Posted on: May 2, 2008 - 12:01 pm
St James Court Crowne Plaza Hotel, 51, Buckingham Place, London UK
May 1, 2008 10:22 pm (GMT)
I breathe heavy ! I think my asthma returns after a long remission. The timing and its difference from different zones begins to overpower me. I am sluggish and not optimum. But I miss the blog and the messages and the comments and my post and all my readers. So I gather strength and am back with you !!
Its been a 12 hr flight from Bangkok to London and within a short while after arrival its been the press in England and the promotion for ‘BhoothNath’. First a general conference, then each one of them wanting a one on one. I have always wondered why ?
Bangkok was equally pushed for time. IIFA announced activities. Premier of ‘Sarkar Raj’ at Bangkok on June 6th. A formal meeting with Her Royal Highness the Princess of Thailand - a gentle soft spoken sanskrit scholar, with a great love for India, the United Nations to plant a champa tree as token participation in their ‘Billion Tree’ programme - Bangkok being the head quarters for the UN in the entire South East. They were unaware that I was Ambassador for UNICEF, that I had worked with some degree of success in the polio eradication campaign in India, that I had been now asked by UN, NewYork to work for the female infanticide in India. As crowds collected in the premise, of Indians that worked there, a sudden interest gathered among the local officials. I paid my respects to a recently installed statue of Mahatma Gandhi and that was an end to the day.
Thailand and Thai’s dress predominantly in pink on Tuesday’s an in yellow on Friday’s. What a wonderful practice ! It is not a forced regimentation I think, but what a marvelous way to demonstrate unity and togetherness, fast disappearing from a cruel and disturbed universe of today !
Your messages pour in in overwhelming fashion and my frustration brims over too. I am unable to address each one individually. I will someday, despite Anupam’s(helloanupamsonu@gmail.com) disbelief that it is actually I that am writing my posts, or worse, even duly reading them.
There is constant and untiring comment by hundreds, on my efforts to clear media misreportage. They believe in my integrity and not that of the media. They are annoyed that I bother to challenge colleagues and others that comment on me, and I am annoyed that they are annoyed.
I need to justify my attitude, my stand of a million years. I have a medium to be able to do that. I have a medium that converses with me and my conscience. I may not be faithful to you as a viewer, an admirer or even as an antagonist, but I doubt if any would deny me my little moment with myself. I write what is within me, not to fill a page or to garner the admiration of an invisible mass of humans that show me abundant love, but to be able to talk to myself. If you listen I shall not despair, if you do not I will not question.
Allow me then to continue. Allow me to acknowledge what baban pawar (babanpawarmumbai@gmail.com) expresses that “I am the most fake person” and that my writing “irritates him” and that he wishes why “I do not just move to the mountains”. Allow me to acknowledge Prasad’s (pacapetown@gmail.com) ‘disgust’ at my ‘going to temples’ and to understand why he feels that in doing so I am any less than ‘a modern man’. Allow me to apologize for my in capability to write in Hindi, not because I do not want to, but because the software for that is being prepared for my Mac, an instrument 80% of most users do not work with. Allow me the temerity to address Salim Saheb and his comments through a Marathi paper that headline that ‘I take money to speak lies’ and that I am a victim of ‘bad and ill advised company’. Allow me to correct facts stated in Kunal M Shah’s article in the Mumbai Mirror of April 30, 2008 titled ‘Promises to keep…’, before his printed word becomes an inaccurate document of history. And allow me to comment on Shubha Shetty-Saha’s article in the DNA of April 25, 2008 titled ‘Whose award is it any way ?, with some pertinence, in order to honor the glorious and most dignified code of ‘unbiased’ journalism. Allow me… Just allow me that…
But…before that..some self praise ! Ha..Ha
There has been endless appreciation on my speech at Shobha De’s book release and demands for a personal copy. Thank you.. I attach it here much to the consternation of those readers who wish that my post would contain itself within the confines of a post card !!. Er..mm…!! These are early days and this, my little childhood birthday gift. You know what I talk of ?? As kids we looked forward to our birthdays and the birthday party, simply because we were so anxious to know what gifts our friends would bring. At times, even have the audacity to walk up to them and ask “What have you brought me !!”. Then when the guests had gone,
to open each gift with patience and delight and keeping the precious ones close to your bed as you turned in for the night - some under the pillow, for fear of them being pinched !! Oh !! Those wonderful years !! I feel much the same with my blog. So, please please please allow me my indulgence !
The speech -
Shobhaa Dé Superstar India; from Incredible to Unstoppable
Book Launch 29th of April
Shobha De, distinguished guests, ladies and gentleman .
It is an honour to be here. The honour is not only that of being asked to say a few words to commemorate the release of Shobhaa Dé’s present book. It is also a great honour to do so in her beloved home town, a city so deeply embedded in my own affections and habit of life for these last forty years. It feels right and good to be here.
Political correctness been taken care of. I can now dare to move on !
May I first wish Shobhaa the happiest of birthdays in her sixtieth year, an achievement of longevity in itself, although to see and hear her tonight, the mere accumulation of years is not what first springs to mind. Needless to say, it is obvious to anyone that Shobhaa Dé is not over yet, far from it.
Indeed, so all of us might hope to mark such rites of passage. Shobhaa herself tells us how she marks each day, watching the sun descend over South Mumbai into the Arabian Sea, acknowledging its blessing of life and the promise of another day to come - that is, when she is at home. Considering the contents of this book, she may mark each day in such a manner, but not every day in Mumbai, presumably watching the sun decline into many different horizons as she makes quiet prayer.
So in its sixtieth year of Independence might we do the same for India: count our blessings, know our strengths, admire the great achievements of our compatriots, as the sun sinks into the Arabian Sea and we also mark this rite of passage. These blessings are the promise of another dawn: our next decades and generations, our hope for a shared future.
I applaud Shobhaa’s achievement. I applaud India’s achievement. I applaud the applause of Shobhaa, I applaud your applause of Shobhaa’s applause that the dynamism and resourcefulness of the achievers of contemporary India are indeed extraordinary; our industrialists, people of commerce and the emerging greatness of the Indian middle class are blessings. Let us not forget the blessing of plenty – even surplus – provided by our veritable Stakhanovite agriculturalists – that is, those professional farmers amongst us. As Shobhaa notes, the present energetic youthfulness of our population is a blessing. The proven endurance, stability and justice of our political system, the largest democracy in the world, surely this is the greatest of blessings. For at its best, it will enrich us more than all else, economically, socially, culturally and intellectually. These are the promised outcomes of a virtuous body politic at the core of our nation. We count such blessed bounty and feel enriched in our first sixty years of Independence.
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And now, this evening, in the darkness as we await the dawn, there is time to speak of other things.
Shobhaa must be publicly defined according to her own wish, primarily as a writer. This must be respected. She writes: it is her active vocation, her creative labour. Her prolific works are truly extraordinary, spanning all the many shades between professional journalism and literature over a long and productive career. The writing is distinctly hers: an insatiable curiosity, chronically alert observational skills, playful juxtapositions, impassioned responses and a sheer joy of life. She brings graceful intelligence to the frivolous and mordant wit to the serious. She is eminently readable – she is, actually, beyond my powers of description. I humbly defer to her own.
But I was most interested to hear that this present book has already been noted for its ‘distinctly female voice’. By contrast, within its pages, Shobhaa expresses legitimate concerns about her professional achievements being colonised by her sex. As she says,
‘The minute you create separate categories for successful women, you are already insulting womankind. There are counter-arguments in abundance, and determined feminists will point out the inspirational/aspirational value of holding up such role models.’
Shobhaa is right. But Shobhaa, you are also right about something else as well: as much as we applaud and dwell upon our blessings now as we await the next dawn, we must balance our enthusiasms with careful analysis, acknowledge our weaknesses and then speak out against their ills. So I am going to try to be one of those determined feminists that you mention who disagree with you, abundantly but respectfully.
The reason is this: the insult is not that some people create a separate category for successful women, however well-intentioned that insult might be. The real insult is that even in the most enlightened cultures across the globe, there is still a separate category from that of a human being per se. It is the separate category of being a woman, whether successful or not. This is the insult. It is an insult to all of us, men and women alike. It is an insult to humanity.
All of us here tonight have been the beneficiaries of comparative privilege. Most of us here have probably grasped the potential of incipient privilege, and through endurance, intelligence and luck, we have flourished beyond its first blessing. Individual asymmetries can thus be largely overcome by individual achievement. But that does not mean the asymmetries aren’t still there. They remain with us, even if they merely cloud our thoughts. For others, these asymmetries are real, insuperable structural obstacles. They suffer.
The absurd and intolerable way in which humanity has been separated from each other by all manner of prejudice against difference is at its most shameful when it categorises half of the world’s population into a different, secondary and profoundly demeaning status from that of humankind.
In India, it is worse. Womankind is not even permitted the dignity of fifty per cent of our population. Over the last four decades in this country, the child sex ratio has been declining, with the sharpest fall from 1981 onwards. A 2001 census found there were 927 girls for every 1,000 boys in the age group of six years and below, compared to 945 in 1991. The male-female equilibrium will be lost within a few decades: this would not only be a future national disaster. It is now already a source of deep shame to us that ten million girls have disappeared at birth in the last twenty years alone.
Where have they gone?
We cannot blame economic poverty: it is Rajasthan and Punjab, two of India’s wealthiest states, where female infanticide is most prevalent. When we look for these lost daughters, sisters and mothers, do we there find our all-pervasive progress? When we look for them, do we there find our most revered cultural traditions in which we take such pride?
No. We find these lost souls murdered by a lethal alliance of new technological and medical advances – progress - and one of the most backward chauvinist traditions in our culture.
Thus we know our present strengths in how we are weak.
It is one of our greatest national weaknesses that we ignore this catastrophe to value females equally from birth in our culture and society, in our minds and in our lives. One of our greatest failures is that we have permitted it to worsen. There are those deserving of more or less opprobrium, but we are all to blame. It is our problem. India’s problem.
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Shobhaa Dé may indeed only happen to be in that separate category of womankind by the sheer whim of fate. And after all, it may be an irrelevant public identity to her, the identity of being a woman. I completely agree with her that for the present, claiming the category of humanity is infinitely more appealing. And thus she chooses to be primarily a writer, before a female one; a ‘voice’ before a female ‘voice’; to claim power, not ‘Woman Power’. She has a human right to be successful according to her own lights, as does anyone else, and I defend her claim absolutely.
But then I find that I must disagree with Shobhaa’s choice in order to follow her lead in critical judgement, because I want this harmful predicament of categories to change. Such change is not a promise, as we are promised another dawn over Mumbai after the passing of these few dark hours. The juggernaut of ‘progress’ will not deliver us this change of its own mindless accord. First we must acknowledge our failure. Then we must hope for change, and lastly, we must work strenuously for it together.
If we are to change, then this cannot be achieved merely through formal legislation and activism. We must accept that to change, we must change our mind. We must change our minds. We must re-think ourselves, without sterilising the richness of our language and culture with the extremities of political correctness. We must be more imaginative.
There isn’t a person in this room who would not wish to respect the basic dignity to life of another human being, regardless of sex, age, ethnicity or any other attribute of difference between one individual and another. There must be one ultimate category for all of us, wherein our most basic human rights and duties reside. Sixty years after our independence, it is now time for ‘humanity’ to be de-colonised.
Here, I must now defer to my betters for such a task.
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So I applaud Shobhaa now. I wish to honour her present choice with all due respect and admiration: I applaud her achievements as a professional writer, a serious writer, a creative writer, an astute cultural and political commentator.
But I will not await an unpromised dawn of change to arrive when females, girls, women, are no longer subject to slaughter at birth and direct and insidious discrimination throughout the rest of their lives. In that better future, it would not be problematic to acknowledge a true respect for Shobhaa Dé in her entirety, as all women of our country should be - whether successful or not - without a hint of any under-handed criticism by naming their womanhood, nor castrated as honorary men.
I pre-empt its arrival. As a gesture to hope, I honour Shobhaa in the entirety of her identity right now. I wish to publicly acknowledge the true extent of her achievement in contemporary India. In hope, so I applaud Shobhaa now, problematically and impatiently.
Yet after all, I believe that Shobhaa Dé already claims that unmistakable identity in this most recent book: within its pages, she insists on being entire. She thinks with her entirety and she entirely writes it. Of all her shrewd predictions for the future, I hope that this is how she proves to be most gifted with foresight.
Nevertheless, this is still not enough with which to honour her. I must also honour my conscience as an Indian, and as a man, in the present, for this particular dawn ahead that we will soon see rise to our East. I salute her achievements simply as a woman in India today. Regardless of any initial comparative privilege, she has met inveterate prejudice and active discrimination with endurance, resistance, courageous self-belief, and the sanity of good humour. Simply because it is the general fate of contemporary women in our nation, it does not belittle her achievement of transcendence.
Surely Shobha, the more achievements, the better.
Finding the name of the author in a larger font than that of the title of the book, is a conscious and brave beginning !
(Shobha De’s name is printed much larger than the title of the book !)
Ladies and Gentleman, thank you.
Relevant I hope, for the protection of the girl child and the need to address it.
I recall an incident. My father was once hospitalized at the Hinduja Hospital for a broken hip, due to an accidental fall. We had put him in one of the more exclusive floors of the Hospital, an area that had fewer rooms, but with large attached accompanying areas, to house relatives and visitors. A set of nurses looked after him. I stayed in the adjoining room to be constantly by his side. He was happy and comfortable with the care he was getting. In hospital one tends to get attached to the nursing staff, purely because they work so hard to make the patient feel at home, despite the strenuous circumstances. One morning his approved nurses did not come on duty. Instead, a male nurse started attending to him. He was disturbed by this. A change in curriculum at an advanced age does this to people. He inquired from the male nurse where the regular nurses were. With great hesitation the male nurse informed him that a ‘Baba’, a preacher with some following, had been admitted in the room opposite his and that he had wanted all female nurses to be removed from that floor. A somewhat puritanical practice that he and his followers believed in. My father, now not able to contain himself at this absurd discrimination, quietly turned to the male nurse and said ” Unse jaake poocho, ki woh jab is duniya mein aaye thae, to nikale kahan se thae !!( Go and ask him, that when he came into this world, where did he come out from !!)
I rush now to BBC, London and their Studios for a live interview. Long may the Indian Film Industry live ! BBC wanting to have a ‘third rate actor’ from the ‘third world’ on their programme??
The World changeth ! And changeth for good methinks !!
My love for all and more -
Amitabh Bachchan
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Dear Sir,
You have always been a family favorite actor since my childhood days. I still remember getting through homework, watching your movies in Doordarshan.
Loved your movies from Akhrirasta to Black, Laawaris to Cheeni Kam. I am a fan of the way you handle yourself in media or on screen.
I just went through your interview at http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=28083 and I think you are exceptional in handling transitions and breaking free from the stereocasted molds and set images, be it KBC, or this blog.
And its great knowing you as a person through this medium.
My wishes, love, affection and prayers for you.
Regards,
Sowmya
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Dear Mr B,
Kudos, on trying to influence public opinion on the importance of the girl child and the dismal sex ratio in our nation.
Agree with you on the absurdity of the existence of categories other than ‘human beings’.
Hope your asthma instance clears up … maybe the damp weather in UK is a trigger? And of course, you have been working a hectic schedule.
Wish you well … take care.
Asha
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Namskar Amitji,
I really feel to thank you for the blog. Reading your blog has become one of the mandatory things that i do every day and i feel so happy reading it. I really wish that you take up as the UN Ambassador against girl child infanticide. Please, please sir do take this up.
I would love to see more and more posts from you.
Thanks,
Lavanya
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
hi amitji,
i m particularly impressed by your father’s words. we really need to uproot all the discrimination, not only against women, but also against religion, caste, creed, and many things.
May India prosper and prosper rapidly.
Love,
Chakravarthy
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
hi uncle,
i just want to say………… pls take care of your self while travelling different countries………
and ya pls give me the details of worldtour………………. pls pls pls
and ya when are you going to make my dream come true……………. pls pls pls answer……………….
with love,
nayan
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Respected Amit Ji,
Very Gud Morning to you…This is Pawan Sharma from Noida ( One of the contestent of Zee Cinema’s Amitabh SuperFan )
Sir i have a request that Please ask to the BigAdda Blog Management Team or Developers to become more selective before approving the replies to be put on your blog pages.
Actually there are some idots who are responding to the blogs where the language used is not good. thet bloody idots are just showing their CULTURE and what they have been taught by their families.
In Short NO ABUSIVE LANGUAGE SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
Have a nice day ahead.
Pawan Sharma,
Noida,
Yahoo’s BigB Group Member
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
hello sir ,
kaise h
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
sir! you work on a Mac too! nice to hear!
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Just wanna Say one more thing…Sir actually i m one of the biggest fan of urs..and have won in Zee Cinemas Amitabh’s Superfan contest also….here i just want u see my those clips… here are the links Please have a look
Waiting for ur comments…..Pls say something PLS PLS PLS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPeANFFBU_U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTkpIXbMWtI&feature=related
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Dear Amitji,
Wow Wow Wow. I could repeat 3 wow as you repeat 3 times Kamal Hassan while ending your speech in chennai. It was a superb speech. You are perfect in whatever you do. Sir we are with you and there should be no discrimination against female child. I wish with you on stage propagating this message it will be as successful as polio program in India. Sir i would wish you to be seen in more international project. You are not 3rd rate actor from the 3rd world, instead you are the superstar of millennium ahead of all the superstars across the world. It is ironic that when most of them are self-proclaimed superstar the real legend is calling himself a 3rd rate actor. Long live Mr Bachchan you have made my day after reading your speech. Sir from where did you learn to give public speech ? I could understand your prowess in hindi literature as your father was a great poet in hindi. Will watch your bbc program.
Thanks,
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Well is this really Amitabh Bachchan writing such a lenghty article?
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Hi,Amit sir. U R REALLY A GREAT ACTOR OF ALL TIMES.I HAVE ONE DESIRE TO SEE U AND AMIR KHAN ON THE SCREEN.U r doing great in recent films.
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
hello sir,
this is my first time reading ur blog and i find it very lengthy. I can understand sir, when ppl write their emotions out..a page is not sufficient!. But sir, a shorter blog would b g8. this is my personal opinion sir. i hope u like it.
thank u.
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Monseiur,
Luv 2 read ur comprehensive blog.
But one sudden question arises”When can v read ur auto biography.”
Many regards,
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
mr bachchan,
i run an NGO promoting squash in India. visit my site as it also has your comments: http://www.ispsquash.com/Cel_Com_AmitBach.htm &
http://www.ispsquash.com/MessageAmitabhBachchan.HTM
you must have forgotten when you must have given me this letter.. but it was with the help of late kaka thakur whose family is personally known to me.
i have put the letter laminated on my office wall along with hon ex-prime minister (mr bajpayee), hon ex deputy prime minister (mr l.k.advani) and many other dignatories, but you will be shocked when people ask me how i know you?? thanks for your support for squash game.
regards,
mahendra agarwal
founder director
indian squash professionals
http://www.ispsquash.com
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Sir, doesnt the constant travel bug you? When do you get time just for yourself?
Chintan
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Dear Mr Bachan,
I am Ali from Pakistan and definatly a Big fan of yours. To begin with, you dont even know this but you were almost responsible for my death. B4 i was born my brother, a doc now, and my sister wanted me to be named Amitabh Bachan which my parents laughed off, but finally when i was named Ali….they were so pissed of and angry that to teach my parents a lesson….they left me in the middle of a high speed highway in saudi arabia but fortunalty the first car that came near stopped and the person dropped me in a near by day care centre and later my parents finally searched out for me.
I am an engineer by proffession. My job takes me across the globe and i have made quite many indian friends. My understanding is that the people want to live in peace and harmony across the borders, but unfortunatly nationalism prevails this desire of people and over the years ppl involved in cross border collaborations have been named as traitors on both side of the borders. I belive that recently media has played a very active role in bringing the people together and many indian producers and directors are the intiators of such process, but unfortunatly it has failed in bringing the governements closer. It is common knowlegde that both india and pakistani agencies are aggressivly involved in destabilizing activites of each other, which only caters for the desires of the governements but brings turmoil to the ppl.
My idea behind this conversation is that, God has bestowed upon you the power to influence through your words and people follow you reliegiously. If you make an effort to strengthen the cross border cooperation through your proffession, it shall definalty have far more infulence than the efforts of all the indians and pakistanis altogether. For e.g your world wide tour to perform with abhishak and your baho…. if its brough tto pakistan,…besides providing cherishing times it shall streghthen the BOND….im not sure if the money invloved would be as big as you deserve…….i think when ppl like you enter politics they loose the power of their convincing because it is over shadowed by the negativisam involved in our politics…..but ppl like you hold more influence when commenting on political issues while staying out of politics…definalty your just not anyone…your THE AMITABH BACHAN…..and you have to be very care ful in actions..my idea is just to put your focus on such a thing….
Secondly, i often come across articles in media that suggests that your good self is a man of money and your hunger for it is ever increasing….i dont like this image being portrayed of you by the media…plz comment…..besidess the fact that its your right to earn…..
Thirdly and lastly, sorry for such a long blog…..
You are over 60 I guess….and God bles you and u live as long and as much as possible….but lets say on average you go on tolive to 80 or 90……tht means you have passed a major active chunk of your life… have you thought about wht wud happen next…..after this life….. if you have ..id definalty love to have the view of a person who is larger than life it self……moreover, if you will allow id want to have some deep discussins with regard to your faith and my faith…..as having the right directin of faith is more important than a premiere of a Movie…as there is not much time left for this life…..
I apologize for saying anything that may have offended you….. a big fan of yyours…..
May you remain healthy and satisfied with life.
With kind Regards,,
@li
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Dear Amitabh Jee :
I read with sorrow that you are slighly indisposed due to breathlessness and aasthama. I feel that you should go a little slowly, as you have to still go
very long ! GESUNDHEIT !!
I write the following lines for your good health and long run !
—00—00—
Thodaa Aaram Karo, Vishraam Karo Tum !
Sabhaalke chalo mere azzez, ke abhee badee door jaanaa hai,
Jaldee kyaa hai abhee badaa lambaa safar baakee hai
Dam bhar tum sustaalo, dekho saansen phool rahee hain,
Thodaa ruk jaaon aur baith jaaon thum
Zarooree hai manzil poori karnaa, par safar lambaa hai,
Kaahe bekaar dauad rahe ho bhaiyya, abhee din baakee hai
Abhee bahuth chalanaa hai, waqth bhee saath hai,
Kaahe khud ko takleef denaa ?, thodaa aaraam karo, vishraam karo tum
‘Daasoham’ 2/5/2008, 12:45hrs, ist
–00–00–
v. damodara das
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
It’s nice to see you blogging on the net…I hope you will continue it !
Best of luck for your coming movies.
God bless you.
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Wow…how can you type so much? i have only written three posts since december 2007:) Honestly, I admire you as an actor and more than that you do come across as someone so well mannered. You are so powerful” as an actor and even as a host in KBC. No wonder, you sizzle the screen even when you play the role of a father to a protagonist. No other actor on Indian screen has managed to do this…you are super!! I loved you in Khakhi, Cheeni Kum, Ek Lavya recently…
My dad always tells me great people are humble and not arrogant! I watch every news about you…and follow everything your family does just like others rest of India. Your family has a bundle of talent! My mum likes Abhishek. I am very fond of everyone and an extra fond of you and Aishwarya(i think she is extremely hard working and a true perfectionist! great dancer too )
I request you to include some notes about how you never stop learning in your life…how you remain cool and not respond to nasty criticism by staying silent. How can you be so humble and yet so confident…I would love to read that in your blog…may be some self help notes to achieve greater things in life 
thanks
Sharmila
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Hello Mr Bachchan
Take care of Your health Sir, we are really glad You find some time and strength to write to us.
Thank You Sir for being here, for Your work, for Your sacrifice… for all.
I’m here with You Sir from beginning, I read what You write and… I wish someday my post , will be the first then (I know its little bit silly) You will notice my presence here.
Take care, Dont give up and keep going on. We are all with You.
All the best
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Mr. Amitabh Bachchan is one of the rarest film artiste who has substance in his talks and thoughts. His expressions on every topic is very sensitively presented and it is no surprise that he still rules the world by his charismatic personality.People just adore him and there is no substitute for him. Mr. Bachchan please keep it up…….. we just love you this way.
Reagrds,
Ajai Tewari
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Amitiji.. i am really happy that i am the first to write about this blog. U are always great, either ur speech in Hindi or be it English its really good to hear you. Keep going Sir… but at the same time take of your health, becoz for us ur tooooooooo precious.
Lots of Luv
Ssunita
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Get well soon Mr. Bachchan
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Good morning, I have just spent the morning reading your blog from day 1, and a most interesting morning it has been too.
I find it amazing that you get the attention you do, for a visit to a temple at that, thousands of people go to the temple every day, yet your visit had to have ulterior motives.
You have been to my home country South Africa and was loved by all, its these adoring fans of your world wide who although shower affection on you , also are the ones buying the mags to read the gossip written about you and your family, its also these adoring fans that stay glued to the tv to watch the piece on you in the news……….How does this make you feel, I mean yes you chose this public life, but its also an intrusion into personal space. Do you ever regret the path taken, especially after vicious lies in the media do the rounds.
In South Africa there are thousands who have loyally watched all your movies, some say that even though they have never met you, you are part of the family, yet how can this be. They dont know you, they know your characters in a movie, they dont walk in your shoes yet they feel they have a right to call you family. You have iconic status world wide and I am a fan, I think you have done brilliant work, and I also follow your son and his wife in their movies, but from a total go to the movies entertainment point of view, I guess I am droning on here and should STOP, which i am doing right now.
Thank you for your patience in dealing with people and their comments, thank you for not giving up on your fans amid negative publicity.
Thank you for the brilliant movies and I look forward to the next movie and the entertainment therein.
God Bless you and your family
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I saw the speech on rediff. This was amazing.
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Dear Shri Amitabh,
Now, it has been a daly routine to go through this blog and then start the day. Sir, right from my childhood I always wanted to ask one question not only from you but from everybodyelse- every politician, every person giving speeches that whether you/theye your speech yourself/themselves or you employ any person (Professional)? These speeches are marvelous. Not to speak of grammatical mistakes, they don’t have even spelling or punctuation mistakes. How can a person be so complete, so perfect that he doesn’t make mistakes? I hope you won’t mind replying me.
I have taken a print-out of your speech and would like to study it in my spare time. I can learn a lot from your blog. Thanks.
Another question which is in my mind is that did you go through the books written by Ms. Shoba Ji?
Thai people wear dresses of particular colours on particular day - that’s a news for me. I didn’t know that. I think I should stop viewing news channels and instead concentrate more on your blog. But, have you tried to find out the reasons as to why they wear coloured clothes on those days? I think you must have asked them. Kindly let us know also.
This is my 6th or 7th day on this blog but I have a lady sitting beside me and she still has a doubt about the genuiness of this blog. I have tried to convince her but all my efforts have gone down the drain. She is of the opinion that a legendry personality i.e. Amitabh Ji is so busy that he has no time to waste for this blog. I don’t know what to say.
Bye
Rajeev Bahree
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I’ve never travelled abroad and hence have never got the oportunity to interact with other communities but is it the same way there also where in people cannot stay away from certain things which they do not like and then would try to ruin the party for others.
It is not mandatory / statutory to love AB. So why people like babban Pawar show there angst and what for?
There are so many blogs floating around go and grab one of your choice. Just CHILL OUT DUDE!!
Personally I do not like the work of Sobha De but admire her as a person. She is awesome in public and just defy her age.
Even looking around in what we call a modern society - the plight of women is no different . The biggest reason according to me is there own sense of dependence and the lack of ability to question.
May be this is due to the suppression the specie has suffered from the ages this country is in existance with a few exceptions here and there.
I’m glad to be an exception but at the cost of picking up a fight every now and then with the “Home Minister”……but that is an amazng way to enjoy life!!!!
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
respected sir, dont you feel tired after so much travelling????
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I’t my pleasure to write something which THE Amitabh Bachhan ji will read. probably reply as well.believe me in school days I had a dream( used to tell ultimate dream of life) just to stand beside you and have a photograph. I can clearly remember all my school and college days when I used to goto cinema hall with all my friends for Amitji’s movie… and that has to be 1st day show… no matter what…no matter how…. I grow up watching your movies Amitji… all those movies do have great impact in my life like millions others. You are our HERO not only in silver screen in real life as well they way you treat your family your parents is a real inspiration of me and others as well. I can distinctly remember everytime you speak to anybody no matter other person is a celebrity or a normal person your behavior to that person always same. That’s why you are APART. In 80’s we use to tell everybody in future….. in school teacher will teach like A as an Amitabh(ji) B as an Bacchan and so on so forth……….
Now where you stand in my life like zillion others it’s way above ..no matter some people say something about you it never gonna reach you and I don’t feel like commenting on those.
I will pray to ALMIGHTY for your good health always. Last but not the least you are really lucky to have Jayaji in your life. Due respect for her as well.
Pranams for both of you.
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Sir, This is the first time i am writing to u. I wanted to congratulate you on your continued success and wish you a healthy life so that you can be with your family as long as possible and keep on entertaining us as you have always done over the years….
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May 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Dear Sir,
May God give u more strength to communicate with your fans and clear doubts from their minds about your family . Some of us in overseas countries get a very wrong picture from the media. Now we know the truth.
Please do mention in your next blog that you have read one of my comments. I keep on asking you for help because my heart says one day u will help me.Another reason why i am still asking u for help is because my dob is the same as abhisheks dob. AND I FEEL I WAS A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY IN PICHLE JANAM.
I will never forget u in my life if u can help me in my diffcult days. I need about 4 million rupees.
I have started to follow your fathers words and i wake up before sunrise and sleep after sunset. WE ARE LEARNING FROM U. Please do reply on my email id.
Love
Shareen
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Hello Mr Bachchan
THis was very interesting indeed…have been reading your blogs and getting to know the ‘person’ you are
REgards
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I am big fan of urs. U r truly legend & a film Institution. U r inspirartion to live the life with fighting spirit for the people from any field. I want to see u once in my life. Dekhte Hain, Kabhi Muhurat nikalta hai. How is Abhishek ? I like Abhi very much. It is pleasure to watch Abhi on screen or dancing on stage. Great Personality like U. Live Long Life. Bye.
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Ever Dearest Amit Ji,
I shall begin this letter by saying that I am not in fact a fan of yours, which of course should mean absolutely nothing to you, because who indeed, am I? What I will say, however, is that I am ardent admirer of your father’s work. I actually studied Philosophy and English Literature and McGill University. And considering the fact that I was a student at that time, there was always a party going on next door to my bachelor apartment that of course had no furniture, there was always endless amounts of alcohol being consumed, which I certainly partook in from time to time, because really, how else does one actually pass their courses :), there were always classes that I absolutely never went to, and there was a library that always welcomed my presence, because it was my only friend.
I remember reading one of your father’s poems and somehow, his words just spoke to me. I can’t really describe the feeling, except that his words connected with my soul. I have, many a time, fallen in love with a person’s words, only to be disappointed by the reality of that individual. Human beings are flawed, yes, imperfect, yes, but poets, poets remain in the realm of perfection at all times, because they seek what we do not … truth. And how many people in this world ever have the strength to search for truth?
What I am trying to say, perhaps, in a very inarticulate way, is that I would love to know more about your father. What was he like? How did he meet your mother? Was he a visionary, even as a child? In your opinion, where do you think that insight into life, came from? I would love to know more, if you would be so kind as to share it with me … us …
I do not presume to think that you would have the time to read this and I am actually to shy to ask that you respond to these words, which perhaps, have little value to a legend, but I would be most obliged, if you would share whatever knowledge you have of not only one of my favorite poets, but in my humble opinion, one of the greatest poets that this world will ever see, Shri Harivansh Rai.
With Great Respect,
Yasmin Virani
http://www.yasminvirani.com
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Dear Sir, I salute for your unending vaults of energy with which you are working and even find time to write such thought provoking articles. It is true that by categorizing women achieversin as a separate section already makes them gender biased. But then it is better to be compared with similar people rather than dissimilar people with dissimilar expectations. For eg. I think a woman tennis player can play 5 rounds but it is prejudged that she won’t be able to and thus is allowed to play only 3 rounds. If equality means equal in all respect then gender shouldn’t come in the way.
Your entire article is so thought provoking that I think I am going to take a printout of it and read it at length and then be able to respond effectively.
I believe you are working hard for the IIFA awards. I have one serious concern and a question to you Mr.B.
Question 1
Why is it that the insiders of the Hindi film industry, can’t let go of the “bollywood” tag. Do you think everything that we do needs to be named or judged by something that Americans are doing… which some people wrongly tend to believe as better? Can we have no other name…. Is Hollywood the only standard of measurement of cinema? Or rather good cinema. Are we Indians afraid to name our film industry in some creative Indian name? Or is it the inherent insecurity that we will forever compare ourselves as cheap imitations of something “phoren and good”….
Question 2
When we say Indian cinema, why does it only refer to Hindi cinema. No doubt it is the national language and has wider reach. But still it is alien to many people in the deeper regions of our own nation. When will the “Indian Film Industry” be inclusive of all vernacular mediums and not be exclusive to a region or language or religion per say. Deep in south or northeast the reach of Hindi is limited, but can’t this powerful medium be used to unite India all inclusive of all its languages rather than only celebrating the Hindi speaking population.
Can’t the most powerful film industry of India today promote all the Indian language films abroad? Why do we get to hear from foreigners that Indian cinema is Hindi Cinema? They are not even aware of the other language cinema. Where as we are aware how these vernacular movies are reaping awards in various european festivals.
Hope I have not put too much pressure on you. I think you are a thinking man, and to give you more thoughts to ponder on would set your mind into unending sparks on intellectual combustion.
But I would like to put this debate across to you and many of your ilk cause as you say…. the world changeth… and you dear sir, in your position as an actor are one of the most instrumental people who are making the change happen in the world of cinema.
Regards
Sangeeta
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
dear amit uncle..
please do not start your day with sorrow or breathlessness. it really cause a pain in my heart… i really mean it….
please do some rest and keep going till 1000s and thousands of millaniums……………………
keep smiling and keep beating bad people on screen………………
you are a rock star………….
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Wow what a speech!! What an outstanding way to bring to focus the lagere issues that we as peeple of this country and politicians should focus rather than the silly cheap politics they keep playing. Sir, it would be such an honour to be present at one of theese functions to hear you. Whenever I read something like this something I wonder how can they even begin to compare you with someone like the media created Badshahs of our film industry. It is such a joke. But then again we dont expect anything better from our media. Its something we will have to live with.
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
hi mr bachchan, i wondered if you could tell me when you will be on the bbc?as i read in your last entry you were in the bbc studios?
thanks again for your phenomenal blog,
kind reguards,
lorna x:)
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
hello sir ,
kya aap sharabi ka dubara remake banayenge the movie was very superb n ur role is ……….. no words for ur every green role
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
big fan of your, not even as an actor but also as a humble pesonality.i admire you in every role..
JAB SHER CHALTA HAIN TO SAB BHOKTAY HIUN. AND SHER DONOT CARE FOR THEM.
This si my personal advise to you. What i admired in you is that you donot cooments much publiclayy on any controbercy….i love that attitude… it suite your statue…
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Hi again,
There are many cases where married girls are taking care of their old parents Time is changing. In the olden days most of the hindu parents used to stay with their son and daughter in law. Now , because of westernisation most boys live separatelyafter marriage.
I know of a case where a old widow has 4 sons and 1 daughter. All are married with children. The 4 sons don’t want their mother to stay with them. And the mother now stays with her daughter who is unfortunately very poor. The mother must be thinking what would have happened if she didn’t have this daughter. This is a true story.
Do mention that u have read at least one of my comments.
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Bhai
We r here to read ur views , experiance, ideas, feelings n want to learn frm it. N always get inspired by ur and Babuji’s thoughts.
In this world many people r suffered from “medi(a)-leria”. Who can do just critics n nothing else. So don’t worry abt such replies.
Keep on writing n take care
Luv u always
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I dont know how to address you……you are a living Legend. Its an honor to be living in this age and to know that you see the same sun and moon that we see.
Amitabh, is what I will call you….I am half your age…but I cant think of anything else. I will take this liberty if you permit. There is no other title that can make me feel talking direct to you.
I was in Mumbai for 3 days in January 2008…was extremely busy in a marriage…but I had one thing in my mind. I wanted to see your house - Jalsa. I went there….took a couple of long breaths….to feel a sense of pride that you may have just breathed the same air as I did. I felt great….wanted to go near the wall and take a chip of the cement of the wall to keep it as a memoir (and have the sense of owning/stealing a bit of your house) but the security was too intimidating.
Last night I watched your interview on NDTV with Barkha….and as usual you come out as the simplest being on earth. My wife also works with NDTV as a software professional and has met you in person in the studio in Delhi. I so much envy her for that.
I have this great wish….one of the biggest dreams of my life to meet you in person, shake hands with you (i promise, will not wash them for atleast 2 weeks after that)
I have not read any of your blog entries yet…just browsed to the last one to post you this message.
I will be most grateful….that if you do read this message, please send me a 2-line mail at rahuljain@india.com. It will be my greatest asset in life.
I have not written anything which may be impressive enough for you to write back…but I will love to get that mail from you.
Amitabh, you are the greatest India has ever produced…and you will remain the greatest for centuries to come…probably forever. Nobody is even comparable.
I will write more at your blog. About issues that you have talked, about the issues a few HONORABLE MEN are talking….about what I personally think about them. About your movies and the work that I have admired the most.
And thanks to you for giving the world, who loves you so much, the opportunity to talk to you directly thru this blog. Very thoughtful of you.
Warm regards,
Rahul
Cant believe you will read this…
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Hi Amitji!
This is the first time I am reading your blog. Have been wanting to do that for long now, since it was so much in the news! I must say it is such a beauty to read it. You connect so well with your readers!! & to think that our ‘hero’ braves all odds - be it the asthama trouble or the sharp reactions of the collegues & media - it sure restores my faith in the hero we all look up to.
Please do not let these criticisms affect you in the least. I am sure you are aware that the people who love you far out-number your critics.
I knew you are pretty good with words but to this extent- we realise it in your Blog. You know what, with your blogs you might just be bringing back the habit of reading yet again!!!
Look forward to your blogs.
Take Care & May God Bless U
Love
Bindu
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Dear Mr. B,
Thank you for posting your speech. When I heard it I was spellbound. This is something that our MP’s must be discussing. Wondering why our electronic media is not repeating this speech over and over again. I guess because it contains no masala, it is something from deep within the heart, it is sensitive yet it does not bring you to tears. If it did trust me the Indian media would be at your doorstep now.
but you have not talked about Salim Saheb and his comments through a Marathi paper that headlined that you take money to speak lies and that you are a victim of bad and ill advised company. Kunal M Shah’s article in the Mumbai Mirror of April 30, 2008 titled ‘Promises to keep…’, Shubha Shetty-Saha’s article in the DNA of April 25, 2008 titled ‘Whose award is it any way ?.
Mr. B you indulged into self praise
Awaiting your reactions to these.
-Vikas
(Kolkata)
Big B Yahoo Group.
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
sir,
i just got to know about your blog from tv channels yesterday only.so i was very much keen to visit your blog site as this is the only way for people like me to be in touch with you.i think not even a single person of our great country can ever forget you and your family.we grew up reading finest poems of your father in our school days in our Hindi school sylllabus. i am at the loss of words to write about you but all i want to say that may god give you more name and fame and keep you in the pink of your health
namaskar
amit jindal
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Dear Sir,
I strongly feel that some of the messages in this forum are sponsored by certain mischeivous elements. Positive criticism should always be welcome but talking absurd, out of reference and utter non-sense should not find place at this blog. Bigadda blog managers please take notice of this.
Wish you a good health.
Regards
Sudesh
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Amit Ji,
I just have a quick and interesting question to ask you. How much time does it takes you on average to prepare such a nice blog entry?
Your blog is amazing, each day we keep craving for more. There is so much to learn from you sir. ‘
Warm Regards,
Amit Mehta
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
One more thing…I think you should consider Pranayam” for aasthma everyday..You cut on 3 interviews to do that
You must be knowing or probably have been doing it. It works bigtime for my dad…am sure it would for you as well……takecare!
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Sirji, wonderful writting skill - amazing just like your acting. Whatever you do it just superb
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
DEAR SIR,
I WAS VERY HAPPY WHN MY FRIEND TOLD ME THT U HAVE UR BLOG AND WRITE PERSONALLY,THANK U SIR THANKs VERY MUCH.I M CURRENTLY DOING COMPANY SECRETARY COURSE AND MY EXAMS R FROM 2JUNE BUT STILL, I SPEND 30MIN IN READING UR POSTS AND MY PARENTS HAVE NO PROBLEM IN THT,BCOZ THEY NOW WHT I DO.ANYWAYS SIR,I HAVE READ UR PREVIOUS POSTS AND REVIEWS I MUST SAY ITS SO GOOD AND THE WAY PEOPLE ADMIRE U SIR THT SHOWS WHY U HAVE SUCH A HUGE FAN FOLLOWING.SIR U WAS ALWAYS IN NEWSPAPERS FOR ME AND SEE TODAY I M PERSONALLY WRITING TO U I CANT BELIVE IT.
SIR PLEASE KEEP ON DOING FILMS,U R THE INSPIRATION TO PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEIR WORK NO MATTER WHT THEIR AGE R,THEY KEEP ON GOING.
KEEP ENTERTAINING US SIR.
BHAVIKK
KANDIVALI(W)
MUMBAI
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Dear Amitji:
Thanks a lot again for today’s post. I was awaiting since morning ,checking every 15 mts for update. Amitji pls take it easy on your schedule. You have running from place to place at very hectic pace. I hope you have enough strength to get over your assignmnets return back home for a well awaited rest. Maybe you should go to Miami and sped a few days with Abhi, that should give lots of energy. Anyways you are in London which is cloe to Miami compared from Mumbai.
The speech was just excellent. Mind blowing. Just opened our finds. I wish it gets translated to other Indian languages and people all across country read it..
Amitji , each day your blog is enlightening us..Pls keep writing. And Amitji how were able to type so much ..Really amazing.
Pls take care of your health and pls take some rest..
With Greetings and Prayers,
Rajesh Venkkataram
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Oh wow! I continue to be blown over by your wisdom and how you choose to articulate it. Your blogs have provided me a tremendous insights on life itself and what makes us the people what we are. Plus I love your humor
I can not claim a great familiarity with your movies and on screen persona, but I find a resonance in what you write – your off-screen persona totally inspires me! It does need courage to take on media and I am sure it needs even more courage to step out from idolatry and be a ..umm…. fellow blogger :-)!!Your enthusiasm on blogs is oh-so contagious and I am hooked on them now. Thanks a lot for being you and opening up!
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
hi amitji!
how r u?
i just want to say: please take care of ur self and ur health!
please sir!
ur little iranian fan
Sahar
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Amitji your speech for Shoba De was fantastic!
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
“I rush now to BBC, London and their Studios for a live interview. Long may the Indian Film Industry live! BBC wanting to have a ‘third rate actor’ from the ‘third world’ on their programme??”
“The World changeth! And changeth for good methinks!!”
And who, exactly, has brought this change, Sir?????
If you still don’t admit, let me tell you.
Methinks its YOU!
YOU! YOU!! YOU!!!
YOU! YOU!! YOU!!!
YOU! YOU!! YOU!!!
YOU! YOU!! YOU!!!
YOU! YOU!! YOU!!!
YOU! YOU!! YOU!!!
YOU! YOU!! YOU!!!
YOU & ONLY YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And while at BBC, please give them a copy of this speech of yours, Sir!
I’m sure they’ll forget their Shakespeare!!!!!!
~
~
~
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Hello sir!!
nice to have you online and communicating with us!!
Best wishes to you and your family from vienna - austria. Hope you are enjoying writing with us.
Let me tell you that I really like your movies and that i am glad that you are writing in englich becouse i can´t speak hindi..gg but I truly love hindi movies and I am glad that they are subtitled..ggg well in austria we have not only subtitles for hindi movies we have also a synchronisation but I do not like it. I love your original voice so I am watching all movies in hindi.
I am hoping to see you one day in vienna and wish you all the best for your next movies!!
greetings gaby
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Dear Amitji,
Thank you so much for taking up the cause of the dwindling sex ratio. As a doctor, I am ashamed to say that the most active participants in this murder are doctors who are able to decipher the gender of a child in the womb. As part of my endeavour I have been involved in the sensitization of doctors and medical students in the brutality of their doing. I don’t know how far we have succeeded, but everytime we hold an educational session we do play a video with you advocating the cause of the girl child. We need voices as popular as yours to keep up the momentum of this struggle against inhuman act of female feticide.
Take care, and hope your asthma is now gone with the wind!!!
Come back to warmer climes of India, we are missing you,
Love
Anshu
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Respected sir,
Hope your health is fine now. I would like to appeciate that your observation and analysis of situations and people is so wonderful. Also ur english skills are so so so great that ( on a funny note) I sometimes have to re-read the sentence to understand the content. Reading this blog is so interesting that first thing I do when I open internet is to click on bigb.bigadda!!! and same is the case with a lot of other fans - i think this blog will positively make people net-savvy… is it not wonderful!!! You are really a trend-setter , whether it be movies , fashion , principles or this blog!! I feel so happy , that all of us,ur fans , are able to send u our views this way…. And I really hope that u r reading!!!
Take care
well wisher
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Dear Mr. B.,
A lovely speech, and one from your heart.
What a loyal friend you are, to your friends and acquaintances alike, and to those of us who have just met you through this blog. And how admirably you fight the stupidity and injustices of this world through the forums open to you.
As to the people who criticize you … I remember someone wise saying,
“In order not to be criticized, one must do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”
There’s no escape from critics. But you are your own best critic, and you know what you need to do, and what your free speech allows you to do.
Just go on doing what you feel you must do. We support you in every way.
It’s warm and beautiful in Hawaii. I hope you’re not freezing in London …
Love, Dorothy
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May 2nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
hi sir,
just feel like telling u that i try to live my life on a line which once u said .
maan ka mile tho acha..aur nahi mile tho aur bhi acha.
i am not sure it i said it right. but i got the meaning.
luv
krishna raj
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Sir,
Nice post and and an excellent speech. It’s a wonderful experience to get to know the person behind the Megastar, to get a glimpse of the mind, to listen to dialogues which are not penned by others.
Having said that, I have a complaint. The form to leave a reply tells very specifically “Mail (will not be published)”. Still I see mail-ids of two readers (with negative comments) in your post today. You maybe new in blog-world, but the people who are around you and helping you to run this blog (from BigAdda I guess) should know that it is very wrong and un-ethical practice to publish people’s email-ids. Please do take care of this in future. Hopefully those two people whose Ids have been published will not be victim of any abuse or spamming due to this. And hopefully my ID will not be in tomorrow’s post (just kidding).
Regards,
Avik
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Monsieur Bachchan bonjour,
J’ai toujours rêve depuis ma plus tendre enfance de vous voir. Je suis bercée pendant toute ma vie de votre voix, de vos films, de vos interviews et de votre charisme, de vos films.
Je comprend le hindi grâce a vos films.
At school, at the question : who is the sexiest man in the world, i sais Mr Bachchan of course.
Thanks a lot,
muje tume bahat pyar hai, tume jo mujko chance diya aap se talk kar sakty houm. ( Je vous aime de m’avoir donné la chance de vous parlez)
Bisous
Camille
Paris FRANCE
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
The Girl Child…….
Should I thank God? I ask this to myself quite often!
One may ask, why?
The reason, we are a family of four and I’m the youngest. My parents have two daughters! I dont think (or rather believe) that my parents ever thought that we being girls are any less than anyone in the world or they as Parents of ‘just’ girls are any inferior/’different’.
The point here is also that when my sister was born there was pure joy all around. But, with my birth the joy was a notch lesser. Here I’m not talking of my parents but few members of our extended family and friends!
I remember people asking me ‘You dont have a brother!??!!’ As if it was a sin! I felt bad.
But, I know I’m one of the God’s special child and thats why can bounce back with optimism, smile and all things positive almost immidiately.
My grandparents were also extemely protective of me and my Parents against any comment made on the female gender and I don’t think they ever treated me or my sister any different from my male cousins.
Inspite of the attitude of my family I’m aware that I’m a girl child!
I shudder at the thought, what a child would be going through where there is descrimination.
Women today have come a long way but still there is lot that needs to be done and at that point when you see a person of your stature and influence taking up the cause, one feels that one day this battle would definitely be won!
Thank You God once again for such people!
Regards,
Rashi
(Report abuse)
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Hi Sir,
Namaste!
Thanx for a very well written and thought provoking blog! I hope your words of wisdom surely will move millions of hearts. Some problems like those mentioned by you are so deeply integrated in our society, that we fail to even recognise them as problems.
It’s high time that each Indian introspects so that these problems are eradicated from the roots itself. I guess the only thing that can be done at the macro level is to create an awareness which in turn can only be created when every Indian becomes literate. It’s my firm belief that the mother of majority of our problems is illiteracy. Unless and until steps are taken to remove illiteracy, problems will only change their names but they will not cease to exist.
Once again my heartfelt thanks to you for at least raising your voice not for the heck of raising it, but raising it only because of your belief in the cause.
Always Yours,
Vishal
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Sir, Good afternoon,pleasure to read your blog and commitent but it is still confusing me that i am talking to the millenium superstar but if it is true it is a life achievment for me to read your blog which is written by your own fingerstrip.Today i heard from midia that you are visiting Orrissa to attend the Oriya film festival and that will be a great achievment for Oriya film industry and i hope you will visit the Lord Jagganath temple in Puri.Ok sir have a good day. With Love Binod singh
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:11 pm
The world certainly ‘changeth’
and its amazing how it all comes back. What you sow….so u reap has never been truer or faster than in today’s world.
I think its Oscar Wilde that wrote, “Life is unfair…thank God” but on a more serious note, we all get what we have done back and good, its just for us to open our eyes to see and open our hearts and minds to accept it, with as much grace and humility as possible. With happiness to accept the good, with strength and character to accept the bad and learn the lessons well.
Thank you for writing this blog, its almost a surprise to find you so…human and I say this with all respect ! Perhaps what I mean to say is that its good to find an ordinary person in such an extraordinary man…guess I am confused, anyways
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Hello,
I do not want to comment as a laymen on a celebrity would. But more as a fellow blogger.
Your writing style is extremely lucid, holds a strong narrative, and carries the wisdom of a man who has seen the world, and more so, lived at the top of it, most of his life.
And when I read your blog, I can almost hear you saying these words, and hence do not , for once, doubt its originality, because your personality seems to have throughly infused into the posts.
But there is one observation that I feel I ought to make. The posts seem to have a scent of intellectual melodrama, and a slight propaganda -like tone. I feel, this steals some of the sincerity of expression that the blog would otherwise possess.
On the whole, a lovely experience reading your accounts. Glad you started blogging, not because I get a sneak peek into a Celebrity’s life and thoughts, but because I got to read some real good writing.
Hoping that someday, you would enter the writing world, on a grand-er scale !
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Dear Sir,
thank you so much for posting at all after that ordeal; and also for the speech! Now I can show my friends, that (at least some) Indian males think more emancipated than German ones.
But with most of your posts, I am again astounded at your bitterness, and how much you underestimate yourself, and India. “BBC wanting to have a ‘third rate actor’ from the ‘third world’ on their programme??”
Where does this come from? I know it’s a joke, but even so it seems to contain a grain of your personal truth, and it is very hard on yourself and your country (and the BBC).
And about the endless press meets: The media is a big beast that needs a lot of fodder. You are one who provides this. As long as you are available for press conferences AND a one to one, each of them will want both. First, to impress their colleagues of their importance, then to impress you. Sadly, failing to do either.
I hope your stay in London will have positive moments, too, and your asthma will disappear soon!
Warm regards,
Elisabeth
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Sir,
I am really amazed in your observations in Thailand about the colours of the dresses of Thais i.e. pink on tuesdays and yellow on fridays. I myself lived in Bangkok for three years and seen these people in such coloured dresses but never realised that its their habit or custom to dress in this manner.
You are really great.
With regards
Madan Indonesia
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Dearest amitji, what will be your reaction if your son will have one daughter or two daughter? Will u please write an honest personal answerto me, not a politically correct. Thanks
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
NAMASKAR!mr. AB
I know you have been used to hearing the words that “im your big fan and all”
But i dont want to write those things things because i know that you might have already known that im a fan of yours because had i not been your fan i wouldnt have been writing to you.
I want to ask you one question that “How long will you be taking acting and what are your plans after you quite acting?
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Hi,
There is so much love here, that’s it’s a pleasure to come here. I feel like you are still giving us LOVE - the pleasure we had, watching your films, we still feel it here reading from you.
Hope that you had time to recover from you jet lag.
Wish you good health, take care.
kisses
Camille
Paris FRANCE
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Amitji
You are really great.
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
SIR YOUR ARDENT ADMIRER AND FAN. SIR I AM THE SAME HEART PATIENT WHO MESSAGES YOU EVERYDAY. I PRAY FOR YOUR AND YOUR FAMILYS WELL BEING. ONCE AGAIN I PUT IT THAT I AND MY FAMILY ARE GREAT FAN OF YOURS AND MY WIFE IS A BIG BIG FAN OF ABHISHEK. I AM A HEART PATIENT AND I AGAIN SAY I AM LIVING WITH THE MOTIVATION THAT ONE DAY I WILL MEET YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. WE PPRAY FOR FAMILYS WELL BEING AND SUCCESS EVERYDAY.
9820808770
9820057506
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Is Mr Bachchan’s overexposure working against him?
Anil Kapoor
Anil Kapoor, who was one of the most bankable stars of the ‘80s, is having a successful second run at the box-office. So much so that he is giving stiff competition to Amitabh Bachchan. There have been several instances in the recent past when producers decided to settle for Kapoor rather than Bachchan. Kapoor says, “I got back to the grind thinking that occasional films will keep me busy. Fortunately, I bagged the right scripts, best directors and everything fell into place. Trust me I have never enjoyed doing films as much as I do today.â€
The story goes that Aditya Chopra also discouraged Tashan director Vijay Krishna Acharya from signing Bachchan to play a crucial negative character in the film. The role eventually went to Kapoor. Apparently, Bachchan’s portrayal of the modern-day Gabbar in Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag was one of the reasons why he wasn’t offered the role in Tashan. A source from the production house reveals, “Adi (Aditya Chopra) felt that Anil will portray the sexual streak in the character more effectively than Mr Bachchan. Also, unlike Mr Bachchan, Anil isn’t overexposed.â€
Amitabh Bachchan
Similarly, Percept Picture Company was insistent on making Johnny Walker with Kapoor. But director Shoojit Sircar took the same script to UTV Motion Pictures as he was rooting for Bachchan in the lead role. It’s a different story that Kapoor begged out of Percept’s Johnny Walker as Bachchan has already shot for Sircar’s film, which is now titled Shoe-bite.
Kapoor explains, “I clearly told Shailendra Singh, Joint Managing Director of Percept Holdings, that there is no point in making a film with the same content. It would have only resulted in negativity and that’s why I stepped down.â€
Trainspotting director Danny Boyle also cast Kapoor as the Kaun Banega Crorepati host in his film, Slumdog Millionaire, which releases in October.
Kapoor’s young looks, ability to convincingly play flamboyant characters, and his conscious decision to stay away from brand endorsements have only worked to the actor’s advantage. “Like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor, I have never believed in brand endorsements. Although my children think that I’m a fool, I will never endorse any brand. Naturally, I’m not overexposed and it has definitely given me an edge over the rest,†adds a rather frank Kapoor.
Anil in a still from Tashan
A trade analyst, on condition of anonymity, says, “Anil Kapoor has suddenly become a very, very interesting option for filmmakers.
The second coming
He is a good and versatile actor and he has been choosing his roles very cleverly. Welcome, Black and White, Race, Tashan and Main Yuvraj is a great and varied line-up. Also, he is playing a prominent role in all these films. Kapoor’s biggest asset is that he still looks young and fresh and he can confidentially carry off roles alongside Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Khanna. His market value has certainly gone up recently.â€
After having essayed the role of the Kaun Banega Crorepati host in Slumdog Millionaire, Kapoor will be soon seen on television as a chatty host. Without giving out too many details, Kapoor says, “I have been offered two television shows, and I’m looking forward to hosting them.â€
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
It is good to hear you speak….& clear the cobwebs as it were.Please continue doing so…We,your fans are listening…..really it is like meeting a person for the first time & coming to know him gradually.Absolutely fascinating.I especially like your simplicity & sincerity….Hugs Suds
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Hi Mr. Bachchan,
Sorry to know you are feeling unwell. Asthma and other allergies are usually indicative of your body/mind trying to get rid of unwanted elements!
I hope you get well soon! I usually love the anecdotes about your father. They are so witty and insightful and touching …
May I suggest a very very good book to you..just incase you read this message. The book is called “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle. I feel you are enlightened enough to understand that book.
Anyways, let me end with a quote by own father..who is so very intelligent and wise himself but quite a valiant fighter of battles..like a kid actually. He told me once and I know for sure it is true— ” In a dirty fight between two people, the kameena person always wins. ALWAYS. They know how to naturally be dirty”!!!
And therefore, it’s not always bad to loose :).
Forget the dirty press. Don’t fight their dirty kind of battles. They are masters at being dirty. You are not..Hope you will understand! Unless you are a liar or a con artist, you can’t convince anyone. Conviction comes from within!
I will say it again…”The burden of believing a lie, lies with the believer”.
BUT please KEEP WRITING. You are a very talented writer besides being an exceptional orator!
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Dear Mr. Bachchan!! It’s a great pleasure to write a few words to the most famous person on this earth..Not sure if these’ll be even read by u. I wish u and ur family all the happiness in this world…love..noble
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Dear B Big,
When and if you’re in London would it be possible for you to give us fans a small group to meet up with you for a short while on a private meeting without the press being all over you?
This would be a dream come true!
Lookig forward and waitin eagerly for your positive response on my humble request.
Yours,
Raj from Tanzania
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Hello Amitabh,
You are a dignified, educated and an renowned actor. You make India very proud. Your use of blogging as a way to reach out to your fans is fantastic. I just don’t know how you find time to do this. Your level of energy and enthusiasm inspires me a lot. You are the best brand ambassador of India and what it stands for.
Wish you the best.
Madhav
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May 2nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
This is the first time i am writing to anyone outside family.But then you have been a part of my family for so long.My father who is now 72 always only saw your movies ,because they relaxed him.He was a businessman then and said after all the tension at work i want to enjoy and forget everyhing else.The last movie he sa