The actor unveiled a book on author-journalist-filmmaker Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
Mumbai: Amitabh Bachchan and veteran actress Shabana Azmi unveiled a book on author-journalist-filmmaker Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. Amitabh Bachchan, made his Bollywood debut on November 7, 1969, in the film “Saat Hindustani” directed by Abbas.
“It’s been 46 year now… Abbas sahab was a man who thought differently. He was one of those who did what they thought. He chose seven actors from across the country for the film and gave each of them a role that they didn’t belong to. I played a Muslim, Anwar Ali played a Hindu, Malayalee actor Madhu played a north Indian. And that was his beauty,” Bachchan said during the event.
Amitabh penned down the entire experience on his blog. He wrote, "KA Abbas book release .. the one who gave me my first film .. a gentleman of unique qualities .. a evening of remembrance and reminisce .. and some recollections from the times of University in Delhi and bus rides to College .. some of our guests having great amusing stories to tell .."
He posted few posters of the film 'Saat Hindustani' and wrote, "The posters of the film Saat Hindustani .. and the vagaries of publicity gimmicks .. I never held gun in the film, but because a few of my films had released where I had, they put a picture of another film, to make Saat Hindustani look attractive, long after the film had seen its first release .."
Amitabh Bachchan with Pandari Juker, the first professional make up artist in the Industry
Amitabh wrote, "He did my make up in many subsequent films but did my beard in Saat Hindustani and a remarkable story that went with it .. he was called to Goa to fix a beard, but he could come for one day and 7 days before the beard was required … so Abbas Saheb called him a week before and told me to get the beard done, which I dutifully did and then Pandari left .. and I had to keep it and look after it for one week … no bathing and sleeping with my held held up in a sling from the roof above the bed, so the pillow did not affect the beard .. !!!"
The book, “Bread Beauty Revolution- Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, 1914-1987”, chronicles the life and times of the celebrated filmmaker. It is edited by Iffat Fatima and Syeeda Saiyidain Hameed. Shabana Azmi, who read an extract from the book, reminisced that she called him “Abbas Chachu”. Abbas, who died in 1987, is known for “Pardesi”, “Sher aur Sapna” and “Do Boond Paani” apart from “Saat Hindustani” for which he got a national award.
He later inaugurated Anand Pandit Motion Pictures which was attended by several prominent personalities. Amitabh wrote, "Inauguration of a film office of friend .. and meeting the cast and fresh talent of his first film .. always a joy to see and meet new talent .."
Harman Baweja
Vashu Bhagnani
Neil Nitin Mukesh
Boney Kapoor
Manoj Bajpayee
Sharman Joshi with wife Prerana
Sunny Nijar with Omkar Kapoor
Shekhar Suman with son Adhyayan
Abbas-Mustan
Rakesh Roshan with Jeetendra
Sanah Kapoor with her mother Supriya
Sonalli Sehgall, Ishita Sharma, Nushrat Bharucha
David Dhawan and Ramesh Taurani
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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