Asha Parekh who turned 79 on 2 October  got the best surprise  gift from ardent fan Jackie Shroff.

We don’t know if it is the  ‘Gujju’ connection. But Jackie has always maintained that Asha Parekh is his favourite actress. Therefore it’s no surprise that he threw a surprise  party for her.

Says  Ashaji,  “Jackie has always been  very sweet . He is  a very warmhearted person. I don’t know if  I am his favourite. But he had a small birthday  party for me at his farmhouse where he invited a  few of my close friends. Jackie looked after the guests  personally. He made me feel special.That’s  the special charm of  Jackie Shroff.”

The party had  only begun for Ashaji.

She laughs, “I brought in my birthday at my best friend  Waheeda Rehman ’s  home. She had a  dinner  party for me where  she had invited  our friends. Then   on  the afternoon  of my birthday I  took my close friends  out for lunch.We then watched the latest  Bond film A  Time To Die.”

Ashaji’s birthday celebrations  end with dinner  hosted by her neighbours. Laughs  the actress joyously. “The entire week I’ve been  just eating and eating. I will have to starve  myself  for  a month . But seriously, I am very lucky to feel so  special on my  birthday at my age.I have friends  who  have been with me for  40 years.I am blessed.”

Any unfulfilled dreams? “I want to be  the  heroine in a  Sanjay Leela Bhansali film.”