Wednesday, June 3, 2009
IIFA Brand ambassador Amitabah Bachchan
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Australian varsity asks Bachchan to reconsider rejecting doctorate
Australian varsity asks Bachchan to reconsider rejecting doctorate
New Delhi, June 2 (IANS) Australia's Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has asked Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan to reconsider his decision to decline a honorary doctorate in the wake of a series of racist attacks on Indian students in that country.
In a letter in response to Bachchan's denial to the doctorate Saturday, QUT vice chancellor Peter Coaldrake has expressed his respect for BigB's decision.
"We understand your dilemma and fully respect your decision about the difficulty of accepting the award at this juncture," Coaldrake said in the letter, a scanned copy of which has been posted on Bachchan's blog at www.bigb.bigadda.com.
The honorary doctorate for his contribution to the world of entertainment was to be conferred upon him in July at the Brisbane Film Festival where a retrospective of some of his best films is also to be showcased.
But the actor declined to accept the honour due to "emotional" reasons.
Now, on behalf of the university, the professor has approached the 66-year-old star again and said: "If and when it is appropriate, your further consideration of the honour will go a long way in enhancing the mutual understanding between our two countries....
"You are in a unique position to play a leadership role in healing wounds that must be healed.
"We sincerely hope the circumstances improve and that at a later day, the opportunity will be available to acknowledge your contribution," he added.
Amitabh, Abhishek shoot film sequence in Delhi metro
Amitabh, Abhishek shoot film sequence in Delhi metro
New Delhi, May 31 (IANS) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his actor son Abhishek shot a sequence for their upcoming film "Pa" Sunday in the Delhi Metro.
The father-son duo alongwith actress Vidya Balan shot the sequence for the film in a to-and-fro journey from Dwarka Sector-9 to Yamuna Bank and back, spending around four hours in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) premises.
"Pa" is helmed by adman-turned-director R. Balakrishnan, popularly known as Balki.
IIFA Brand Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan press conference in New Delhi
Actor and IIFA Brand Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan addresses a press conference in New Delhi. The annual International IIFA Awards 2009 will be held at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel at Macau from June 11- 13.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Amitabh Bachchan has turned down Australian honour
Amitabh turns down Australian honour after racial attacks
New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has turned down an honorary doctorate from anAustralian university for his contribution to the world of entertainment following a string of racial attacks on Indian students there, the actor said on his blog.
The 66-year-old last week agreed to accept the honour from the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, but has now reconsidered his decision. He was to receive the doctorate in July as a part of celebrations to commemorate a retrospective of his films to be inaugurated in the city.
"I mean no disrespect to the institution that honours me, but under the present circumstances, where citizens of my own country are subjected to such acts of inhuman horror, my conscience does not permit me to accept this decoration from a country that perpetrates such indignity to my fellow countrymen," Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.
The actor has asked his "extended family (EF)" - members of his blog - to decide if his move was justified or not.
"Am I right in thinking so? And if yes, then is my act of refusing the honour justified or not? I shall put this up as my poll question and shall feel obliged if EF can indicate to me their opinion, for me to be able to take the correct action," he said.
Australia has seen a series of racial attacks on Indian students.
The most horrific case was that of Shravan Kumar, an automobile engineering student from Andhra Pradesh who is battling for life after being attacked by two youths Sunday afternoon in Melbourne.
On Sunday night, hospitality graduate Rajesh Kumar received 30 percent burns after a petrol bomb was flung into his home in Sydney that he shared with other Indians.
Yadu Singh, a cardiologist and community leader in Sydney, said there have been at least 20 incidents of "curry bashing" in his city in the past month but most attacks on Indian students went unreported out of fear.
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