Amitabh Bachchan gets nostalgic after Air India-Tata reunion, remembers Bobby Kooka, the man behind the iconic ‘Maharaja’

Air India’s reunion with Tata Group after over six decades got Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan nostalgic. The 79-year-old actor took to his Twitter account to share a glimpse of his younger days. Bachchan went on to remember a banner ad in the late 50s on a building in Connaught Place, in New Delhi.

The legendary actor took his followers back in time when he would pass by the banner to reach his university. The Padma Vibhushan awardee shared the tagline of Air India from the ‘50s - ‘There’s an air about India!’. The veteran actor ended his short tweet by praising Bobby Kooka saying “Bobby Kooka at his best.”

“T 4190 - Air India back with Tatas .. and I remember the banner ad., in the late 50's on a striking building in Connaught Place, New Delhi, that I would pass by as I travelled to University in the Univ Special: 'There's an air about India !' ~ Bobby Kooka at his best !!,” read his tweet.

After nearly 69 years, Air India returned to the Tata fold on January 27. The airline was the brainchild of industrialist, philanthropist and India’s first licensed pilot, JRD Tata. The company was established in 1932.

Bobby Kooka - The King Maker

Sorab Kaikushroo Kooka, popularly known as Bobby Kooka, is considered to be one of India’s first marketing geniuses. He began his journey with the airliner in 1932. He went on to spin taglines for the iconic mascot of Air India, the Maharajah. Kooka is credited with the witty, humorous taglines that were seen on Air India ad campaigns in its earlier days.

“We can call him the Maharajah for want of a better description. But his blood isn’t blue. He may look like royalty, but he isn’t royal. He is capable of entertaining the Queen of England and splitting a beer with her butler. He is a man of many parts: lover boy, sumo wrestler, pavement artist, vendor of naughty post cards, Capuchin monk, Arab merchant…”, in Bobby Kooka’s own words according to the book ‘Tata Stories’ written by Harish Bhat.

Based on 'Tata Stories', Kooka conceptualised Maharaja when he was serving as the secretary at Tata Airlines much before it became Air India. Kooka envisioned the Maharaja to be 'an oriental potentate, sitting on a magic carpet, smoking a bubble hooka'. He later developed it further and turned it into the form of Maharaja with the help of Umesh Rao of JWT.

Bachchan will be next seen as a retired sports teacher in Nagraj Popatrao Manjule's 'Jhund'.