The Charges Against Amitabh Bachchan; The Politician:

Amitabh Bachchan is a one of the greatest cine idol of this country and there can’t be two views on this. The whole country had emotionally stood by him when he met an accident while shooting for the film “Coolie”. Country also showed his sympathies when he fell apart with the Gandhi family. But the recent attempt of Amitabh to move away from the selected group of great creative persons like Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar etc. to one who seems to exploit his public support for the political benefit of Samajwadi Party by becoming the brand ambassador for the party, will draw criticism which other wise would have been avoided by him. Many may not like this and I hope the charges may not be true but I wish to put up the following charges against him.

1.Amitabh is encashing the public support to him as a great actor for the political benefit of a regime who is undemocratic, parochial, casteist, corrupt and facilitator of criminality in the state. He should have kept away from politics.

2.Amitabh is opportunist. The deal between him and the Samajwadi party seems to be based on quid pro quo. It seems that the financial or otherwise help given to Amitabh by the leaders of Samajwadi party at the time of his crisis when his bunglow “Ashirwad” was tipped for auction is being reciprocated by him by giving support to the party. But he fails to understand that personal relations should have been kept only at personal level. The public support for an actor in a country like India should not have been misused for the political support of a party with many ills. Amitabh is doing this. And in this quid pro quo his wife has become Member of Parliament and his whole family has got the highest cultural award from the UP government. Many may say that the award to his son was just not right choice.

3.Some may say that the closeness of Amitabh with Samajwadi Party which is politically powerful as compared to Congress is an attempt of his to give a befitting reply to Sonia Gandhi. If that is the thinking of Amitabh then he has only lowered his image. In fact the two deal with different worlds. One politics and the other cinema. His popularity and the status would have always remained intact even if Congress would have done any witch hunting. On the contrary by coming in the trap of a political dealer who uses all types of language for the Gandhi family(which even BJP has never used) Amitabh has made himself prone to criticism of the same type which these political personalities attract . Sonia on the other hand has been able to maintain her dignity in the whole controversy.

4.Amitabh is doing great injustice to his state by promoting a product(political party) which person of his status should have never. It is a disservice to his motherland by befooling gullible public. The product of Amitabh is based on failure of law and order, belief in creating social friction, promotion of crude casteism where only few are preferred, criminalization of society so much so that the ordinary man has gone to the fringe in every walks of life, promotion of only few business families and groups in most unfair and non transparent way, promoting only the party workers in the bureaucracy so much so that all right thinking government servants have been marginalized and only absolutely corrupt are being favoured, criminalization of students, loot of public money by few resulting in failure of government schemes, total standstill of bureaucratic system, creating frictions between the instrumentalities of state. These are only some observations. Detail in each sector will produce several horrible films.

5.One may or may not agree with my views but one thing is for sure that Amitabh‘s image would have been at a high pedestal if he had confined himself to films or social activities. By entering in political field directly or indirectly he has exposed himself to a close public scrutiny. History will prove this will be the biggest strategic mistake of Amitabh .

Forever Indian’ Amitabh Bachchan Honored by DTC

In order to mark the upcoming diamond jubilee of India’s Independence, and 60th year of the DTC slogan ‘A Diamond is Forever’, DTC honored Amitabh Bachchan, as Forever Indian at the launch of diamonds inscribed with a Forever Mark at a spectacular ceremony at Taj Lands End, Mumbai on January 23, 2007. On this occasion Super Star- Amitabh Bachchan, chosen the Forever Indian, was presented with a plaque and 1 carat diamond inscribed with the Forever Mark. The event started with release of the Forever Mark diamonds and award ceremony of Amitabh Bachchan, which saw David Lamb, Cherie Tandon Saldahna, Amitabh Bachchan and Mehul Choksi sharing the dais with Bollywood actor, Tom Alter compering the event.

Probably the biggest Social Worker

Amitabh Bachchan, is in popular parlance, the king of Indian cinema. On 14 April 2005 he was officially appointed as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador by Executive Director Carol Bellamy at New York Headquarters. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Mr. Bachchan will focus on polio eradication and HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Bachchan is the prodigious son of the great Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan. He is extremely well-respected and has a powerful connection with the Southeast Asian population. Mr. Bachchan appeals to people from all walks of life, from the youngest to the oldest.

Since 2002, he has been taking time out of his busy acting schedule to contribute to India’s pulse polio immunisation programme and appeared in a series of award-winning television and radio commercials, which the Government of India and UNICEF have been telecasting an all national channels. Due to his enormous popularity, credibility and appeal as a humanitarian, he played an instrumental role in convincing parents to immunise their children.

In eary January 2005, Mr. Bachchan made an appeal for relief to tsunami survivors. He spoke passionately of the world’s collective duty to the children who are the youngest and most vulnerable of the survivors. He recorded a Public Service Announcement on 30 October for the Global HIV/AIDS Campaign and met with HIV-infected children.

Also in 2005, Mr. Bachchan will do a special 90 minute episode of “Kaun Banega Crorepati” for UNICEF on Diwali eve, 30 October 2005. This is the Hindi version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” Mr. Bachchan will speak about UNICEF, its mandate and his role as Goodwill Ambassador. The award money will go directly to UNICEF India.

A prolific actor, Mr. Bachchan has starred in more than 150 films. Many of his films, particularly those from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, were resounding successes. He is not only a Bollywood star but has also received international accolades. In 1999, Mr. Bachchan was voted the Star of the Millennium in BBC’s poll on the Internet. He defeated the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Robert De Niro to win this honour. In 2001, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. He has also provided narration for numerous films and cultural programmes.

Mr. Bachchan is married to Jaya Bhaduri, also a talented and popular actress. They have two children.

Biography!!!!

An unauthorised biography of Amitabh Bachchan was released in the British capital by the English author who described the Bollywood superstar as the "Uber-God" of Indian cinema.
Jessica Hines also read excerpts from her 287-page book titled "Looking for the Big B" last night to a packed gathering at 'Sitaaray', an Indian restaurant quite aptly adorned with posters and photographs of Bollywood cine stars.
The book takes a fascinating peek at the Mumbai film industry and also tells the story of a very unlikely friendship between Jessica and the 'Superstar of the Millennium'.
"He is India's most legendary film star - a cross between Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino, Elvis, and with more than a hint of John Travolta," Jessica wrote in the book, her maiden venture.
"In a country like India where film stars are treated as Gods, Amitabh Bachchan is the Uber-God, the Big B."

Bachchan sent a congratulatory message to the author on the occasion.

INDIA POISED- Our time is now.....

Its the best video i have ever seen. In this video, Amitabh Bachchan talks about the India and its progress after independence. He also tells that there are two India( india means the people of india) one who lives with the same ideology as it was before independence but the second india has moved ahead and has developed their own ideas and ideologies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adBMxWzXyUc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs%2Esun%2Ecom%2Farungupta%2Fentry%2Findia%5Fpoised%5Fby%5Famitabh%5Fbachchan

to be or not to be....

To Be or Not To Be looks at the life and the craft – which are inevitably inseparable-of Amitabh Bachchan who has been at the forefront of Indian cinema for well over three decades and a roster of nearly 100 films. Several epithets have been bestowed upon him. The media and he mass audience anointed him with the title of a Superstar, while a BBC poll established him as the Star of the Millennium, the public vote placing him ahead of every other charismatic and thespian icon of the globe, past or present.

The spectacle of an actor’s journey through the troughs and peaks of time and trends is a thousand times richer than the most beguiling inventions of our imagination. Bachchan’s life and career reaffirm that point. A lavishly illustrated, comprehensive study of the actor’s trajectory, subtextually this volume reflects the course that film culture has taken from the 1970s right to this day.

In addition to a critical analysis and an in-depth interview, the endeavour is underscored with personalized, heartfelt accounts written by the actor’s immediate family, providing the reader with a rare glimpse into a world that has been beset with its myriad joys and anxieties –perhaps more acutely than any other household which has been in the public glare relentlessly.

Important features of the book include the actor photographed in various moods and candid moments. For the cineaste the filmography, with brief descriptions and credits, provides a ready Bachchan-reckoner. The text as well as film stills and several family keepsake memories traced back to well-preserved albums, add enormously to the authenticity and reference value of this entertainment-packed book.

Tall and slender, Amitabh Bachchan’s personality was different in the realm of Hindi cinema habituated to conventional Adonis heroes. The reality he lived as a child within the sedentary surroundings of Allahabad was enough to make one dream: he is the son of a widely respected poet, scholar and writer. As circumstances and the unwavering pursuit of a film career proved, the elder of the two sons of the poet excelled in the creative field of film acting. Acting became his passion and his performances were astoundingly original.

From his dram-like childhood to the struggle to find a foothold in Bombay show business, from his first disappointments and successes to his ascent as a mega-star, from his induction into politics to his disenchantment with the political process, from his self-imposed sabbatical to the foray into the corporate arena, and finally to his glorious return in both cinema and television, on his own terms, are just some of the chapters in the life of the seasoned actor.

Amitabh Bachchan, who turned 60 on Octer 11, 2002, is a reclusive, media-shy personality although he has acted in scores of blockbuster. Several films are currently in various stages of production. Winner of two National Film Awards, countless other acting trophies including those honouring him for Lifetime Achievement and as the Star of the Millennium, he has been awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India

who is d better gabbar. Amitabh Bachchan or Amjad Khan.

Amitabh Bachchan is shown arriving at parliament in this July 24, 2006 file photo.. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Kamal Kishore NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan will reverse roles to play a bloodthirsty bandit in the remake of one of the industry's greatest classics in which he originally played a lovable hero.
Bachchan, 64, said in recent interviews that even the first time round, he wanted to play Gabbar Singh, the tobacco-chewing, foul-mouthed villain of "Sholay".But he was cast as one of two reformed crooks who save a village from the bandit in the 1975 cult film.Newcomer Amjad Khan bagged Gabbar's role and became a Bollywood legend for his portrayal of what became Indian cinema's best-known villain.
The remake is called "Ram Gopal Varma ke Sholay" or Ram Gopal Varma's Sholay to make it clear that the film is his interpretation of the classic."It's a distinctive 'Sholay', set in a different time-zone," Varma, a top Bollywood director known for making unconventional movies, told Reuters.Varma's "Sholay" is not set in the treacherous ravines of India's northern badlands as in the original version but in the country's commercial and entertainment hub of Mumbai.
Neither does his Gabbar Singh command a ragtag gang of thieves but heads a well-organised crime syndicate."I am the biggest fan of 'Sholay' and Gabbar," said Varma, who has watched India's best "curry western" 27 times. "Over the years the legend of Gabbar has grown immensely.
"Varma says the choice of Bachchan to play Gabbar Singh was natural keeping in mind the complexities of the role. The lead pair is played by Ajay Devgan and newcomer Mohit Ahlawat.Filming of the remake is underway in studios in Mumbai and it is slated to open in May.
"We needed someone important to play Amjad Khan's role and who better than Bachchan himself," said the maverick director.Varma's villain, looking markedly older than the original Gabbar, wields a scorpion-headed stick -- instead of the leather belt that the bandit in the original version lashed around -- and has a prominent scar across his nose."He looks menacing and evil.
It gives him an effective and authoritative look," said Varma, who has got Bachchan to wear a blue lens in one eye and green in the other.Varma said when he offered the role to Bachchan, who has acted in over 150 films portraying the rebel and the honest police officer, the star laughed it off as a joke."He accepted it once I narrated to him my vision of Sholay.
Seeing Bachchan play Gabbar, Amjad Khan will be eclipsed from people's memories," Varma said.