Film personality and true-blue enthusiast Sanjay Khan has, over four decades, owned a number of snazzy sports cars. Bonito Chhabria meets the Cadillac man.

Regal, majestic, grand — a bunch of words that are just passé in the automotive world today. It seems that most people want sport sedans. No one wants big, imperial cars anymore, driving a new BMW — now that’s page three stuff. We met up with Mr Sanjay Khan at his palatial Juhu bungalow in Mumbai and, boy, were we surprised.

An introduction Mr Khan doesn’t need. Actor, producer et al, he’s seen it all and done it all. Hailed as one of the best looking actors of his day, most women young or old have swooned over him at some point of time. Unlike most filmstars today he’s had a far longer honeymoon with automobiles. That interested me — I wondered what he chose to drive in his heyday.

“As soon as I could afford a car I bought one, and thereon I always owned at least three to four cars at a time.” He couldn’t hold on to a car for more than a few months. “I love the smell of a new car, especially if there’s leather upholstery in it,” and when the newness wore off, he eventually felt the same way every compulsive car buyer feels — boredom — boys with toys you know.

Mr Khan says that he mostly went for imports, usually “very expensive ones from embassy disposals”. One can’t blame him as at the time a true car aficionado had little choice. “I loved the Fiat Ghia,” says Mr K but its charm too wore off and the car soon found its new home with Mr Adi Godrej who found it difficult to resist. Another Fiat — a two-door convertible — took its place. Wow, Mumbai in the ’60s — sparse traffic, an Italian sports car and wind-in-your-hair — that’s motoring nirvana.

“In ’70 I became the proud owner of a Mercedes 220.” That’s where his love affair with Mercs began. He bought it for a fabulous price but loved every minute he was in it. The transition from sports car to sedan does happen sooner or later, and maturity does have its downside but what Mr K unveiled after we met truly surprised me. Expecting yet another E or S-class, LandCruiser or X5, ladies and gentlemen, behold a 1998 Cadillac Deville. Finished in pearl white, the length and sheer size takes one aback. Yeah, we all criticise American cars, me included, but you know what? This Caddy has fabulous street presence and looks the epitome of comfort.

Mr K is basic in his needs: “Comfort, silence, speed, and regality.” Speed? American liner? Quite so with a 32-valve Northstar V8. Probably the finest example of an American engine. “Time and traffic conditions don’t allow me to drive it in the city” though Mr K loves to let the Deville’s horses loose on the highway. A top-of-the-line AC and Delco sound system help compress those kilometres as well. “I love new gadgets in a car,” says Mr Khan, an opinion all of us share.

When asked of the cars available on Indian roads today, he said: “In the past you would have to stand in line to buy an Amby, and anyway only the horn would work. It amazes me to see the array of cars on sale now — you can just walk up to a dealer and buy the-top-of-the- line Merc.” But there’s a price. “Be good to the environment, air and water, try to add the minimum of pollution” — refreshing advice Mr K — so all you non-PUC-ers listen and clean up your act. If you think Mr K only loves huge, comfortable cars you wouldn’t be more wrong — “I wish more sports cars were made and available here,” the prayer of most car nuts. Mr K, please don’t grow up.