Funny, You Don’t Look Like Sunil Dutt

Sunil Dutt, until recently head of marketing at a multinational corporation, who now lives in Gurgaon, has spent a good part of his life fending off annoying questions like “Where’s Nargis?” It was by 1999 that Sunil really started to enjoy all the attention when he’d moved sufficiently up the corporate ladder to become a frequent business traveller. Meanwhile, the Sunil Dutt, actor and yesteryears’ heartthrob, became a Member of Parliament. Soon both Sunil Dutts had airline attendants escorting them to aeroplanes, even giving them special seats. The first time it happened to a puzzled Sunil, the marketing man, he naturally asked, “But why?”

“Because, Sir,” the high-heeled attendant replied, “every Member of Parliament has to be escorted to the aircraft.”

What’s in a name? Quite a bit, and this sort of thing happens around the world. Jim Hoover was basking in the glow of becoming a new father. Giddily, he filled in his son’s birth certificate with the name of his old dog: Herbert. Ha-ha. Then he asked the nurse if he could have another certificate.

“Only,” she replied, “if you have another child.”

Thus did a new Herbert Hoover come into the world in 1968, unintentionally honouring the US President who ushered in the Great Depression.

Herbert Hoover, now 42, lives in New York City’s Harlem neighbourhood and makes pewter saltines (you’ll need to google it out) that are sold in stores and art galleries across the US.

So what were you expecting? A politician? A celebrity, at least? I’ve got news for you: After interviewing everyone from (not the) Michael Jordan to (not the) Michael Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, Oprah, and a whole lot more—we’ve learnt that very few would be mistaken for their famous namesakes. But somehow, they all feel connected to their celebrity counterparts, for better or worse. And if you happen to share a famous name, here’s a suggestion: Be prepared for anything.