NEW DELHI: It’s one thing to idolise a fictional character, but adopting that name is like being awestruck on an entirely different level. Perhaps, this is what gave birth to Delhi’s own James Bond, the character of the debonair British Secret Service agent created by writer Ian Fleming.
Till two days ago, 33-year-old Vikas Kardam was just another ordinary man living in a two-room rented apartment at Nawada Housing Complex in west Delhi with his wife and three-year-old daughter. His fame was limited to his family, friends and neighbours. But ever since he has changed his name to James Bond, he has been attracting a lot of attention. “The word has spread like wildfire. People think it is some kind of a joke, but it’s true,” he told TOI.
Unlike his favourite Bond, Daniel Craig, who zooms around in luxurious technologically advanced cars, Kardam moves around on a bike that he had purchased three years ago when his daughter was born.
The dissimilarity between the star and the fan doesn’t end there. While the real Bond has the attention of women from across the world, Delhi’s “super spy’s” wife is visibly angry with him for having taken this step. “Her first reaction was of shock. She looked at me with anger, didn’t utter a word and then left the room. It’s been two days since she’s spoken to me. She feels this is going to attract a lot of attention, which will end in all of us getting trolled. But I am ready to face it,” Kardam said.
He added that nobody took him seriously when he discussed the idea of changing his name, but now that it had happened, they were all shocked to see his guts. “I haven’t told my parents about this yet. I know they will be mad at me, so I am waiting for the news to reach them on its own to avoid the confrontation,” the 33-year-old said.
The original Bond, who is six feet tall, muscular and weighs a little over 70kg, doesn’t quite fit in the Delhi replica’s personality. “Who cares?” Kardam quipped. “The thought of changing my name first occurred to me as a joke too, but the more I thought about it, the more I got certain of doing it. More than my name, Vikas, I felt the name of my favourite star resonated with my personality,” he added.
Kardam had been putting a lot of thought into the matter since September 2019 and had even discussed it with his colleagues at his workplace in Gurgaon. “They tried to persuade me into not going ahead with it, but that just strengthened my resolve in doing it. I finally started checking the procedure online and found an office in Rajouri Garden that would facilitate it for me,” he said.
“I would have changed my name in April, but the procedure was delayed due to the novel coronavirus-induced lockdown. It was finalised on Friday. I’ll now have to get my name changed on my Aadhaar card, driver’s licence, PAN card, and other documents. I was aware of what tasks I would face once I changed my name. That’s why I won’t have any problems in going ahead with the procedure. I am doing it for the sake of getting the name of my favourite star, James Bond,” said Kardam.
Delhi’s Bond became philosophical saying life was too short to worry about a name. “I’m fully aware that I might become a butt of jokes, but at least I’ll be giving everyone a reason to smile,” he said.
Till two days ago, 33-year-old Vikas Kardam was just another ordinary man living in a two-room rented apartment at Nawada Housing Complex in west Delhi with his wife and three-year-old daughter. His fame was limited to his family, friends and neighbours. But ever since he has changed his name to James Bond, he has been attracting a lot of attention. “The word has spread like wildfire. People think it is some kind of a joke, but it’s true,” he told TOI.
Unlike his favourite Bond, Daniel Craig, who zooms around in luxurious technologically advanced cars, Kardam moves around on a bike that he had purchased three years ago when his daughter was born.
The dissimilarity between the star and the fan doesn’t end there. While the real Bond has the attention of women from across the world, Delhi’s “super spy’s” wife is visibly angry with him for having taken this step. “Her first reaction was of shock. She looked at me with anger, didn’t utter a word and then left the room. It’s been two days since she’s spoken to me. She feels this is going to attract a lot of attention, which will end in all of us getting trolled. But I am ready to face it,” Kardam said.
He added that nobody took him seriously when he discussed the idea of changing his name, but now that it had happened, they were all shocked to see his guts. “I haven’t told my parents about this yet. I know they will be mad at me, so I am waiting for the news to reach them on its own to avoid the confrontation,” the 33-year-old said.
The original Bond, who is six feet tall, muscular and weighs a little over 70kg, doesn’t quite fit in the Delhi replica’s personality. “Who cares?” Kardam quipped. “The thought of changing my name first occurred to me as a joke too, but the more I thought about it, the more I got certain of doing it. More than my name, Vikas, I felt the name of my favourite star resonated with my personality,” he added.
Kardam had been putting a lot of thought into the matter since September 2019 and had even discussed it with his colleagues at his workplace in Gurgaon. “They tried to persuade me into not going ahead with it, but that just strengthened my resolve in doing it. I finally started checking the procedure online and found an office in Rajouri Garden that would facilitate it for me,” he said.
“I would have changed my name in April, but the procedure was delayed due to the novel coronavirus-induced lockdown. It was finalised on Friday. I’ll now have to get my name changed on my Aadhaar card, driver’s licence, PAN card, and other documents. I was aware of what tasks I would face once I changed my name. That’s why I won’t have any problems in going ahead with the procedure. I am doing it for the sake of getting the name of my favourite star, James Bond,” said Kardam.
Delhi’s Bond became philosophical saying life was too short to worry about a name. “I’m fully aware that I might become a butt of jokes, but at least I’ll be giving everyone a reason to smile,” he said.
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