When Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan launched his blog bigb.bigadda.com, many would think that it was meant only for promoting his films and a way to communicate with his fans. Aamir Khan started his blog aamirkhan.com with a big controversy by writing about his maid's dog by name Shahrukh. However, these actors have made good use of their blogs following the terror attacks on Mumbai's hot spots.
The recent terror attacks in Mumbai city that left nearly 200 death and 300 injured inspired Bollywood actors Amitabh and Aamir to reach out to their fans. Amitabh condemned the barbaric acts of the terrorists and revealed the insecurity he felt after the attacks. "My pain has been the sight and plight of my innocent and vulnerable and completely insecure countrymen, facing the wrath of this terror attack. And my anger has been at the ineptitude of the authorities that have been ordained to look after us," he wrote.
The actor also revealed that he did something for the first time following the terror attacks. "I am ashamed to say this and not afraid to share this now with the rest of the cyber world, that last night, as the events of the terror attack unfolded in front of me I did something for the first time and one that I had hoped never ever to be in a situation to do. Before retiring for the night, I pulled out my licensed .32 revolver, loaded it and put it under my pillow. For a very disturbed sleep," wrote Amitabh.
Aamir also expressed his anger and sadness through his blog. "My heartfelt condolences to the family of the brave officers of the Mumbai Police who lost their lives leading from the front to take on these terrorists. Especially Hemant Karkare of the ATS who in the recent past was being targeted by various political parties for the work that he was doing. When will these politicians realize and admit that terrorists HAVE NO RELIGION. Terrorists are not Hindu or Muslim or Christian," he wrote.
Well, Amitabh and Aamir have made good use of their blogs by reaching out to their fans the world over.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Tabu to play Amitabh's love interest yet again
After doing "Cheeni Kum", a contemporary take on relationships, Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu are teaming up again for period film "The Legend Of Kunal".
The film, to be directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and produced by Amitabh's company AB Corp Ltd, has the Big B playing emperor Ashoka and Tabu his wife Tishyarakshitra.
This would be the first film Tabu is signing after R. Balki's "Cheeni Kum" last year.
"Tabu had not a moment's hesitation in saying yes to the role of emperor Ashoka's powerful wife Tishyarakshitra, so powerful she swayed the entire Mauryan empire with her politics and aura. We needed an actress with the strength of conviction," Dwivedi, who has earlier made period film "Pinjar", told IANS.
"History and its cinematic treatment demand the characters to be true to their antecedents. And emperor Ashoka, who is caught in his twilight years in my film, had to be played by Bachchan saab. Only he possesses the gravity, sobriety and personality along with being the age required.
"I wouldn't make Ashoka without him. As for Tabu, she plays his young, fiery, assertive wife. She's an actress I've wanted to work with for a very long time. Again, only she could play Tishyarakshitra," Diwedi said.
In addition, the film will star Arjun Rampal as emperor Ashoka's son Kunal. Amrita Rao will play his wife Kanchanmala.
"Again, I cast them because of their suitability rather than saleability," Dwivedi said.
"In fact, Amrita was recommended by Jaya Bachchan. Tabu and Amrita have many dramatic confrontation scenes together. I needed an actress who could hold her own against someone as powerful as Tabu. Amrita is delicate but strong," he added.
The director, who became a name to reckon with after directing the television epic "Chankaya", is determined not to make compromises with history or with his creativity in making "The Legend Of Kunal".
"It's a big responsibility, not only to history but also to Bachchan saab, who has never in his long and distinguished career played a historical character. Isn't that ironical? It's also a responsibility because after 'Cheeni Kum', audiences would want to see what has been done with the very unusual and striking pair of Bachchan saab and Tabu. I can't afford to slip up."
Dwivedi has just wrapped up the very complicated process of writing the "Upanishad" for the small screen, which his wife, the very talented Mandira will direct.
"I'm now devoting all my time to 'The Legend Of Kunal'. I'll be accompanying Bachchan saab to Bodh Gaya in Bihar, the birthplace of the Buddha, for a visit. My film deals with those years when the warrior Ashoka reforms into a saint. I need to get both Bachchan saab and myself into the mood."
The film, to be directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and produced by Amitabh's company AB Corp Ltd, has the Big B playing emperor Ashoka and Tabu his wife Tishyarakshitra.
This would be the first film Tabu is signing after R. Balki's "Cheeni Kum" last year.
"Tabu had not a moment's hesitation in saying yes to the role of emperor Ashoka's powerful wife Tishyarakshitra, so powerful she swayed the entire Mauryan empire with her politics and aura. We needed an actress with the strength of conviction," Dwivedi, who has earlier made period film "Pinjar", told IANS.
"History and its cinematic treatment demand the characters to be true to their antecedents. And emperor Ashoka, who is caught in his twilight years in my film, had to be played by Bachchan saab. Only he possesses the gravity, sobriety and personality along with being the age required.
"I wouldn't make Ashoka without him. As for Tabu, she plays his young, fiery, assertive wife. She's an actress I've wanted to work with for a very long time. Again, only she could play Tishyarakshitra," Diwedi said.
In addition, the film will star Arjun Rampal as emperor Ashoka's son Kunal. Amrita Rao will play his wife Kanchanmala.
"Again, I cast them because of their suitability rather than saleability," Dwivedi said.
"In fact, Amrita was recommended by Jaya Bachchan. Tabu and Amrita have many dramatic confrontation scenes together. I needed an actress who could hold her own against someone as powerful as Tabu. Amrita is delicate but strong," he added.
The director, who became a name to reckon with after directing the television epic "Chankaya", is determined not to make compromises with history or with his creativity in making "The Legend Of Kunal".
"It's a big responsibility, not only to history but also to Bachchan saab, who has never in his long and distinguished career played a historical character. Isn't that ironical? It's also a responsibility because after 'Cheeni Kum', audiences would want to see what has been done with the very unusual and striking pair of Bachchan saab and Tabu. I can't afford to slip up."
Dwivedi has just wrapped up the very complicated process of writing the "Upanishad" for the small screen, which his wife, the very talented Mandira will direct.
"I'm now devoting all my time to 'The Legend Of Kunal'. I'll be accompanying Bachchan saab to Bodh Gaya in Bihar, the birthplace of the Buddha, for a visit. My film deals with those years when the warrior Ashoka reforms into a saint. I need to get both Bachchan saab and myself into the mood."
Monday, December 1, 2008
Bachchan says media misrepresented his gun comment
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has said that the media misrepresented the remark on his blog about having slept with a gun under his pillow when the Mumbai terror attacks took place.
“It is a pity that the 'intellectual media' portrays the incident of the gun under my pillow as one of ridicule and mirth... Of one that reflects a fear on my part…It is a shame that the mettle of my comment was not put across in the context of its entirety, thereby bisecting the thought and making it weak,” Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com early on Sunday.
The actor, 66, further wrote that his action of pulling out his “.32 revolver” was “out of fear”.
“The act of pulling out my revolver is a symbolic metaphor, a figure of speech, to demonstrate my complete loss in faith in the system and in the governance, in providing me - a citizen of India, with my rightful sense of security," he said.
“It is to demonstrate that now I shall have to personally look after my family and myself and not depend on the state…that is just so miserably incapable of protecting its citizens,” the blog further read.
“It is a pity that the 'intellectual media' portrays the incident of the gun under my pillow as one of ridicule and mirth... Of one that reflects a fear on my part…It is a shame that the mettle of my comment was not put across in the context of its entirety, thereby bisecting the thought and making it weak,” Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com early on Sunday.
The actor, 66, further wrote that his action of pulling out his “.32 revolver” was “out of fear”.
“The act of pulling out my revolver is a symbolic metaphor, a figure of speech, to demonstrate my complete loss in faith in the system and in the governance, in providing me - a citizen of India, with my rightful sense of security," he said.
“It is to demonstrate that now I shall have to personally look after my family and myself and not depend on the state…that is just so miserably incapable of protecting its citizens,” the blog further read.
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