While his peers from the film industry seem to be bringing out autobiographies so very frequently, megastar Amitabh Bachchan seems to harbour no such ambition. An avid blogger, Big B loves the idea of self-expression but not in an autobiography. “I do not see any reason to be penning an autobiography. That would be the most futile experiment in self-aggrandizement,” he says.
Ask him about his blog and he says enthusiastically, “I blog whenever I get the time. Sometimes I convey rapidly, most of the time not. But I do convey everyday. And may I have the strength to continue in this fashion.” The blog does away with the hazards of misquoting. Says the Big B, “I feel liberated to give my expression as opposed to that which is perceived. Liberated to contradict mischievous accusations, to be able to inform in the correctness of things, to share a private moment with those that understand and show sympathy. And finally, liberated to stand up to wretched puerile opinion makers and be able to exercise the constitutional right of every living Indian; the freedom of my expression.”
He may be an extremely private person, but he seems happy sharing his day-to-day activities with the bloggers’ community. The Big B protests saying, “I think this is a completely erroneous notion in the minds of those that form opinions on me. Every day of my life, for the last 45 years, I have been going in front of the camera and exposing every possible emotion or attitude that I possess. Actors are indeed as transparent as they can possibly be when in front of the lens. You come to know how they speak, how they laugh, how they cry, how they dance and run and emote and…. What more would you want to know about them to declassify them from privacy?”
Referring to his blog readers as “extended family”, the Big B adds, “They confide in me. They show affection and concern. They get upset at times and reprimand me. They share their dreams and ambitions with me… they miss me when I am not there on time. Are not all these wonderfully domesticated attributes? They enrich my life by their honesty and frankness. By pulling me out of my closet at times and showing me a mirror. By critically analysing events and moments. By educating me on my faults.”
Now his daughter Shweta, who shares her father’s flair for writing, has started a column in a daily. The proud father reveals that he is her primary reader. “Yes, I do read her column. I get to read it before it goes to the press!!” he says. Shweta seems a worthy descendant of her illustrious father. “All descendents are considered to be worthy in my thinking, whether they follow the antecedents or not. Genes do have the habit of bringing in a biological connect. If you feel Shweta has it, I am happy.”
