Posted on: April 30, 2008 - 7:43 pm
The Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand #Majesty Suite
April 30, 2008 7:45 pm ( Bangkok Time)
My most cherished and beloved,
Your candor and your affection, your outbursts of immense joy and wonder at our connectivity, your allegiance, your confirmation of the path i stumble on, your notice of the incorrect ‘i’ to the corrected ‘I’, your exuberance and the length of it, your time that you spend on me and your undying love, all provide me with the belief and the strength that, if ever i were to stretch out my arms and seek a supportive shoulder, if ever I were to ask you to steady my faulted steps… you would all without hesitation or purpose, not just provide that to me, but lift me up towards the sky and give me the satisfaction of breathing fresher air and perhaps a clearer vision !!
Ah !! Music !!
Dramatic, thunderous, heralding… drums and cymbals !!! Ha ..ha
I jest with you !! You must pardon me !!
I am in Bangkok as you may have noticed. Came in this morning for the press conference that generally precedes the main IIFA event. That over there were visits to the Royal Palace of Her Highness the Princess, then the United Nations, and now I rush to the airport again to catch a flight to London, for the press conference for ‘BhoothNath’.
My love for the media so so so apparent !!
I beg my absence from the blog then and shall on landing be back with you with more !
Till then..
Amitabh Bachchan
I enjoy reading your blogs, your thoughts. You’ve become a friend.
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Hi Amitabh Uncle,
Your blogs are truly reflective of your humble and sincere nature. I am a big fan of yours from Singapore.
I am so glad you are doing this blog. It gives us all a chance to get closer to you in some divine way, thanks to the wonders of the internet and technology. It constantly amazes me how we are able to reach someone as dear as you are in such a virtually astonishing way.
I am a crazy die hard fan of your daughter in law. It is my dream to be able to meet her and say hi in person….I would someday die a happy woman if that happens
Love to you and your family always. You have such a lovely family.
God Bless…
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Hello Amitabh Ji,
I am a great fan of yours. I just read article where you have given the speech about women liberalizaion. I really admre your opinion . I have two daughters. They also like to watch your movies specailly Don.
I am writing from Dallas- texas. I heard you are coming to US for a tour.Will you be coming to Dallas as well? We have a big indian population here. You must come:-)
With Regards
Thanks and all the best !
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Dear sir,
you are an inspiration to us.. ur wisdom guides us thru our dark times.. you have touched millions of lives.. you are a legend just like ur father. thank you for everything sir..
we will always be there for u.. we have always been there for u
u rock sir
u really do!!!
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Dear Mr. Bachchan,
Needless to say we are a big fan of yours….from my dad who is the same age as you ( and shares an uncanny resemblance with you) to my 8 yr. old daughter who doesn’t understand a word of Hindi and watches very few hindi movies( read …your films and of course how can I forget Bunty and bubly… whenever i watch your movie she butts in and says isn’t that shava shava guy mommy! he looks kind of like nanaji except nanaji is losing his hair)…
We are a big fan of Late Dr. Harivansh rai Bachchan…My grand uncle was his student at Allahabad University…He used to tell us that Dr. Bachchan taught them Shakespeare( he used to mimic his accent and everything)….My mom who is a professor of Hindi is the one who introduced me to his work…though it is now limited to hearing the renditions of Madhushala …
we would love to have you share his works with us…
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Take care sir. Hope your injury is fine now..
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Hello sir,
Probably today I would be the first one to write on your blog.
I am just amazed at the fact that even at 65+ you are traveling thousands of miles every now and then. Just like Karan Johar said in one of his interview with you “I would probably be living under MRI scan when I am your age”.
Best of luck for coming super duper hits Sarkar Raj & Bhootnath.
Now here comes the request part.
In my last post I requested you for a few more music albums if possible. I still remember “1 rahen A 1 rahen B…” and would love to remember a few more in your voice (undoubtedly the Voice of India for me)
1 more thing since I don’t believe what I read in news papers and saw on TV, is it true that you are not going to work with Ramu again?
Hope you will answer me.
Thanks and regards,
Varun Prakash Shrivastava
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and all d best for the IIFA event..
no matter wat others say ..this event is unbiased and one of the best award functions held for the film industry.
we really look forward to this event
ENJOYYYYYY!!
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I don’t know whether I am big fan of yours or not but when I see you in any media I feel very happy, confident and proud which never happens to see others.
I pray to god for your good health and tense free life.
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Dear Sir,
Hmmm… Seems like you are enjoying after a long time of frustration with the media and everyone. Thats nice!!
Stay Happy and Have a great Trip!!
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Hello Sirji,
All the best!!! for BhoothNath in London.
Some are born great,
some achieve greatness and
some have greatness thrust upon them.
and you belong to all the 3 !!!!
bye 4 now
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hiiiiii!!!!!!!! hope u had nice flight!!!! its bcame habit nw to reply !!!! im sry bt hv 2 ask !!!! dear wen i can see THE LAST LEAR KING? :raju frm dhule maharahtra.??
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I had the opportunity to meet you @ UN, Bangkok. I was standing behind you, which you did not know and bumped over me to accommodate another vvvip, And your 1st word to me was O, sorry..
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Come back soon. India is missing you
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I am extremely impressed with your royal demeanor. I have been trying to analyze you for quite sometime. You have been extremely impressive in the way you had handled issues and had reacted in some of the extreme situations that you encountered. It is an honor to have a public figure like you who is so dignified, bland, politic, suave, and urbane.
For me, you are a living guide.
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Hello Amitabji ,
We are always with you sir.
Thanks for the blog sir,
Amith Kumar
Hyderabad.
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Sir,
Aaj badi der kar di aapne likhne main.
I have been waiting for long…refreshing the browser every 1 hour.
Please don’t forget that there are the die hard fans who have it as part of their daily routine to read your posts.
And please..please..please..please..please..please..please..please..please..please..please..please..please..please..please..please..tell me where are you coming in London? Where can I meet you? Sir please let me know.
Regards,
Debashis
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Dear Amitji
I am one of your biggest fan. It pains me immensly when people of no consequence criticise you for no apparent reason. And I feel, such criticism has been on the rise in the past year. What could be the reason? I always wonder why on earth would people find wrong in you specially those with whom you had no contact for a long time. I feel they personally tend to benefit with the free publicity these people get. How unfortunate!!!
I am looking forward to your movies both bhootnath as well as Sarkarraj. I hope both do well and it serves as a befitting reply to all those who find faults with you.
It is good that you take things now headon and don’t let others speak for you. That’s how it must always be. May god bless you and keep entertaining us forever.
Ajay Batish
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SIR,
WE UNDERSTAND NOW THAT LIFE OF SUPERSTARS ARE ALSO VERY HECTIC.WE APPRICIATE YOU FOR YOUR ABILITYS OTHER THAN ACTING.
GREAT. GOD BLESS YOU
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Dear Mr. Bachchan,
What a Speech!!!!!!!!!!!!!Just saw it on rediff…….amazing……..I am speechless.!!!!!!!
This is perhaps the most powerful piece I have come across in recent years…and the way you expressed it….simply mindblowing!!!!!!!!
Now I wish all the NGOs, so-called politicians and wannabes should see it and think seriously about your contribution.
Why no news channel covered it(I saw CNN-IBN and NDTV websites, they have not uploaded this news)? Is it because it is a matter of CONCERN to all humanity? Is it because it is not abt certain Salim, anurag or Shatru?
I SALUTE you….for being so sensitive. take a bow dear!!!!!!
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Dear Amitji,
I am really amazed at your energy (that too at your age). You are almost my fathers age and you go globetrotting tirelessly. I wonder how. If someone tells me that i have to travel like you (even in best of luxuries) I probably can not do it. Well perhaps can not do it is not the right phrase, will not want to do it.
I erased can not do it from dictionary a long time back (6-7 years back) coz i know if i decide to do something I can do it. Nothing is beyond me as long as I have the support of God and my family. My faith in Him, myself and my family’s love and support is all i need. And probably these are the things that keep you going. Not only this, you have the love and support of millions, billions of fans around the world.
Take care and do keep on writing.
Regards
Vandana
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thanku for yours availablity sir
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sir,you are an amazing actor
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#Majesty Suite
I love it the way you give out finer details.
Mandar Soman
Hillsborough, New Jersey
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Hello Amitji,
All the best for IIFA event.
I am a admirer of yours since childhood. I would appreciate a reciprocation by returm email.
Best Regards,
Subramanian Iyer
Toronto, Canada
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Sir with lots and lots of respect— You are amazing. I often wonder how you do all this- how time zone never affects you. Whenever I go to India and come back, I need a week to unwind before I can resume my life here in Canada and here you are at 66 travelling extensively all over the globe and don’t look tired and have the energy to answer people’s questions with a smile. It is amazing, I remember reading Late Mr. Hrisikesh Mukharjee’s interview once where he was describing how during the filming of Bemisaal , you were staying far away from the unit with your family but you were right on time every day for filming. This amazes me, I always got inspiration from you but now more than ever, when I get to read your schedule from you and it just leaves me speechless.
Sir, wherever you are, my best wishes are with you. Sir, bada bol hai par ekdum dil se hai— Bhagwaan kare mere hissain kee bhee khushiyan aapko mil jaayen.
What a feeling, I am in touch with my family member Amitabh Bachchan wherever he is.
Take care Sir, Deepak from Vancouver ( Canada)
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I think you spend more time in the air more than on the land. Which is your most preffered Airlines & Your choice of hotels.
Hope your forth coming movies Booth Nath & Sarkar Raj will do well.
What are the other projects you are involved.?
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Respected,
Bachchan Sahib,
First, i salute ‘GOD’ and then to your ‘Dear Parents’ for giving us such a precious ‘GEM’. Please, take very good care of yourself while travelling. Your energy levels are Mind-blowing.(Touchwood). Keep it up.
Have a good Day!
SK.
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Hello Sir,
I am often confused while addressing the people of your calibre, whether i should use ” Respected” or “Dear” but in the end without letting my thoughts gamble over me, i start with a sweet Hello!
I have been following all your blogs from quite sometime now and I should say this on behalf of all your fans that we are very much thankful to you and also this website for making it possible to create a condusive environment where you can share your thoughts with us.
It not only means that we are going to have an easy access to you but it also means that there is an opportunity for each one of us to learn a lot from you.
Wihtin all these past 12-13 days when you started writing blogs i have followed them quite acutely and have experienced a wide variety of thoughts that a great personality has. It has taught me that even the life of people of your calibre is not a piece of cake, infact its much more tough than what we live, as not only you have to excel in your profession but sometimes you have to even sacrifice your personal life. After reaching at a point where you have even you have to speak each word with utmost care as you never know, which word might go against you. Its a tough job that you are living upto.
It has made me realize that, you have carried your image perfectly so as to give all of us an example as how to face situations boldly. Since I am just in school right now, its a lot for me to learn from all the people of your calibre, because the wide variety of experiences you have are just the benchmarks you have set for the others to follow.
For this moment, I would limit myself and would hope that you continue teaching us in the same respect as you have been over the years.
Take Care,
Thanks and Regards
Sagar.
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:p
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Amitabh
It is so nice of you to share a piece of your day with us.
I just want to share a little something with you of which I wish makes your day as much as these blogs make mine….I have been a truly big fan from a little girl and was around 7-8yrs old when i first saw you live in Durban,South Africa. It made my day and I was so overjoyed.
I am truly an admirer of your work and wish that you continue on with this great spirit. You are an idol and a strong man of the industry that has a great influence on us all whom have made a positive stamp on our soul of song, dance and action!
My best wishes to you,
Love Anisha
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:d
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Hello,
Please launch full website / portal about you , this blog should be a part of that site also , we all want to know more and more about you, when i was kid i use to read Hindi movie magazines or brows pictures from english movie magazine about you . Website will be perfect platform where fans can have updated info or views from you. Please think about this idea.
Sushant from Indore
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sir,
This is very nice of you to let us know your style of life, we fans always keep wanting to know what you must be doing or in which part of the world are you in. Sir, I really admire your patience to reply to us whom you don’t even know, but trust me I had met you once in Hyd. in 1974. I was a kid then but you were so kind and obliged me by giving me your autograph that still i have treasured it. I feel any day postal is better than email because we have the letter in our hands, which makes fans like me very happy.
With regards,
Shyali
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Hello,
Will miss reading your posts which has become more than a routine. Will look forward to your safe landing back and thoughts in this space.
As always, wishing you the very best!
Regards
Renu
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U have been able to keep in touch with all the people. Even in ur busy schedule u have arranged a time at least to write something on ur wall for all of us. That’s what is dedication.
On top of that, at least I am able to read about u without any distortion. That’s the beauty of this technology.
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Dear Sir,
I am not too good at words as you are but always enjoyed this blog and the way you write. I guess you have heritated this from your father. Well it seems like you had a busy day. i just admire you for your strength and youthfulness i must say at this age still going. and me just being 25 gets tired afer days work.
So hats off to you
In all this rush do remember to take care of your health
Always
with love
Purvi
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Dear Amitji,
I can almost hear the cymbals ringing in my ears as you acknowledge our comments, though you goofed up on the ‘i’ again this time! When you write, ‘my most cherished and beloved’, although in jest, it is as if each word is just for me! We do build castles in the air wishing earnestly that our words will reach you.
But you are absolutely right in presuming that if you would ever falter, a million hands would be outstretched to break your fall. They were there when you went through the Jaadugar phase when the media wrote you off, and again during the Bofors phase. Maybe you just didn’t notice us. But don’t let that love get into your head. We love unconditionally. But it is because you are you. When you get influenced by people around you, it upsets us. Be yourself. And don’t be over critical of everyone around you. There are nice people in this world too. See the brighter side of life.
Love and regards
Anshu
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Hello sir,
Dont you think IIFA should not be just like a filmfare or screen awards,but include movies made in regional languages also for nominations for best film,actor,actress,director.
Hindi cinema made in Mumbai (as you hate the name Bollywood) cannot be said to represent Indian cinema,just on the grounds of its money it earns and popularity. Dont’you think sir that IIFA should be the platform to promote regional cinema worldwide.
regards
Manisha
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Hi Amitabh:
It’s really a nice feeling that we are in touch with you through this media. We know where you are and what you are doing, at least an time to time update. It’s really great feeling. I feel as if I am talking to you personally.
Great to see you are moving around the world. I am feeling as if I am moving with you. Hope one day I will also go to those part of the world. Uptill then let me travel with you.
Take care.
regards buddy
Jaydip
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Dear Mr. B,
Love the humor that you provide us.
You are right when you say that we all will be there to support you and lift you in your time of need. We all are always with you in good times as well as bad as we suffer from BFF (Bachchan Fan Fever).
Wishing you a very Happy Journey.
-Vikas
(Kolkata)
Big B Yahoo Group
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MR.Bachchan,
Where ever u r we will follow u.You must be the KING for us always. YES please do take some rest whenever u can.we dont want to see a pair of sagging eyes like dear shatrughan sinha.
May you live for 99 years,12 months and 30 days.
love
VENKAT
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Hi Amitabh:
Hope you have noticed my other post to you.
Love you’
Jaydip
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Dear Mr. B,
An advice for you. Why don’t you provide a date to your blog headings, even if you miss a couple of days you won’t have the numbering problem.
-Vikas.
(Kolkata)
Big B Yahoo Group
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Dear Mr. Bachan,
Its great to see you on net. But you would expect a whole range of questions on your next films and how good you are and so on and so forth.
But a burning question still comes out is that 5 years down the road, you see yourself as doing films like nishabd(somewhat of a shocking role) or a film like Jhoom Barabar jhoom(because its YRF film??!!) or a film like a Black(pivotol role). I do understand that you have always said that whatever intrests you as an actor(or challenge you) you will do. But as person in his sixties with a leagcy so strong and with so much of expectations from the general public, will you falter or go higher.
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Mr.bachchan,
i have prayed for more than 100 years for you!!!!
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Assalamualaikum Sir, hope you are well and in good spirit and health.
I speak to you from my place of work, in Leeds, West Yorkshire UK.
I have had the pleasure off seeing you on a few occasion when you use to leave the Gym at JW, infact your security would delay my driver, but use to be a great story to tell my family back home.
My wife having worked at JW has said to have spoken to you the once, i think to guide you to a conferance or somthing.
I met my wife in Mumbai on a project, wilst i was staying at the JW, she was their at the check in desk, i still remember when i met her i knew then this one was special. We have been married 3 years now and have a small son, he is 2 and currently cant stop singing the buddy song from your new movie.
Enough of me. The reason i have contacted you is with the hope you can answer my question. My self and a few close friends play a bollywood trivia game, mainly questions on your movies from 70’s,80’s and early 90’s. The question we are stuck on at the moment is from your movie Hum. What nursery rhyme does Mr Danny sing to his kids in the Movie? I know your busy, if you can answer my question i’l be over the moon and speachless but also my self and 3 of my friends can start to sleep again with out this playing on our minds.
All the best Sir, thank you for the great entertainment you have provided me and my friends for most of our lifes. All the very very best to you and your family.
Take care
Javed Fadal
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RESPECTED SIR, MANY MANY DEEP REGARDS TO YOU. I ADMIRE U AS AN ACTOR BUT MORE THAN THAT I ADMIRE U AS A COMMITTED SON. I HAVE RECENTLY READ A FEW LINES OF THE CELEBRATED MADHUSHALA. IT TOOK ME SOME TIME TO UNDERSTAND BUT WHEN I DID I WAS INFLUENCED TREMENDOUSLY. I QUOTE THE LINES- ‘MAN KA HO TO ACHCHA, MAN KA NA HO TO AUR ACHCHA’. I HOPE I DID NOT DISTORT THE LINES. IF I DID I AM DEEPLY SORRY. WHAT I AM KEEN TO KNOW IS HOW CAN I ACQUIRE A COPY OF MADHUSHALA AS WHEREVER I HAVE ASKED FOR IT THE RESPONSES HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTING. ACTUALLY I AM A NEUROLOGIST WORKING IN MUMBAI AND LIVE WITH MY PARENTS TRYING MY BEST TO LOOK AFTER THEM WITH THE BLESSINGS OF THE ALMIGHTY. I WOULD BE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL IF U COULD GUIDE ME IN MY QUEST. YOURS SINCERELY, ROHIT CHINTAMANI.
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Sir… have a safe trip… and lets hope for a change the media dose not twist or modify ur statements for prime time news… and then apologize to you in private… (dose anurag basu read this blog :D)…
take care
Pranav
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Dear Mr Bachchan,
Very glad to be able to interact with you. I am new to your blog and haven’t had the chance to read through all your postings yet. Nonetheless what pleases me immensely is that we finally have the chance to interact with the real person not the screen image behind Mr Bachchan. Like many others of my generation, I have grown up watching your films, but talking to the real Mr Bachchan is not something I would have thought possible in this way!
As an academic and a researcher (currently at Oxford, otherwise based in France) I have been observing the phenomenon of victimisation of celebrities in India and indeed in other parts of the world. I wonder if anyone has ever researched this phenomenon: giving celebreties a God-like status only to turn around and then criticise them in the most inhuman and twisted way for actions that most ordinary people would not draw the least attention. Although we’ve all heard about the “success curse”, I believe that in India, the media really exploits celebrities because it claims a stronghold on communication with the masses! In fact the more I think about it the more convinced I get that this could be a fanstastic research project, in fact, an idea for a book publication….
I wish you and your family well and hope that someday we have the chance to interact with you in person. If you feel intrigued by the idea of a book on media victimisation of Indian celebrities, please do let me know. It would give me immense pleasure to be able to write about someone as accomplished as you. When I say accomplished I mean this in the sense of someone who has gone through a lot in life, not just accomplished in the material sense. Once again thanks for reaching out…..
Best wishes,
Taran.
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Dear Amitabh
In the 70’s we saw some magical histrionics especially where the trio Hrishikesh/Rajesh and you came together.
Who robbed us of this fabulous combination?
Was it once again the dreaded media?
Will someone ever bring Mr Khanna and yourself together?
Here’s hoping
Fan of good cinema Kulbinder
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Hello Amitji
How are you today? Great to hear ur in my part of the world (UK) any chance of a meet? or a call? lol ok i knw i m dreaming.
Have a great time here sir and cant wait for the unforgetable tour. Any idea regarding the dates for UK sir?
All my love and wishes
Pratik
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I think the best thing I like about this site, besides reading about you of course, (laughingly) is the responses from all the other fans here. They are PRICELESS!!!!
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hi sir,
i have been reading your blog wery often. nd i love it.
the freseness on this is that i can see u speaking your mind straight forward wihtout any fear.
its not the same diplomatic answers u give in TV /paper interview.
this medium is really cool.
regards,
Krishan Raj
delhi
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Hi Mr. Bachchan
Hope u r fine… Was waiting anxiously for ur bog of the day…Its v nice to c that u appreciate ur fans responses & take note of small small things that we refer to..
Have a nice journey
love & regards
Anu Verma
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SIR HAVE A SAFE TRIP AND BEST OF LUCK FOR BHOOTHNATH
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WOW!…Mr. Bachchan, you truly are the world traveler….I thought you were just in Mumbai yesterday night at the Shoba De book release…You must package all that energy in a product for us mere mortals!! Red Bull Energy Drink needs you as an ambassador!
I hope you have a wonderful stay in Bangkok. I have been there before and humbly recommend 4Benjarong, which I believe is in the same hotel that you are staying at!…It’s fantastic! Have a safe flight to London!
Best wishes always,
Rajeev
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sir,
i am a big fan of you. i alway admire your discipline and respect to others. God has given every thing to you. R u afraid of death..that every think will go away from you one day. What make you so passinate against your work??
love u
amit
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SIR WHICH IS YOUR MOVIE COMING AFTER BHOOTNATH AND SARKAR RAJ
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hello sir, its really pleases me to no extent to see you blogging
away with your fans so frequently …..almost daily inspite of your
hectic schedule and also that you inform us about your day-to-day activities, feelings about a particular subject in-depth which is the best part.
its so heart-warming to know that a huge celebrity like you has
opened this blog to connect with your audience and not for some
cheap publicity gimmick or advertisement before a particular release….
after reading your last few posts, my respect for you has gone up
by tons of notches !!
Yours Truly,
A Small Fish In A HUGE Pond
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Dear Amitji,
I was scrolling down trying to read comments of fellow readers and one caught my eye. It called you an over-rated actor! How would you respond to that? In your inimitable style?
I’ll reserve my comments on this for the next time!
Love
Anshu
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Dear Mr.Bachchan,
;-)
It is amazing how much you travel with such ease(or rather your profession demands this, I guess!) ! One 30 hour international flight to India and I am done for the next 6 months !! I salute your commitment at this age where others at your age prefer resting on their past laurels.You are a fighter and a true inspiration to every generation. Infact my mom is your age (june,1941) and when she refuses to travel to the US once a year I keep telling her “look at Amitabh Bachchan…how much he does and both of you are the same age”
I understand with so much going on , replying to every one of our messages in something we cannot expect, but I would just like to know if you atleast get to read all our messages or is our enthusiasm going to waste ! Hope you atleast get to read all our messages !
With lots of love and respect…
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I must appreciate your commitment to blogging, Amitji:-) Since, IFFA is held in Thailand, i must suggest please holiday in the Rabbit resort in Pattaya- It’s considered as one of the hidden jewels in the world. It’s got a lot of beautiful memories for me as it was my honeymoon destination. If you find time, pls do attend the lady boy show too. Its fun,popular and extravagant. They even perform on our bollywood numbers:-)
Amitji, hope you got a chance to look at the suggestions that i provided yesterday to make blogging easier and organized.
Have fun and take care.
Regards,
Revathi Ganesh
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Respected Sir,
Have a great time in Bangkok. Incidentally, your post reminded me of the 2 times I have seen you in person. Once outside your house a few years ago, and once when you made an unannounced entry into my uncle’s wedding anniversary party at the Leela about 15 years ago. I am reminded how awe-inspiring it is to be in your presence.
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It is actually fantastic that you’re updating your blog so conscientiously on a daily basis. Your writings are a joy to read…
I offer scattered reflections once again (as always I am taking the opportunity provided by this blog to ‘think about’ the Bachchan ’signature’:
Amitabh Bachchan, matchless in everything else, was also so in the art of finding the mean between subtlety and matching audience expectation. Bachchan was never ‘under-stated’, Abhishek can often be and this is sometimes a problem for a commercial actor. Bachchan knew the art of being marvelously subtle without ever being understated. This was great for him from a commercial perspective. Abhishek is however simply an actor of greater ‘reserve’. This shouldn’t be considered a negative except in commercial terms. And similarly one should surmise that a little understatement might even have served Bachchan well at points. But in any case Bachchan’s gifts are rather singular either way. Abhishek though has been able to bring audiences over to his side with time. Even so what a lot of people ‘protest’ about in terms of his performances is precisely subtlety. This is particularly so for an audience that associates Bachchan only with a Namak Halal and not with a Mili (let alone a Saudagar) and therefore is disappointed to see Abhishek not carry forward the ‘legacy’. But Abhishek to my mind is framing the truest legacy of his father by precisely not being a clone. And of course from time to time there is a Guru or a Sarkar that satisfies core audiences.
Most reviewers (unsurprisingly) have been singularly inadequate to the task of understanding, much less appreciating, what Abhishek is upto most of the time. Now it might considered a pragmatic problem that Abhishek is perhaps not entirely in sync with the sorts of expectations audiences have from their commercial actors but I don’t think this is completely true either. I think the reviewers are often behind the curve. The classic example is Bluffmaster (to my mind one of Abhishek’s finest) where a performance of calm and repose has really become one of the iconic ones in Abhishek’s work, specially with the feminine gender.
The other point that I usually like to make with respect to Abhishek vis-a-vis his father is that Amitabh Bachchan had this remarkable ability to speed up the ‘time’ of a film. Whatever pace the narrative worked at Bachchan would accelerate it. Abhishek is in this sense (and perhaps not the only one) more his mother’s son and he actually slows up the ‘time’ of a film. I do not at all mean this as a criticism and in fact I find it rather fascinating to reflect on the contrast offered in this way. Also because it seems to me that very different effects are produced either way and it is not obvious that one would always prefer ’speed’ to ‘pause’ even if masala cinema usually demands the former.
The precise moment at which Amitabh Bachchan was most like the star-actor Abhishek is today was Zanjeer. Because this is to my mind possibly the only time when Bachchan is a bit like Abhishek and not ’speeding up’ the film. For this reason Zanjeer still remains unique in the Bachchan canon. There is an authentic angst at the heart of this film and makes it unlike any other in the Bachchan cinema that followed. Even Deewar relies more on the mythic mode and deviates from this Zanjeer ‘mood’ quite a bit. Still Deewar is the only other point in the Bachchan oeuvre where one might still spot ‘real’ traces of Zanjeer. Of course this is not to suggest that the trope of Zanjeer is not endlessly played out elsewhere but it is always crossed by the shadow of Deewar. The Zanjeer protagonist is never really an ‘overman’ which is why he can have true ‘angst’. The later characters beginning with Deewar are always a little too conscious of their ‘mythic destinies’ and therefore exist a bit ‘outside time’. It could also be plausibly suggested that Abhishek is now in his Deewar and post-Deewar stage if one wants to retain something of the schema I’ve suggested.
Having said all of this Amitabh Bachchan had many opportunities every year to really play out the ‘angry young man’ mould. The industry does not provide as many opportunities to Abhishek to do intense, dramatic roles even though these also suit his ‘physicality’ the most. But for the same reason this allows him to remain a more ’sincere’ actor in many ways or at least one less beholden to the overwhelming logic of the star image. However there is something to be learnt from Bachchan’s ‘alternative’ career in the 70s. For the most part a Hrishikesh Mukerjee always ‘accounted’ for Bachchan’s iconic appeal and somehow tried to incorporate this in his films (barring an exception like Alaap). It is not doing the ‘different’ that is necessarily problematic for a star but doing it in a fashion where there no trace of the star’s trademark survives. This is of course only an argument for ‘commercial success’ and has no bearing on any debate over acting virtues and so forth.
As a theorist rather persuasively argued people go to see ’stars’ in commercial movies and not actors. To the extent that ’stars’ attempt different roles people want to see the ’star’ playing the ‘character’. In other words the star’s ’signature’ must always be obvious. In Black people did not want to see a great star-actor attempt a very different role where he would be totally unrecognizable as his past self but ‘Bachchan’ the superstar try out a very interesting role. ‘Bachchan’ would have to be recognizable in the portrayal. if however the star were miraculously to become only the character with no trace of the history of the star the film would simply not work. Needless to say, Bhansali understood this double calling.
The other interesting thing about Sarkar (I’ve put up a piece on this before of course) is that Bachchan is the one who speaks too much while Abhishek is the one who speaks too little. This dichotomy is maintained throughout the first film so that even towards the end when Abhishek is taking his ‘revenge’ he is really engaging in very terse or laconic exchanges from his side. The reason I find this fascinating is that here too there is a history of ‘Bachchan’. Abhishek represents the older more silent Bachchan in some ways while Bachchan is his later more garrulous self. The difference in modes is in some sense that between Deewar and Lawaaris.
One could also say this about the ‘gaze’ both men treat their audiences to. Bachchan’s gaze is his later post-Mohabbatein one which truly pins the viewer down (dare I say ‘fascistic’?) and is completely paralyzing. Abhishek’s is more a younger, mid-70s Bachchan gaze, which entrances but does not necessarily incapacitate. Bachchan’s post-Mohabbatein gaze is like a ‘machine’ and obeys its own logic whereas the earlier Bachchan’s gaze was still part of his persona in a much more intrinsic sense.
For me a film cannot simply be great in a ‘technical’ sense. It has to be so on broader narrative grounds and must include the ‘political’. The ‘political’ here isn’t just restricted to ‘politics’ but includes the whole web of the ’socio-economico-political’. This is not a radical definition but is ‘art’ by another name. The films that I mentioned above are not ‘high art’ the way Satyajit Ray is ‘high art’ because these fall within the gamut of a commercial industry and are obviously governed a ‘mass aesthetic’ one way or the other. But to the extent that these tend towards making more ‘meaningful’ statements beyond the logic of a superficial narrative I rate them higher than others.
I mentioned Mukerjee and I should add here that I consider Mili and Jurmana to be the among the most underrated Bachchan films in this sense.
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I think if I alienate you, and depict you as a bad person, even on my anonymous website, I could become quite popular within few months. And this is the reason everyone targets you. Your vast popularity has become your enemy and serves as fodder for many.
London, UK
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Dear AB,
Those are the most cheerful words I came acroos in many days, and your happy spirit is infectious. Thanks for sharing your life like this.
lots of love
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SIR PLZ START SARKAR RAJ PROMOTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE SHOULDNT TAKE ANY CHANCES..ITS A GOOD PRODUCT AND HAS TO BE MARKETED WELL !
REGARDS, VISHAL !
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Great Site
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Sir , when you are coming London, Where the promotional event si goint to held ?
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gREAT READING YOUR DAILY DIARY.have a nice time in London.
Captain Dogra
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amit ji,
have a nice day.
by profession i m a journalist but not very affectionate towards BOLLYWOOD,well i have read lot of literature of hon. shri harivansh rai bachchan ji.it gives me strength and guidelines for life. i have also reads your breach candy KAVITA”S after coolie accident,so dont be disturbed and dont be reacts on the statements of the silly peoples.harivanshrai jee and you are the icons of the india.how the politicians accept a cultured,intelligent,globally famous brand ambassador of INDIA who is not active in the politics but far ahead from all these silly peoples in terms of every aspect?keep working on and on. regards.
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Dear Mr Bachchan,
Namaste, missed your talking to us last night…we are getting used to reading your blog everyday…By the way…i like when you ‘jest’ with us…i can even visualise you smiling. wish you are having an enjoyable journey in Bangkok and London and best of luck with the promotion of IIFA, and the promotion of Bhoothnath. Looking forward for IIFA to be held here in Egypt someday, and also for the showing of your movies in the Egyptian cinema…your Egyptian fans miss you.
will be waitingfor your next entery
With Love,
Rasha Zayed. (BigB yahoo group)
Cairo, Egypt.
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Respected Amitabh ji,
I know you like the whole of India knows and loves you. Please excuse me for taking a few minutes of your valuable time. I am asking a favour of response if you feel my concern is genuine and worthy of immediate response.
My grandfather has looked after me so well since I was only 4 years old when my father died very young. I am now 21 years old. I love and admire my grandfather who is now 75 years old. In the end of 2006, he landed an eye disorder called Ocular Myesthenia Gravis for which he was diagnosed at Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai. Doctors have prescribed the medicine Pyriodistigmine (Neostigmine) 60 mg. 4 tablets a day. He has been taking this medicine for more than a year now. But there is no significant relief in the condition of Ptosis (eyelids drooping down). There is some relief in the condition of diplopia (double vision).
As per my knowledge and information, you had to pass through the same eye disorder problem many years back. May I know the treatment and medicines given to you by your doctors? I am much worried by my grandfather’ s condition – his agony and helplessness because he cannot read and write properly. If you oblige me by providing required information about your doctors and the treatment taken by you, I can help my grandfather to a great extent.
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Nice to see that your sense of humor is BACK..!!
You are most welcome Amit Uncle.
Have Fun Amit Uncle and don’t treat the comments and the barbs that you get too seriously - Lets face it,
Good or Bad, They can’t stop talking about you….Give credit to them for having the patience to keep attacking you again and again..!!
Maybe your critics need to try harder..!!
Anyhoo, I am looking forward to IIFA. Last year was great with you and Abhishek grooving away on the Jhoom Barabar Tracks.
See you when you get back.
Ghunoo
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Mr. Bachchan,
Apart from everything the most I like about you as an individual is that the way you cared about your parents and their importance in your life.
For me that’s the most inspirational and has made the immense difference to me as a human being and I certainly feel very satisfied by valuing the importance of parents in our life.
For me that is the ultimate heroic aspect of you and films, handling media and other public conducts are just secondary.
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Dear Mr. Bachchan,
Sure its hectic for you. Well i feel so connected with you by reading your blog and then writing my comment. It does really now doesn’t matter whether you read the comment or not but what matters the most is that I get to know the inner and outer persona of Mr. Bachchan the big B.
With regards
ashima
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Hi Sir,
I am really glad to know abt your blog.There were times where people used to crave for talking or shaking hands with a filmstar but sir stars like u have made it easy for us to communicate freely.Iam a big fan of urs.Its a really great opportunity for me.Just wanted to say may god give a healthy and longer life without any difficulties.
From,
PRIYANKA
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Hello Amit Sir,
I am having fun reading your blogs. Looking forward to boundless cinema from you.
With love and regards,
Mihir
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Hi Amitabh Sir,
I am Suman from Nepal and currently working in Canada, 36 years old. I would like to express my feeling that I am your one of the biggest fan in Nepal. You are the best actor I have ever seen in this world. When people compare you with Shahrukh Khan, I feel very hurt because the reality is there is no competition between you and Shahrukh. He has long way to go to reach at your level. He should be compared with Amir or Akchay. Thanks for listening me. God bless you.
-Suman
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Dear Amitabh sir,
I think ur blog is not written by u.This is my personal view.
Because updating blogs and giving reply is not possible for busy persons. And u r very busy man ,so i think this. One another thing that I thought that this may be a publicity for this website. But if u really write this then it is a another CHAND in ur personality. Anyway i enjoy reading this blog.Waiting for the reply from writer of this blog.
YOURS LOVING FAN
ANUPAM
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Hello Amitji
Have a nice trip.
Take care
Regards
Susheela Das
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Dear Mr Bachchan
I have been a fan of yours since childhood, i had never imagined that one day i can be writing a post which can be read by you. Still not sure if you will read this. However just the thought that you may read this is enough..
I have always been fascinated by your stardom and the hold you have had on the indian imagination for the last 30+ years. Its been an amazing journey.
You must have been getting mobbed for all these years in india and abroad, my question to you is which one moment would you say has been the most amazing and most memorable. A moment where you were taken aback by the love and affection by your fans. Is there a moment in your life where you have been mobbed which has even surprised you.?? Im sure there must be several but is there 1 that stands out?
Kind Regards
Amjad
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Hi Amit Sir,
U r truely amazing !!
I really feel great to read ur insights….
Take care Sir,
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Dear Amitabh Saab Ji
With this my 2nd blog to you, I’d just like to wish you safe journey to London and welcome you to our country. I hope you have a good time and enjoy your stay.
I’m already looking forward to the IIFAs, I watch them every year, but last year was special, as you came to my home county - I’m from Yorkshire.
I love to meet you one day, but for now I will live with the thought that I got to see you from a small distance at the IIFA Cricket Match in Leeds and saw Abhishek too.
Speak to you later. Take care. Namsete-ji.
Jivan.
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it’s so amazing that sooooo many people have sooooooo much to say. Nice.
don’t worry about the ‘i’, as blogging as well as journal writing are part of ‘free writing’- no editing, no fretting over grammar. Cool.
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