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We look at the stars who believed it's better to burn out than fade away.Bachchan hits back at disloyalty charge
Posted Thu, 10 Apr 2008
India's film superstar Amitabh Bachchan has hit back at critics who have accused him of being disloyal to the country's entertainment capital Mumbai.
After protests by right-wing Hindu nationalists which saw bottles hurled at his mansion in Mumbai earlier this year, the star lashed out this week.
"Let them chuck a thousand bottles," Bachchan declared in an interview with Mumbai's tabloid Mumbai Mirror earlier this week. "Let them burn my effigies and conduct morchas (marches) in front of my house.
"I am not budging!"
The comments came after local politicians said he had shown "little loyalty" to India's financial and movie-making city of 18 million people.
Bachchan, who enjoys a huge following in India, was born and raised in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh but he has lived in western Maharashtra's capital Mumbai since 1968.
He was dragged into controversy after Mumbai witnessed violent street clashes blamed on the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena party or the Army for Recreation of Maharashtra.
The party had stirred up supporters to attack migrants from Uttar Pradesh, saying they were taking jobs from locals.
Bachchan, a prolific actor known simply as the "Big B" to legions of fans in the movie-mad nation, reiterated his allegiance to Mumbai.
"I bought my first car here and my own house. I met and married my wife in this city and both my children were born here.
"This city gave me name and fame beyond anything I may have deserved."
But industry watchers said the virulence of the accusations had distressed the star.
"Mr Bachchan is hurt and angry with the media — hence his outburst," filmmaker Ravi Chopra, who has directed Bachchan in three films, told AFP.
AFP
