Big B upset with Mayawati diktat on Aarakshan

Amitabh Bachchan and director Prakhash Jha have been told they cannot meet with students in Lucknow on Thursday to discuss their new film, Aarakshan.

Mr Bachchan is one of the stars of the movie which examines the issue of reservation based on caste. Currently in Patna to promote the film, Mr Bachchan tweeted several times to express his disappointment:

"And now the bad news .. our Lucknow trip tomorrow cancelled because the U.P administration withdraws all permission to conduct promo."

"The administration does not allow us to enter the city..unofficial reports by police say they have instructions to arrest us if we do."

"They say it is a sensitive subject and do not want us to enter the city even...without even seeing the film, duly Censored ?? Strange"

Mr Bachchan then tweets that Delhi would be the next stop for the film's promotion.

"But we must follow the law of the land .. and the principles that our Constitution is based on .. will go straight to Delhi now."

Mayawati's government had said that the discussion with students could pose a potential law and order problem. In a letter, officials said that the scheduled meeting at Lucknow University could provoke protests by political parties.

The film also stars Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Manoj Bajpai. It releases on August 12.

"My film is not political at all; it is based on the status of higher education in our country today. But I don't know there is some kind of apprehension; there are leaders who are worried about the outcome of the film. Nobody has contacted me, or asked me to show the film. The Censor Board has already seen it and approved it," said director Prakash Jha.

Aarakshan will not create new tensions: Prakash Jha

Bhopal, Feb 26 – Filmmaker Prakash Jha, who is shooting his latest film “Aarakshan” in Bhopal, feels the subject matter of the film is relevant as there is always an “under current about aarakshan (reservation) in Indian society”.

The star cast of “Aarakshan”, including Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Tanvi Aazmi had an interaction with the media at Rizwan Bagh, one of the sets of the movie.

“We try to understand the pain created in every society about ‘aarakshan’ and try to minimize it. It is also on the commercialization of education,” said Jha about the movie Friday evening.
Jha also added that the film is neither against or in favour of reservation, “it is not going to add fuel to the issue”. The director said it is just a co-incidence that of the two main actors in the movie, Amitabh is the ‘jamai’ (son-in-law) and Saif the son of Bhopal.

The actors and the director said they enjoyed working in Bhopal, a city of lakes.
“This is the first time I am shooting in Bhopal. But as you people know I am ‘jamai’ of this city, I have a strong connection here. The ambience and the people are so good that even in breaks I do not prefer to go back to Mumbai,” said Amitabh, who is playing the role of a professor.

Speaking about his role, Amitabh said: “The professor supports students of the weaker section of society in the movie.”

On working with Jha as director, the legendary actor said: “It is really nice working with him. He handles everything so well it help us in getting into the character easily.”

“It is a unique movie and I am enjoying the character,” replied Saif Ali Khan.

Saif, who has a Bhopal connection — his grandmother was the Begum of Bhopal, said: “It has been 15 years since I came here, but I have grown up in this city only.” Saif was not interested in taking personal questions from reporters, and got visibly irritated when he was asked again and again about what kind of gossips he does not like. “Does my face look like only for gossip questions,” he snapped.

Deepika, who plays the role of daughter of Amitabh, said she enjoyed working in the city. “I like most the sunrise and sunset. I would like to work more here. It is really a beautiful experience working in this city.”

However, all the stars of “Aarakshan” including Amitabh, Saif and Deepika Padukone besides Director Prakash Jha ducked queries on what they feel personally on ‘aarakshan’ or reservations, a sensitive issue.

Big B enjoying mom-in-law’s handmade food

Amitabh Bachchan is having a gala time shooting for Prakash Jha’s ‘Aarakshan’ in Bhopal. He is shooting in Bhopal which happens to be his sasural. Jaya Bachchan’s home is in Bhopal. Every night Big B is getting to eat home made food specially prepared by his mother-in-law.

"As I work in Bhopal, my sasural, my wife's home, her mother who lives by herself there, shall dutifully prepare my dinner each night and personally come over to the hotel with it and sit beside me to feed me and supervise the meal. Coercing me to eat more, to try this and that and whether it was appealing or not," Amitabh posted on his blog big.bigadda.

Apart from Amitabh, the film stars Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Prateik Babbar, Manoj Bajpai in the leading role.

Saif strikes the right chord in Bhopal

While shooting in Bhopal for Prakash Jha's next " Aarakshan", Saif Ali Khan goes out of his way to oblige his fans who come to the sets to catch a glimpse of their favourite star.

Saif also takes time out to interact with his fans while working out by the poolside of the hotel he's staying at.

"A huge crowd of over a hundred people gathers almost everyday to watch Saif while he works out by the poolside of the hotel in Bhopal... Saif's a pretty relaxed guy and minus starry airs talks to his fans in between his workouts," a source said in a statement.

When the star is in a jovial mood, he also strums a couple of songs on his guitar for them, said the source.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan and actress Deepika Padukone are also shooting with Saif in Bhopal.