Why was Big B miffed during Teen Patti promotion

Why was Big B miffed during 'Teen Patti' promotion?

Gurgaon, Feb 15 (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan brought back memories of his 'angry young man' days when he came here Monday for the promotion of his upcoming film "Teen Patti" in a visibly upset mood -- for reasons unknown.

Clad in a white pin-stripe black suit, white shirt and pink tie, the 67-year-old, who is known for his punctuality, was two hours late for the promotion of the film.

The actor entered the event with a noticeable miffed look and picked a seat not meant for him.

When a PR agent informed him that he was to be seated in the centre where his nameplate was assigned to him, he asserted: "Just change the card".

Asked by a scribe how he maintained his innocence despite his success and whether it was courtesy the values inherited from his father, Big B who was trying to answer looked at the gawking male debutants from "Teen Patti" and said: "What are you looking at?"

He then answered: "People like these (pointing at the audience) keep me going."

The 67-year-old was at the Gold Souk mall here alongside the cast and crew of the film which included producer Ambika Hinduja, director Leena Yadav, R. Madhavan and newcomers Siddharth Kher, Dhruv Ganesh, Vaibhav Talwar and Shraddha Kapoor.

A source who was present at the event said about Amitabh's mood: "Amitji is probably angry because of the questions he was asked by a TV journalist...."

Releasing Feb 26, "Teen Patti" is about greed and deception with the background of high-stake gambling. Apart from Amitabh in the lead, it also stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Raima Sen and Saira Mohan in important roles.

The film also boasts of special appearances by Ajay Devgn, Jackie Shroff, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ranjeet, Shakti Kapoor and Tinnu Anand.

Aishwarya Rai recovering says Big B

Aishwarya recovering, says Big B

New Delhi, Feb 15 (IANS) Aishwarya Rai, who was down with high fever and a sore throat for past four days, is now recuperating well, informs her father-in-law, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan.

"Many have inquired after Aishwarya's health. Thank you. She repairs well and even though there are some remnants of the ailment persisting, she has decidedly improved in her condition," Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.

"We have all been with her and by her side. Abhishek has come away from his shootings and I have come away from my incessant TV interviews on 'Teen Patti'," he added.

Aishwarya was unable to talk or swallow food due to her condition, Amitabh had earlier informed.

Abhishek, who came down to be with her from his shoot for "Crooked", says that his wife is now improving.

"Aishwarya is much better. I'd like to think it's all the TLC (tender loving care)," he posted on his Twitter page. "But think it's got more to do with all your wishes and concern. And of course...Of course antibiotics lend slight support. But why let medication take all the credit when we can share it?"

The actress was shooting for Vipul Shah's "Action Replay" in Manori in northern Mumbai when she returned home with high fever.

Big B wears old watch from Chor Bazaar in Teen Patti

Big B wears old watch from Chor Bazaar in 'Teen Patti'  
By Ruchika Kher

Mumbai, Feb 15 (IANS) Cheap cloth, ill-fitted trousers, checked cotton shirts and an old watch from Mumbai's Chor Bazaar - these are what designer Ameira Punvani used to create Amitabh Bachchan's look in "Teen Patti" where he plays a reclusive mathematician.

She says the megastar gave her enough freedom to experiment with his look.

"I was given the liberty to go to the biggest shops, but I instead decided to go to small markets to buy stuff. For Mr.Bachchan I created a look that had trousers, which were a mix of polyester, cheap material, around Rs.200 per metre along with checked cotton shirts," Punvani told IANS in an interview.

"That was something a college professor would wear ; so we zeroed in on that. Also, I didn't make the fit of the trousers very contemporary. I gave it a double pleated American-cut style - it makes the trousers look a little baggy," she added.

Directed by Leena Yadav, "Teen Patti" features Amitabh as a mathematician trying to evolve a thesis on probability by relating it to the Indian card game of 'teen patti'. Also starring Hollywood veteran Ben Kingsley, the film is set to release Feb 26.

Punvani says there was no compromise on the detailing.

"We paid a lot of attention on detailing. So much so that I had to get a watch for Mr.Bachchan to complete his look. He wears the best of watches, but I went to Mumbai's Chor Bazaar and got a very old watch from there that was not even automatic.

"After getting it, I was sceptical about Mr.Bachchan's reaction. I didn't know whether he would wear that watch or not. But he was completely fine with the idea," said Punvani.

The designer is all praise for Bachchan. "Mr.Bachchan is such a marvellous person. He is such a huge personality and has an aura around him that you get scared when you first meet him. But he makes you so comfortable.

"He gave me a free hand and had no problems trying the costumes. He always used to give me time despite being so busy and patiently tried out everything. He is extremely professional," she said.

Punvani says she event visited colleges for ideas to design his look.

"Mr.Bachchan is playing a reclusive, genius maths professor in the film. For his look, I first remembered how my teachers used to look. I visited various colleges to see how professors are dressed there.

"The first thing that I noticed was that all of them were very simple and they were not really bothered about their outward appearance. So for Mr.Bachchan's look I decided to go for authentic materials to make the character look close to reality," she said.

Punvani, who has in the past designed costumes for films like "Guru", "Shortkut - The Con Is On" and "Zinda" among others, was responsible for crafting the look of the entire Indian cast of the film including R. Madhavan, Dhruv Ganesh, Shraddha Kapoor, Siddharth Kher and Vaibhav Talwar among others.

Her next project is Shahid Kapoor-starrer "Badmaash Company" for Yash Raj Films.

Bachchan Bol,Revolutionary new service to stay connected with Big B

Prateeksha, Mumbai February 9, 2010 Tue 10 : 19 PM

Before I say more .. some sad news .. one of our dear FmXt from Perm, Siberia in Russia, Zhenya, lost her Father yesterday. Zhenya has been a regular even before the blog started and has always addressed me as Pitaji .. a father. She is a spunky little girl and has loved India and Indian culture. From whenever I could remember, she celebrates all the festivals and never forgets to send me greetings on those days. Some early year photographs of my visit to Russia have been courtesy her. I want Zhenya to know that we are with her in her sorrow and grief and our prayers are with her..

You are a brave girl Zhenya .. and God will remain with you ..

I could not resist doing this. It was troubling me and so I came back from a very early bed time to an early enough bed time to express our solidarity with a member of our fraternity.

And below now some visuals of the afternoon function -

Peace and harmony are more important than confrontation and controversy. The elements that guard the former are stronger and of greater value than the latter. Most of the time those involved in the 2 C’s have nothing whatsoever to do with the issue or the individual. They are guilty of fanning hatred and are therefore in my eyes worse off than those actually involved. If one can broker peace to end either C, that step needs to be taken immediately and will as will be seen bring result.

Many a time, those that prod and push and deliberately indulge themselves in an issue are themselves guilty of the accusation. Unable to act what they preach themselves, they look for scapegoats. Someone to hang the blame on. Not realizing of course that in doing so they prepare their own noose. Hang well dear friends !! And hang long !! Sometimes the rope round the neck takes a bit longer than usual to stifle the air that we breathe. But, do not also ever imagine that the rope shall get loose enough to escape. Once the noose is in, it remains in !!

A bit morbid for this time of the night and certainly not welcome on this blog. But in life there will be times when you need to spell it out !!

Love and love without the hangman …

Amitabh Bachchan

Bigadda

Amitabh sings for Indo Pak Aman Ki Aasha event

Prateeksha, Mumbai February 9, 2010 Tue 7 : 04 PM

Taken off the formals. Wrapped up in the ‘mundu’, ‘munda’ ‘dhoti’. And in a desire to finish the post so I can follow the advice of many who show concern and care. It is early I know, but the need to get to bed is worth a try.

Formals ? Yes .. the formal launch for the mobile service where you could hear my voice is officially on today. At a short and sweet ceremony with the media at the newly opened Trident Hotel at Bandra Kurla Complex, where all the award events take place, modern almost boutique like and under the efficient management of an ex Sherwoodian. School ties never fade away.

The ‘name of the game’.. ha … no .. the name of the program is called BACHCHAN BOL, a number is being advertised, you call and you get to hear me greet you, talk to you, on daily events, thoughts … just about anything that comes to the mind. At the moment it is in Hindi and restricted to India, but shortly it shall be world wide. It is one way .. that is you get to hear me and will not be able to respond back … but OnMobile the outfit that conducts the technology will be working on getting this facility operational too. InsideIndia, a London based Company shall be the Company managing this and I hope that soon we shall be able to develop a voice blog within our FmXt … so … Happy VOGGING … as this is being touted to be described as .. !!!

And so to ‘Aman ki Asha ‘ above and the settings and the moods of poetry and the people and their reactions … and the last .. the sore point, the electronic media journalist from Zee asking me what was all about Madhushala !! Hah ! Young man, if you have not done your home work and research, if you have no interest in the event, why have you taken the trouble to come. And worse to ask a question that insults my Father’s great legacy and our literary heritage … !!

Anyway … the evening was most satisfying. I loved the ambience. That informal sit around, much like the days when my Father used to recite. People just gathered around, sat on the floor, palti maar ke, and the evening went on for hours and no one knew how time would pass. The applause and the wah wah’s and the end of each verse, the desire to repeat a line a verse, the insistence on a poem of particular interest. Much like the encore call last night after it was all over, as you can see below and then an impromtu break from the routine and some enterprising youth joining me on stage in dance, hurried off by security to restore some order.

Lovely days those, with my Father. Sharing space with the other greats of poetry and literature. Spending time just listening to them and imbibing. Will those days ever return ? Time moves on and this generation I am not certain is as interested in such activity as we were.

But I think word spreads as you indulge. Just this morning a group from Pune comes over to invite me to such an evening for the inauguration of an amphitheater in an environment friendly locale. Maharashtra and Pune in particular has always had a keen interest towards culture and the classics. Dance forms, classical singing have been an essential ingredient, almost compulsory, in most homes. And when you therefore visit any Maharashtrian home you will always find the presence of that ethos and ethic. True too for some of our Southern states .. Tamilnadu, Andhra, Karnataka and Kerala. And of course Bengal. Especially among the girls in the home. There is indeed a prevalence of some classic art form in every corner of the country. And I am amazed at the vastness of the creativity and the beauty of its presence. I must know my country better. I must travel and read and imbibe them. I must gain undisclosed knowledge. For it must take a lifetime, perhaps more, to experience and know what India is all about. Such a shame that a large portion of my life is over and I never had the time to know … know about my own people and their culture. But I will. I shall pursue, even if time is not on my side, I shall pursue !!

To those of my extended family then .. a cultured good night .. and with the love of more to come..

Amitabh Bachchan

Bigadda