Exclusive: Producer JD Majethia on climbing Everest Base Camp at 57, ‘It was my life’s first trek ever, I used to climb 17 floors, run, jog and go for walks'

Actor and producer of several sitcoms like Sarabhai Vs. Sarabhai, Khichdi and others, JD Majethia achieved an incredible feat by climbing Everest Base Camp. The actor and producer ticked it off from his bucket list at the age of 57. Back from the trek, ETimes TV caught up with him, who shared his fulfilling experience, the challenges he faced, health scares and more.

You understand the true meaning of happiness when you achieve something like this. When you are very happy, you don’t want to sleep. You want to feel that happiness. Trekking teaches you a lot.

Many years back, a batchmate from my management school, did this trek and I wanted to do it too. But it didn’t happen. I got busy with work. Then I incurred an injury. Because of the injury, I had to undergo a surgery. But I didn’t do. I worked on physiotherapy and surprised the doctor. He told me to continue. I developed cervical spondylitis. I kept incurring injuries, then Covid happened so this trekking plan kept postponing. Then I went to watch Uunchai with my daughter. And there was no looking back. I told all my friends that I will do this. I was very inspired. It’s not you who decide. The mountains called me. I had just 6 weeks to prep. One of my distant friend, who is fit, I called him and he agreed to come. For training, I used to climb 17 floors, running, jogging, walks and in between one medical issue cropped up. 15 days were gone. But I was determined. The film Uunchai pushed me to achieve this from bucket list.

I am equally shocked. You won’t believe if I say this is my life’s first trek. I had never trekked before. I hardly got a month to practice. I want to tell everyone, if your health is good, you can lead your life beautifully. For last few years, I have kept working out. I multi-task but take care of my family, producing shows, social work and many things. I never miss gym or physiotherapy sessions. I also eat healthy food. God is kind that I keep busy but I handle myself very coolly. Amitabh Bachchan ji inspires me a lot. I stay happy.

My daughter was very happy because she watched the movie along with me. My wife wanted to join me. I encouraged her but also she didn’t work on fitness that much. First they reacted since it was a solo trip but then I asked her to tag along. But she couldn’t join. They know me that once I decide something, I will work hard and manage it well. They were encouraging but there was something that happened 4 days before the trip. I went for a sonography and something cropped up. I asked the doctor if I could go and he said as long as there are no symptoms, I could go. I kept thinking if something happens on the trip because of this, it will go wrong. Because I am a very responsible person. I have to go for surgery now. That time I didn’t tell my family because they would have panicked, but I told them after I was back from the trip.

There were a lot of challenges. The process of going there was difficult. Sometimes the weather doesn’t support you, sometimes there is a steep climb, you get tired and you have irregular sleep and to top it all it was the first time. Keep enjoying the process and you are in a race with no one. Once I lost track of the group and took the wrong path. I realised later. So this journey, you have to enjoy. I was going there for my bucket list. I wasn’t punished to go. I had to carry my own things, you get headaches, you need to acclimatize and also take a medicine, which I didn’t take. I really wanted to try my will power out.

There was one such incident. We were two days away from reaching the base camp. We had to go to Gorakshep. I had blood loss in stool, not once but twice. We consulted a doctor in Mumbai. Doctor ruled out AMS (Acute mountain sickness). It couldn’t be figured out. I was feeling very weak. I am vegetarian and I would just order porridge. I would stay doing masti but that day I felt weak. But we went along. As you progress further, the challenges increase. You emerge out stronger. The journey to Gorakshep was very tough. Out of 9 people in the group, 7 people dropped. You have to listen to your body and couldn’t strain beyond a point. We had to cover Kala Patthar and it is higher than Everest Base Camp. It is more difficult than EBC. The weather became worse. It was very challenging and that’s what is making me happy. If you are determined, the mountain accepts you and shows you the road. It’s such a cathartic journey. I was very spiritual and used to pray every day. I was worried that if things go wrong in this, the EBC would get spoilt because I came for EBC.

You can see the base camp from a distance. After Kala Patthar, it was very difficult. There was snowfall. I was very conscious about food, worried about blood loss and low on energy. At night, I was waking up every hour. When I could see the EBC, I kept videos for friends, the cast members of all my shows, for Adaa Khan (she is a dear friend), Uunchai director Sooraj Barjatya and many others. Upon reaching, I did a puja. I climbed a bit further and saw the base camp of people, who would climb Mt. Everest. I cried and I also wanted to go to the washroom. You also constantly need to drink water. You feel all the real-life problems.

The moment of unfurling the national flag makes you feel like you have won a war. There is a big rock and everyone click pictures. I wanted to climb on that rock and clicked pictures. Many people fell ill between. We had to climb back also…

He also spoke about several interesting incidents during the trek…Stay tuned for more.