What better place to see a Bollywood film than in Raj Mandir Cinema in Jaipur or the Pink City. The cinema is said to be one of India's finest and rightly so, after entering its chic, vintage lobby, I felt transported back to the India of the 70s. The lobby was carpeted with a high dome-shaped ceiling. Dimmed lights bounced off ornate walls, bringing a sense of class and gentler times. In the center of the lobby was a small centerpiece that bore autographs of Bollywood legends.

Throngs of people waited for the next screening of Kambakkht Ishq, a comedy set in the US starring Akshay Kumar and enchanting Kareena Kapoor. I was waiting by myself then suddenly a boy tries to chat me up. He asked me the usual questions — where I’m from, where I’m going — which, after weeks of traveling, I was tired of answering. He asked, "Where are you from, what are you doing in India, what do you think about India and its people," -- it was almost like he was following a script. I politely answered to be respectful. I was expecting him to sell me handicrafts or to offer me an auto-for-a-day but he didn't. Maybe he was just extending Indian hospitality to the foreigner?

I started taking photos of the lobby, admiring the architecture and the unique ambiance that came with it, when suddenly the same boy asked me to take a photo of him. Seeing nothing suspicious about the request, I agreed and took his snapshot. He excitedly asked me how it looked and I candidly replied, "It looks great!" In response, he gave me an amused look and asked, "Are you flirting with me?"

I looked back at him with an equally amused look and walked away. Weirdo. Just when I thought that nothing could go wrong, this happens. What can I say, he made my Bollywood experience a little bit more entertaining than usual. Above is the photo I took.

Bollywood films are entertaining because of two main reasons. First, the storyline gives a whole new meaning to the word spontaneous. The story changes from being a comedy, to a tearjerker, to an action flick, to a dance competition, with the transition so quick that it feels like you’re watching five different movies in one go. Second, the audience’s reactions to anything on-screen was endearingly genuine. When the lead actor and actress appeared, the women screamed and the men cheered. When the scene turned dramatic, the audience fell silent and had lumps in their throats. I've never seen such a responsive audience ever.