ICICI Pru Life signs Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador

ICICI Pru Life signs Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has signed Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador. "Amitabh Bachchan will feature in a series of ads which will be part of a 360-degree multimedia campaign, encompassing print, electronic and online media," ICICI Pru said in a statement.

"ICICI Prudential has always partnered with people to enable them to achieve their long-term financial goals. We continue to focus on supporting consumers to achieve their life's goals," ICICI Pru Life Executive Director Madhivanan Balakrishnan said.

Bachchan said, "I see life insurance as a product which offers that same feeling of reassurance to people who opt for it." Private sector ICICI Prudential Life Insurance company is a joint venture between ICICI Bank and Prudential Plc.

Boman Irani is brand ambassador for Kent RO
Water purifier company Kent RO Systems has signed Boman Irani as the new brand ambassador for its new product, Kent Tap Guard.

In his new role of Kent Tap Guard's brand ambassador, Boman Irani joins a well-known list of Kent Ro's brand ambassador's who over the years have included people like Hema Malini, Esha Deol and Ashana Deol.

Mahesh Gupta, chairman, Kent RO Systems said,“ Boman Irani represents the core values of the Kent RO brand. His personality goes with the brand's reputation. He has the same kind of energy that our brand has. And as the brand face of Kent Tap Guard, he will reinforce the communication of Kent Tap Guard's core brand values to our customers and his fans around the country. We are sure that his association with Kent RO will be well-appreciated by our customers.”

... contd.

Source: indianexpress

Abhishek Bachchan's friends plan to fly down to New Zealand for a birthday surprise

Abhishek Bachchan's friends plan to fly down to New Zealand for a birthday surprise

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh    Feb 4, 2011      Fri  9 : 15 PM

It has turned past midnight in New Zealand, where Abhishek shoots for ‘Players’ and time has moved 7.5 hours ahead of us to the 5th day of February, Abhishek’s Birthday. And … our EF Valorie Adam’s too ..

From and on behalf of all the FmXt a very happy birthday to both members of the family !

I finished the day on the sets a little early today. There were some continuity issues with Saif’s beard, or his shave, and so we rounded up early. I utilized the time to spend it with my thoughts on a great amount of pending work, but also spent a little more than I normally do on my Twitter account.

While I mention my daily activities to my followers, in an earnestness to share what one does by the day, one also then gets asked what it is that I am working on. I do that after some deliberation and after some days. I tell them that I shoot for a film called ‘Aarakshan’.

Soon enough the followers muzzle in questions ranging from what it means to what it is all about. I tell them that. Explain to them the reservation policy of the Government and the complicated issues it raises in society. Soon a barrage of questions flow in on whether or not I thought this to be a controversial subject or not. I affirm their thoughts and fears with a question to a question - are there not controversies on most topics of the world today.

Multiple pro and against views follow, which I believe a topic of this nature ought to, because of its nature. That really is the crux of the film, or at least most films, that dare to deal with such social and moral issues. And I respond by saying that there should be equality in society, for we are all equal and human, and that generates  fairly favorable comment. Films and film makers genrally tend to tread a safe path when they indulge in subjects that could arouse more than simple box office sentiment. It would not be prudent to indulge with what Prakash Jha wishes to express, but it would be fair to say now that equality and opportunity in equality has never been argued in an unfavorable manner. Within this malaise that this country deals with through its long history, the film will I think address most of these issues in unbiased nature.

Having given many such opinions through the T numbers of my Twitter account, there seemed to be some semblance of balance in the responses that came through - and you are all aware how rapidly they come - when, the cake for the moment was taken away by one  who blatantly stated why I was using this platform “to do PR for my film.” For, in his opinion, that was precisely why I had initiated this topic !!

I thought this was the most desirable moment to depart from the scene, for I was unable to control my laughter at the way the sequence of events had unfolded.

I am not amused by the comment of this kind gentleman. I am amused at the veracity that each one of us in this generation of immediate connect, attaches to all that transpires in the world today. How rapidly we manufacture within us, a conspiracy theory, to almost all events that are unfolding in front of us. And I feel that it is the speed with which everything is coming at us that we have lost the effort and desire of pondering over it, reasoning, understanding its complexities, before moving on to another issue. We need a quick answer to what is thrown at us. And the answer must not pertain itself to time consuming discussion. That would be a disaster. Any time spent more than what is desired before the next rocket comes at you, would not give you sufficient time to duck ! And as you duck you confidently give and find a answer, because you are not going to get the time to dwell on it for long. Certainly not long enough before the missile of the next communication hits you. So you find an answer, any answer, not necessarily right or correct and move on. The wheel is moving too rapidly, you need to be on that tread mill else you shall be thrown off.

30 years ago you had a scandal in Bofors, which stretched for years, as the main topic of news, discussion, accusation. Today you have a scandal every weekend and its value, pardon the pun, is lost by the Monday. Its lost because we have in the general polity already taken a decision on its why and wherefore and wither. Whether it is right or wrong is immaterial, so long as we have an answer, it is sufficient. Ok .. next .. what next ? Is what we all think and feel and say.

I am not accusing the gentleman who made the PR comment on the film ‘Aarakshan’. I am saying he is damn right in what he may be thinking. Or, forced to think because of our changed circumstances !!

Its the kind of world we live in today. Till last night the situation in Egypt was at boiling point. Tonight, I find the electronic’s interest in it ebbing in its reportage and concern.

And so I conclude with my question I had put up yesterday on the twitter. An article in the Eco Times of India declared quite boldly that in the time of rapid communication - twitter, blog, face book et al - does the celebrity really need to fret about his or her privacy. Because the celebs are disclosing what they want to make not private in any case, and so why blame the media when they expose. Or worse, is the exposure also manufactured. And some rather well known faces were thrown in and events as well, in the article, to justify their argument.

There is a point there and there isn’t one either. Is my blog or my Tweet written with an ulterior motive ? Is it not a fact that I know that most of my news that comes on the print and electronic, finds its roots to these personal sources ? Are we then guilty of compliance or not ? Do we not now feel more exposed to comment from the ‘other’, because they have the means and ability to do so ? Can they not then be responsible for changing and giving opinion, in place of those that have through years professionally done so ? Is not then it time for those that pass judgement on others to start respecting what the latest Tweet or Blog has to say ?

Are you aware ladies and gentlemen of my family and of the families of millions of others, what started the mass turn out at Tahrir Square in Cairo ? It was one Tweet that a lady put out on her twitter account !

” I am going to Tahrir Square ” she said. And millions followed !!

Many moons ago I had written that the future belongs to the internet. It mostly went unnoticed. It shall still perhaps. But time is closing in. There is now acknowledgement of it by the print themselves.

Every time I commented on the media during the early stages, or to be more exact, early DAYS of the Blog, they came down on me with a ton of bricks. It is not so severe now have you noticed ? Its not because they do not have reason to do so. I am sure they do. Mistakes, accusations, wrongs, rights, can all be still thrown at us, and they are. But they know now that there are alternatives available that can give another version and perhaps more authentic, than what they commanded. Why, most of them themselves have their own internet sites now. And how vociferously they advertise that through their other mediums !! So that isn’t PR for them ? And talk of my film on my medium is ??.

I remember most vividly a press conference I attended, I cannot remember for which issue or event, in the days when I had perhaps written my first blogs, and a journalist got up and did not ask but complained -

“Sir, you are writing a blog now ! Why ? We are all going to be without a job !”.

The assembly had laughed at her that day ! I wonder if they would laugh any more today !

A prominent lady editor on whetting my blog at the time it started, had spoken loosely on the caliber of the respondents that were coming on my page - ” Just a few star struck, over excited NRI fans. Nothing of substance. Not worth paying attention to !” she had remarked.

Today 1 million hits on bigbbigadda.com each day, 600,000 followers in less than a year on Twitter, and 20 lakh subscribers in hardly half a quater on Bachchan Bol my Vog, are people of great substance and value to me. I pay ‘attention’ to them each day, because they have disproved many in more ways than one. They are of the greatest ’substance’ to me, because of their love and faith.

If I am not going to get emotional about them, then who is !!??

I asked Jitesh Pillai, Editor of Filmfare during one of his photo shoots for his magazine, why he tweeted so much. In mirth of course. He with admirable honesty and forthrightness said he needed to sell his magazine. I admired him for his honesty and candidness. I follow a few high end journalists on Twitter - Rajdeep Sardesai from CNNIBN, his wife Sagarika Ghose, Barkha Dutt, Pritish Nandy, Anupama Chopra, Rajeev Masand . Have they not on every other day asked us or drawn our attention to the topic of their programmes, the release of their articles or books, their views in print on current topics, or on Tv …

That is not PR ? And mine is ??

When Rajeev Masand called Akshay Kumar a jackass, I commented to him on twitter it di not behove a journalist of his standing to use such words. He expurgated a large mass of bile on me in response. Many followers were aghast and wished me to pay back, others enjoyed the fact that he had ’shut me up’. But I did not respond. I instead met him and had a talk. What transpired in that meeting I shall not divulge publicly and never shall. Suffice to say that it was satisfying for me. Other media tried hopelessly to provoke me to retaliate. Other than make good copy for them it would not have served any other purpose.

Mumbai Mirror wrote utter bilge in an article on Aishwarya and me and we all know how I demanded an apology. I have been silent on this issue for months now. Have I drawn back ? Have I relented and defeated myself ? No, I have not. I will not divulge what has transpired with them. Enough to say that I have met them, and I will not here too, divulge what transpired.

My ethics will not permit me to. My ethics may be wrong and twisted and corrupt, but they are mine, and I feel that that is how I would like to treat them. And most importantly. I know that I am not ‘alone’ in thinking so !!

My love ..

Amitabh Bachchan

Source:  Big B Blog

There is a certain exuberance in the completion of process BigB

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh    Feb  3,  2011       Thu  10 : 51 PM

There is a certain exuberance in the completion of process. A harsh evening spent in preparation, a even more difficult night tossing and turning at the probabilities of the coming event, an apprehension of delivery, the delivery, its acceptance or not and finally the lifting of a burden almost after its completion. And at the end of the day you sit back and wonder, did it really go all that well. Was there room for improvement. Were people merely being polite or was there genuine satisfaction.

Thoughts, arguments and troubled decisions that the mind shall be burdened with, perhaps for another few days or perhaps the day of trial at release. And then one fine day when the final product shall display itself to a million homes and hearts, you will get up and scream -”Damn ! Wish I could have done it the other way !”

Ramblings, dearest FmXt from an idle mind, that settles down to reminisce a day in the day of my profession !

It has been an overwhelming experience to find the number of respondents tonight at almost 438 .. or thereabouts. It is normally between the late 200’s and the hundred three. I am touched to know that so many actually read what I write and respond in good faith. Thank you. Your endorsement gives hope and pleasure.

I watch with bated breath the events that unfold in troubled Egypt and I reminisce most nostalgically my visit in 1990 to this wonderful land. From the moment I arrived to the day that I left, the people never left me for a moment away from their affection and love. The outpourings were so immense, the attention so spontaneous and warm that it was difficult for me to imagine that a land foreign to me could give an outsider so much of their time and support. Those hours and days spent in absolute glory shall be forever imprinted on my mind till eternity.

Dear God, may there be peace within the region and may you keep everyone safe and secure and may this turmoil end as rapidly as it can so that normalcy can be restored. Some of our EF from the region have somehow managed to send messages across to say they are fine. May they remain so.

During my stay in Egypt, there were reportages of course every day of what I was doing and where I was going and so forth, but a prominent newspaper brought a cartoon out on the front page one day which had a funny way of describing my visit to the country and it had in its reference the present President Hosni Mubarak as well.

I dare not mention here its details for that would not be appropriate at this hour … but I suddenly remembered its relevance, keeping in mind the present situation in the country.

May be some other day when things have calmed down, I shall bring it up again.

Solitude and the desire to be left alone prevails a great deal in my mind these days. On return from work I am in delight to be able to catch up with the happenings of the blog, or twitter or the responses on the mail, or perhaps to visit a sight and seek the importance of its content. Modern inventions, assets to communication and the entire process of keeping an individual so involved that he never does feel the need to travel out is revolutionizing society and habits and morals. There are frantic debates that consume a great deal of our time in discussing whether this is all good for us or not. Not too far away the Hindustan Times announced a ‘No Tv Day’ and I must say it did get a few subscribers to its campaign, many of whom were important celebrities who actually gave various personal reports on what they did and what they felt about it.

But what of those that have never seen a Tv in their house ? And a very large population in this country has not. Of over a billion I believe the figure for the number of sets or viewers is in the 250 million ! Thats just a quarter of the entire population ! Worth a thought I should say.

Must end now … must say my greetings for the night …. must wish you love …. and must ask to pray …

Amitabh Bachchan

Source: BigB Blog

I have to say this, that no matter how hard I may try to write my post BigB

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh     Feb 1, 2011         Tue  10:44 PM

I have to say this, that no matter how hard I may try to write my post earlier than the usual time, I have failed. Failed not because of time constraints, or other circumstances, but somehow the desire and the quality of the writing has been willed to, an end of day syndrome. Its when everything is done and over, when all else is not important, when I am alone with my thoughts on my extended family - that is when it invariably provokes me to push a few words. I know that I have transgressed a few times and have come in earlier than usual, but somehow the feel required has been missing.

To support my argument, I did try it today in all honesty, because I wanted to get over it and concentrate the rest of the evening towards my work to be done tomorrow. But no. It did not happen. And so I am taking precedence over my preparation for tomorrow and getting down to doing what I have enjoyed most during the past 1018 days !

One of the most difficult moments for an actor when he or she faces the camera is not to know that they are facing one. To not know that you are being recorded for posterity. To be oblivious to the gadgetry and the process that unfolds in front of you as you live the moment in cinema. Cameras and stands and lights and intricate cranes and jimmy jibs and trolleys and people making notes and focus pullers concentrating on distances, still photographers shooting their own little moments to be used as publicity or design or for record. Nowadays, an additional unit with video camera facilities, recording makings of each shot and its process, all to be used as an additional later perhaps when the publicity starts, or for the making of the DvD of the film. Assistants moving around frantically, making copious notes for continuity and reference to be used by the laboratory when the  exposed film goes in for printing. Others managing, or as this generation calls it, ‘locking’ in the shot, making sure no bystanders or crowd come into frame. An arduous task and one that is most demanding, for, it requires various amounts of managerial skills apart from basic knowledge of film. They need to check first with the director what the composition of the shot would be, then check with the director of photography if they could be allowed to have a visual of the composed frame so they can decipher what parts of the visual needs to be addressed with respect to crowd clearance and movement. Having done that they need to place production assistants at various vantage points to make sure traffic, people, personnel all are either blocked or regulated for the ongoing shot. Public management is an entire exercise by itself. There should really be formal education on this process. No single individual is alike in situations such as this. There are those in the mass that collect, that have come to ’see’ what a shoot looks like - to be able to see their favorite star perform live. There are those that may have just stopped out of curiosity and lounge about aimlessly. There are those who are interested, but would rather give preference to the work they were on than the film that unfolds in front of them. They according to me are the most difficult to handle. They need to get on with their work, to move if they are in a vehicle, to keep walking to an office or destination they were on. These are the ones that require very cautious and mature handling. Gentle words, folded hands, fervent requests to oblige are most common requirements from the assistant on duty. Most of the time they cooperate. Most of the time do not. The involved person demands his right. Why would he stop or wait until the shot, which is not his or her doing, requires him to. And often they revolt. They do not care whether the shot will get destroyed or not, they just carry on doing what they had set out to do in the first place. The production assistant that has been assigned the job of shutting off the frame is now being badgered by the director for failing in his or her job. With a mike in their hands and speakers placed, of very large amplification at various vantage points, so he can be heard by every department, the director in his creative frustration, uses some of the choicest adjectives in describing to the rest of the world, what he thinks of the assistant, or the inefficiency and in his view the disrespect the public shows to the work in process. Repeats, either due to wrong or erroneous camera movement, artist muffing lines or inadequately performing, add to the anguish of the assistant, because he has to deal with that impatient car owner who has been stopped in his tracks for no fault of his, forcefully. Until the director gives a final okay, he or now in most cases a she, lives in fear of being almost assaulted !

Its a tough life for most of them. They are the first on set and the last to leave and not a single acknowledgment from anyone. When the credits roll in the end of the film, their names appear in almost illegible print and the scroll moves so fast it is difficult to register anything.

But you know … many of them have risen from these surroundings and conditions to become some of the greatest directors of the country. Catch any of the greats and you will find, a history of similar circumstances in their lives.

Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam were assisstants to Sanjay Leela Bhansali on ‘Black’, screamed and shouted at when things went wrong, now all the nation screaming for them ! Raj Kapoor, ManMohan Desai, Prakash Mehra and all the young talent directing films for Karan Johar, all worked as diligent assistants.

Life is a great leveler they say. For us in this fraternity, films take over that mantle. Down and unknown once, up in the stars another, and then at times down again. Every Friday, the day of release of a new film, a new fortune emerges, a fresh scenario rises. This is show business. Show yourself well and you are in business. No show, no business. Simple, straight and uncomplicated !

Good night dearest ones. I need to get my Friday right for tomorrow !

Amitabh Bachchan

BigB Blog

I have returned from work some hours back Amit jee

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh   Feb 2 , 2011    Wed  10 : 02 PM

I have returned from work some hours back. I have been through my scenes for tomorrow a million times, and still fail to remember all the lines correctly. I have completed all the necessary chores for the day. I have sat myself down for my moment. I have an emotion building up. I have wet eyes. I have no reason why they should be there, but they are.

I have met this evening two very dedicated members of the EF - Lakshmi Jag and Vijji. I have spent some quality time with them. I have used the word ‘quality’ because most parents these days refer to their meetings with their siblings as ’spending quality time’ !

I have realized through this meeting with the two members of the EF, what a wonderful family of friends we have built up. I have realized that I did not have any intention of doing so when I started the blog. And I have finally realized how an inconsequential offering of wanting you all to be my extended family, has resulted in such great devotion and sincerity, that it has moved me to tears.

Expectation has never been a quality that I have ever endorsed. So when its results present itself in great volume, in reciprocation, in love and understanding, in combining, in coming together, holding hands and hearts and feelings, in building and structuring associations - it moves me to an uncontrollable emotion.

Listening to the tales of compassion. Listening to the coming together in hours of strife and struggle among us. Being exposed to the glorious facts of what this platform has meant to all those that stand steadfast on it. Being exposed to the world that exists within this world of ours, is a devastatingly overwhelming feeling.

I had always believed that I stood alone, within myself, without any assistance or crutch. I am convinced now that I am not alone and I know never will be, thanks to the loving hands that come up, unasked, to hold and support me up. To allow me to stand up to my height. To permit me to walk that stride with dignified firmness. To reach out and know that it shall be taken in the spirit of the righteousness with which it was presented. To speak, to voice my opinion, to challenge, to debate, to discuss. And in all this, to be able to spread the affection and love with utmost genuineness, and know, that it shall be justly received.

I have expressed my attraction and my fondness towards my family, this extended family, on many an occasion. I have, I know, received in return, a reciprocation beyond measure. I have valued it as truthfully as I know I breathe. But I do not know why, the feeling today has been beyond all. And the more I stay with this the greater the emotion builds.

So ….

I have wiped away the liquids from the ocular. I have brought upon myself the smile of contentment through my rich growth of fresh grey on my chin. And I have realized the true meaning of the comment made by some of the EF

“Look what a wonderful family you have built Mr Bachchan !”

I have built nothing. You have structured yourself around me in such fashion that when others look at it from a distance it seems the buildings all belong to me !

Thank you for this additional space. These large comfortable living rooms and spacious bedrooms and expansive lawns and hills and valleys that surround me with the freshness of the green after a generous monsoon.

There will be times when I shall be unable to live up to this generosity. There will be times when I shall falter, make errors and atrocious mistakes, fail in my duties or belie expectations. But never, never ever, will there be any reason for this, with deliberate intent.

I turn in for the day, content with the thought that tomorrow shall be another day of association with my extended family, my EF, my FmXt …

Love affection and all that is dear for me .. for you  !!! 

Aarakshan Movie Cast and Crew

Amitabh Bachchan

BigB Blog