John Altman
Actor
What was the most memorable part of the experience?
I was quite laid back until I had to cook a ten course Indian meal with Susie!
The Great Festival was a great, extraordinary festival in Madurai, where we stayed up all night. There was a full moon in the sky with a ring around it.
There were many many high points, but I had to pick that one because it was the most spectacular. Thousands of people around the temples of Madurai. There was a full moon in the sky with a ring around it. The hotel we stayed in there was amazing too. There was this amazing drum machine that drummed us into the hotel that was hidden in the bushes. There were garlands of flowers, a warm Indian welcome. We were up all night. It was an exhausting experience.
What surprised you the most?
Down on street level, things haven’t changed that much. Ladies riding motorbikes since I went there in 1969, and people have mobile phones, so there was tech around, but street life was pretty much the same - with Tuk Tuks and it being busy and noisy. The heart of India is the real India. The festivals are still going as they were in 1969.
What was your role within the group?
We were all very different. A real eclectic mix. I was Britt’s personal photographer. She liked the photos that I took. They say Pisces understand all the other signs of the zodiac and I got close to everyone. I went to watch the sunrise with Zandra. It didn’t come up but that didn’t matter! Duncan and I got into Yoga. I had a lot of laughs with Paul Chuckle. I had special moments with everyone.
I was quite laid back until I had to cook a ten course Indian meal with Susie! I said I wanted to do some Indian cooking - just a curry, some rice, chapati and poppadum, but we ended up with a massive feast that took all day to prepare! I wasn’t calm at that point…
Did the experience allow you time to reflect?
It allowed me to reflect over how the last 50 years I’ve changed, and what an extraordinary time it’s been. I almost feel it’s another person that went to India [in 1969]… all the experiences I have been through and what a fortunate life I have had. I’ve become fairly well known in the acting business and made some success out of it. I never even dreamed I would be doing that.
Did you learn anything about yourself?
I’m 67 so I’ve learnt most things about myself. Maybe to slow down. To give myself some chilling out time. I’m a busy, busy person. When we got there I looked back at myself in England and realised I like to keep busy but I do need to give myself some relaxing time.
Would you return to India?
Definitely. I’ve always called it ‘planet India’ as it’s extraordinary in so many ways. There are parts of it I am yet to see. I’d love to go back to Goa.
Tell us about one of your adventures…
The train ride from Chennai to Madurai was quite extraordinary. We had Susie, Zandra, Britt and myself, in the same railway carriage. It was a bizarre situation you don’t think you were going to find yourself in. Hurtling across India, seeing the sunrise.
