Big B remembers Gayatri Devi as picture of grace, Beauty

Bollywood
megastar Amitabh Bachchan remembers Gayatri Devi, the grand queen mother or the 'rajmata' of Jaipur, as a "picture of grace
Gayatri Devi
Gayatri Devi: A picture of grace and beauty. (TOI Photo)
and beauty" and a gracious host.
Amitabh recalls that while he was studying in Delhi University, he used to sneak into the Jaipur Polo Ground to watch polo matches where Gayatri Devi used to come as well.

"The maharaja of Jaipur (Sawai Man Singh), a great proponent of the game, would play there and accompanying him used to be his wife, the Rajmata Gayatri Devi. In her soft and pastel flowered chiffons, she used to be a picture of grace and beauty. I never imagined that one day I would get to meet this lady. But time and circumstances changed that," the actor posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.

Gayatri Devi died Wednesday at the Jaipur-based Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital (SDMH) where she was admitted Tuesday for breathing problems. She was 90.

When Amitabh learnt of Gayatri Devi's ill health a few days ago, he sent her a bouquet of flowers and a get well card.

"Her son had acknowledged my letter and informed us that she was very pleased to have received my concern and wishes...May she rest in peace."

Amitabh had met her on many occasions.

"After joining the movies, there were many visits to Jaipur for shootings and that is when a formal introduction with the Rajmata took place. I was later asked by Gayatri Deviji to inaugurate one of the functions at the girls school (Maharani Gayatri Devi) that she started, now a flourishing institution.

"Some years ago she had invited me to be the chief guest at a charity she promoted for the underprivileged and cannot forget what a gracious host she was that evening. On another occasion she called me over for a private lunch at her Lily Pond residence, serving me personally with delicious vegetarian delicacies which she had so considerately asked her kitchen to prepare," he said.

However, the last time that the erstwhile maharani of Jaipur sought Amitabh's involvement, he couldn't make it. And that was the last communication he had with her.

Bachchan-Khan-Kapoor Clash in the offing

It is going to be a battle worth a watch as three biggies are all set to clash on the Republic Day weekend. Amitabh Bachchan's Rann, Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots and Ranbir Kapoor’s Rajneeti are slated for release on January 22nd 2010.


Ramu’s Rann was earlier planned for October 2nd release but following the censorship issues about his Jana Gana song he seems to have decided to push the release ahead. Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots starring Aamir, Kareena Kapoor, Madhavan and Sharman Joshi was slated for a December 25th 2009 release but again with the dates shuffling post the two months strike, it won’t be possible for Aamir to make a Christmas Day hat-trick.


Rajneeti on the other hand was always slated for a January 22nd release. This Prakash Jha film is carrying excellent reports and also stars Katrina Kaif, Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar and Arjun Rampal in it.

A trade insider tells us, “It will be battle royale no doubt about it even if one of these films chicken out. Each film has its strong points and worthy contenders.”

Another trade analyst says, “Though they may clash into each other, with the extended weekend they would get with the Republic Day holiday each one will manage to get their required space. But what a feast it would be for the audience!”

Amitabh Bachchan's home, office flooded with rain Water

As heavy rains crippled normal life in Mumbai today, megastar Amitabh Bachchan found his home and office in the suburbs inundated.As heavy rains continue to cripple normal life here, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan also found his home and office in the suburbs inundated.

Rain water filled up the lawns of Bachchan's home "Prateeksha" in Juhu and the ground floor of his office "Janak" located nearby as rains lashed the city and suburbs since Monday night and the downpour continued throughout the day yesterday.

The 66-year-old actor, who is recuperating from stomach pain, was constantly on the move from "Prateeksha" to his other bungalow "Jalsa" and the office helping his staff to shift his belongings from the ground floor to higher positions.

"Prateeksha is inundated. The road outside is in waist- deep water and the lawn, even though it is built on a rise, has been filled up and threatening to push the rain into the house. As I prepare to move furniture and stuff from the ground to higher positions, mini waves drift in from the road into the driveway and reach the first step into the house," Bachchan wrote on his blog.

"Water has entered into the reception area and the staff, bare footed pants rolled up, are frantically trying to clear drains of any obstruction so the water can flow out. But flow out where? On to the road which is waist-deep itself. It shall all come back!"

"Everywhere there is just chaos. It's a sea of water all over. Pass by the office Janak and the staff is getting ready to climb on to the tree by the gate! Water inside the premise and the ground floor is unworkable," Bachchan wrote on his blog.

"Jalsa is relatively dry. The road opposite now a swimming pool but the basement has a beach. A huge gaping hole has been punctured and buckets and water pumps are being put to use to avoid the electronic panels that are housed there from blowing up," he added.

"At Jalsa, the water in the bedrooms has leaked through despite the tarpaulin protection. I told my staff to fill up water in buckets from the rain outside and store it just in case the power goes and the pumps get disconnected," Bachchan wrote.

Big B did his bit by giving lifts to a few women in his car to help them escape the Mumbai rains that have jammed life in India's financial capital for the last three days.

"I muster up courage and help and pull out the SUV...that's the only one that shall go through in all this mess, and float out into the streets now jammed with people wading through and the cars blocking any movement.

"I open the door, well just about, to assist a few young ladies in distress who were beginning to lose their composure, and give them a ride towards Jalsa. Everywhere there is just chaos,” Amitabh posted in a recent entry on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com .

Amitabh Remembers Michael Jackson

The pop icon Michael Jackson breathed his last on Friday morning due to cardiac arrest. His name will always remain evergreen in the history of music as he has introduced the world to a new version of music. Not only Hollywood but Bollywood also remembered the pop star in their own way and among the Bollywood celebrities is superstar Amitabh Bachchan. Big B remembers Michael as an ‘exceptional artiste’.

He wrote on his blog, "It was in the mid-70s that lightning stuck and from it emerged this grown up version of Michael Jackson singing, moving and dancing like he was from some other planet".

"Mesmerised by his brilliance in each and every department of music and performance, he changed the very psyche, of not just the kind of music he was making, but also the psyche of the listening audience. Nothing compared to him," the actor, who is in London, further wrote.

Big B recalled the day when Michael Jackson visited to India and how his concert in Mumbai had shook ‘Pratiksha’ as music and lights echoed and flashed throughout the night. He too shared with us the memory when Michael by mistake knocked his hotel door in New York. He even remembered the days when he used to dress up small Abhishek like Michael and made him danced to the tune of his thriller.

Kangana’s big steal; Bags a role Opposite Amitabh Bachchan

Kangana Ranaut’s career is going great guns post her break up with Adhyayan Suman. The actress, who walked away with the much-eyed Best Supporting Actress trophy at the IIFA awards this year, has now signed a film with ace actor Amitabh Bachchan.

She might not have been able to win over critics, who still perceive her as plain lucky, but Kangana seems to have made an impression where it matters. The stunner has been finalised to play an integral part with Bachchan in a film produced by Pritish Nandy and directed by Pritish’s son Kushan.

Titled ‘Actor’, the film has Bachchan in the lead role and is touted to be thriller. And according to reliable sources, Kangana has a meaty part in the film. The actress will play a significant role in unveiling the mystery towards the climax of the film.

A source told reporters, “Kangana loved the role and has given her nod. She will play a smart journalist in the film.”

Though, this is the very first time that the actress will be sharing screen space with the Amitabh, the two seemed to have built quite a rapport at the IIFA awards, where Kangana was seen bonding well with the entire Bachchan clan. The film will be shot in Mumbai and Europe and is expected to go on the floors early next year.

Big B to learn Chinese During IIFA

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, the IIFA brand Ambassador, who arrived for the 10th edition of the awards said that he is planning to learn Chinese during his stay.

The 66-year-old star said that he wants to pick up some more Chinese words and promised that by the end of the festival he will boast of increased vocabulary of the language.

"It is wonderful and lovely to be back here. I am looking forward to the IIFA. The people are very nice and they were very generous to us when we came here for the press conference," Bachchan said as he arrived the Venetian Macao-resort hotel.

When asked about IIFA completing a decade this year Bachchan said, "We keep working to make things better each year and hope that this year is one of them."

As Bachchan arrived at the hotel wearing a black tuxedo and his trademark smile, his charisma was for all to see as tourists from all over the globe made a bee-line to catch a glimpse of Bollywood's biggest star.

"I just got to know that Amitabh Bachchan is coming. My son is a great fan of him so I am trying to get a picture of him for my son," said an excited Fionna from London, who had come here for a holiday.

Fionna said that she was not aware about the IIFA event earlier but is planning to extend her stay to watch the awards extravaganza. She also hopes to get an autograph of
Slumdog Millionaire star Anil Kapoor and his daughter, actress Sonam Kapoor.

However, fans hoping to catch Bachchan at the gambling table are in for a disappointment as the mega star has no plans to visit the Venetian casino, which is the largest in the world.

Amitabh Bachchan’s Bald look In Pa

With summer at its peak, everyone almost goes for a crew cut or maybe a completely tonsured look. But one visit to the sets of “Pa” has a totally different story to tell and see. Everyone’s ground fell apart when realized that the fully tonsured man (which also included his eyebrows!) was none other than Amitabh Bachchan…yes…you heard it right…the Legendary Amitabh Bachchan.

this look of his is not in tune with the summer and its hear. Instead this is how he will look like in his forthcoming movie “Pa” which stars him along with son Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan. Pa is being directed by the ad whiz R. Balakrishnan (popularly known as ‘Balki’) and who had earlier directed the Big B and Tabu starrer Cheeni Kum. News also has it that the shoot has been carried out swiftly in locations of Delhi, whereby, a team of highly qualified make up experts worked on Big B’s look for a whopping 6 hours at a stretch! However the results are for everyone to see.

All in all, this one surely seems to be one of Amitabh Bachchan’s highly anticipated movies that everyone is going to look forward to this year.

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Amitabh Bachchan is Awarded By London’s Mayor

After singing a historical treaty with The London Film fraternity, the Bachchan family attended a cross cultural event hosted by the London’s mayor Ken Livingstone. Amitabh Bachchan was awarded by the Mayor of London, Visit London’s out standing achievement award.

The Big B, “The relation between both India and UK has been good and the Mayors visit will now further strengthen our ties”. Amitabh Bachchan has a close association with London, having shot many of his movie in Britian’s capital. The event was cross cultural hence many English and Indian artists like Sonu Nigam performed together.

Abhishek Bachchan, who was also at the event, said, “We are really happy to seen the union of the English and Indian film industry and we are here to give our support”.

Why Big B Sleeps in swim-wear

Amitabh Bachchan blogged yesterday from his home Sopaan in New Delhi: The surprise was the rain and thunder this morning, bringing temperatures down. The morning in the house was somewhat adventurous.

Stepped out of bed and into a pool of water. One of the walls decided to leak all the pouring outside right into our bedroom.

But plumbing, cleaning and many officious dialogues later, when the 'hurly burly' was done, when the plastic blocking the pipes was done, when the night was cold and summertime not too easily done, I decided not to take any chance at all I slept in my swimming costume!! You know… you never know!!"

Wonder if Big B will post the picture of himself in trunks on his blog. Hmmm,

Amitabh, Jaya, Abhishek Bachchan To Star in Bhairavi

For the first time, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan will act together in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Bhairavi. This movie is based on characters of Indian classical music.

In the 70s Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya starred together and were considered the Jodi no. 1. In recent times, the mother and son or father and son were seen sharing screen together. According to Rakeysh Mehra, the Bachchan family liked the movie and agreed to work on the project. These days Rakeysh is busy concentrating on his biographical movie ‘Delhi 6′.

Well, if only Aishwarya Rai was also a part of the cast of ‘Bhairavi’, it would have been truly a family affair.

Big B to promote Vegetarianism at IIFA?

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, the brand ambassador of India International Film Awards (IIFA), has been approached by PETA to promote vegetarianism at the three-day festival to be held in Macau, China next month.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has sent a letter to Bachchan and organiser Sabbas Joseph, requesting them to shun meat from their menu.

"The science is conclusive: you can't go green without also going vegetarian. Kicking the meat habit is the best thing that anyone can do for animals, their health and the earth," said PETA India Chief Functionary Anuradha Sawhney in a press release.

PETA made the request after learning that the event will have a "go-green" theme. The animal rights organization hopes that its request will be honoured by Bachchan as he is a long-time vegetarian.

The festival will begin on June 13th in Macau in a star studded ceremony to be attended by Bachchan family, Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Kangana Ranaut, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Sonam Kapoor and director Subash Ghai amongst others.