Recession
and
terrorism
be
damned.
This
year
Goa
has
recorded
the
highest
number
year-end
revellers
in
the
last
ten
years.
A
lot
of
Bollywood
was
there
too.
But
the
one
Bollywood
rebel
who
seems
to
have
made
the
largest
splash
in
the
New
Years
Eve
pool
is
Prateik
Babbar.
Prateik
who
took
time
off
from
the
promotion
of
Dhobi
Ghat,
took
off
for
a
few
days
to
Goa
to
attend
the
much
talked-about
Sunburn
music
festival.
What
followed
was
sheer
pandemonium
of
the
fun
kind
Says
a
prominent
attendee
of
the
Festival,
"Pratik
was
in
complete
'chill'
mode.
He
was
half-naked
at
the
Sunburn
event,
wearing
only
a
lungi
with
kajal
in
his
eyes
and
black
nailpolish!
It
was
a
sight.
He
had
lost
his
shy
demeanour
completely
at
the
festival
and
was
seen
mingling
freely
and
hobnobbing
with
strangers."
The
real
fun
part,
apparently,
was
when
Prateik
tried
to
get
on
one
of
the
four
stages
where
rock
performers
were
pounding
away
non-stop
beats
for
72
hours.
Prateik,
it
must
be
remembered,
always
wanted
to
be
a
rock
star.
He
personally
told
this
writer
that
he
had
learnt
to
play
the
guitar
grew
his
hair
long
and
acquired
all
the
trappings
of
rock
musician
before
Bollywood
beckoned.
Here
at
the
Sunburn
music
festival
was
his
chance.
Unfortunately,
guests
were
not
allowed
to
get
on
stage.
Says
Shailendra
Singh,
Joint
Managing-Director
of
Percept
the
organizers
of
the
Sunburn
festival,
"Yes
Prateik
was
there
and
so
were
a
lot
of
other
Bollywood
A-listers
including
Priyanka
Chopra.
I've
never
seen
her
having
so
much
fun.
Nor
for
that
matter
did
I
imagine
the
shy
Prateik
would
be
freaking
out
in
a
lungi."
Says
Singh,
"My
15-year
old
son
Shantanu
made
his
debut
as
a
musician
on
stage.
I'm
proud
to
say
he
brought
the
house
down.
About
Prateik
going
on
stage,
all
I
can
say
is
the
stage
is
for
the
musicians.
Invitees
are
just
not
allowed.
We
had
internationally
renowned
deejays
like
Paul
Van
Dyk
and
Ferry
Corsten
playing
music
non-stop
for
the
guests.
No
one
was
allowed
on
stage.
We
at
Sunburn
don't
give
special
privileges
to
Bollywood
stars.
They
are
most
welcome.
But
tell
me
where
else
but
at
Sunburn
will
you
see
politician
Mani
Shankar
Iyer
and
heart
specialist
Dr.
Naresh
Trehan
freaking
out
alongside
Prateik
and
Priyanka."
Priyanka,
by
the
way,
was
spotted
at
the
Sunburn
festival
with
her
best
friend
Tamanna.
Priyanka's
parents
and
brother
were
also
with
her
in
Goa
to
bring
in
the
New
Year.
Story first published: Monday, January 3, 2011, 17:18 [IST]