri. Vinay’s roles have been appreciated in commercially viable films like Johnny Gaddaar, Rab Ne Bana di Jodi, Aaja Nachle, Khoya Khoya Chand. He has just finished shooting for Ananth Mahadevan’s Gaur Hari Dastaan, a biopic on freedom fighter Gaur Haridas and is all praise for the ninety plus stalwart who still lives life with gusto. It’s time to wind up our Japanese lunch but with non-Japanese desserts. I went with Fried Ice Cream – yes, ice cream can be fried; check it out at Pan Asian. Again Vinay called for his off-beat choice of Thob Thin Crob beautifully presented with an orchid. If you are wondering what this sweet dish is like, I shall let you into it. It is multi-colored water chestnut morsels, resembling tutti fruitties, dancing gleefully in a bowl of Thai sweet coconut milk. Before bidding Vinay adieu, I have one last question to the divorced actor to which he ripostes, “There is no one in my life right now and I am happy to be single.”