AB Interview with Mum-Mirror/Anil T

1. I guess you are feeling these days much like a section of the Muslim community is often made to feel in this nation: Keep providing proof that you care for Mumbai and Maharashtra
Firstly, the premise of your query is something that I do not contribute to or believe in. I am also therefore, not qualified to address it in the manner you put it. So can we just remain with my part as an individual and not attempt to grind two stones in one stroke.
Secondly, I have said it before and shall say it again, that I shall conduct myself, a proud citizen of this country, according to, the Law of the land and its Courts, the Constitution and my conscience. Courts, Constitution and Conscience, my three C’s !! Nothing and no one shall find a place, even remotely, into these honourable portals.
Every individual in a free society has the freedom of expression and speech. And I honour and respect that.But those that question me and my deeds or non deeds, need to know a simple fact.I am a public figure, not a public official. I am not a democratically elected representative of the people, neither do I hold any Government public office. I am answerable ONLY to the three C’s and nothing else. People have the right to question me, as they do and must. But they do not have the right to demand proof for any activity of mine, particularly when they themselves are not eligible for such a misguided, heedless and a totally inappropriate, task.
2. Must be depressing and hurtful. To be made to feel like an outsider in a city where you have spent a lifetime in. Goons have been chucking beer bottles inside your premises.
I shall feel depressed and hurt if I have betrayed my conscience. Nothing else. I am not an outsider by any stretch of imagination. This land is my land as much as it is of every other citizen of our beloved country. I came to Mumbai in 1968 to pursue a vocation. I did not need a visa to come here. I have made this city my home for the last 40 years. I bought my first car here, and my own house. I met and married my wife in this city and both my children were born here. Both my children were married in this city from that same house. My two grand children were born in this city. My Father and my Mother spent their last years in Mumbai and died here. They were put to flames here and their ashes have mingled with the earth of this city.This city gave me name and fame beyond anything that I may have deserved or hoped for. I am not leaving this city and going anywhere !!
Let them chuck a thousand bottles. Let them burn my effigies and conduct morchas in front of my house. Let them blacken my film posters and stop the screening of my films. Let them attack me with stones and lathis or whatever else is there in their arsenal. Let them abuse me in the print and electronic media. Let them implicate me in false cases and send me to jail.
I am not budging !!
They will have to shoot me to get rid of me !!
3. Do you accept the fact that you are one, paying the price of your enormous popularity and two, are a victim of desperate communal politics that has been unleashed by the MNS. You have been turned into the mascot of communal hatred without you enrolling for the job!
I do not accept what you insinuate, simply because I am illiterate about these aspects. You and your ilk, who are the keepers of this nation, are more educated than I am, to address this.
4. The latest Saamna piece comparing your situation with Rajnikanth must have hurt too. Although Bal Thackeray issued a clarification, the damage was done.
I feel honoured that I have a friend in Rajnikant and even more honoured that, despite my insignificance, I am brought into comparison with him. Bala Saheb has been a father figure to us and shall remain so, ever. In my growing up years my parents taught me that ‘when elders speak, the young listen quietly’. I quietly accept whatever my elder or his outfit has expressed.
5. Will the attacks on your loyalty to Maharashtra compel you to alienate yourself from doing things for your home state, UP? And will you now try harder to do more visible social work in Maharashtra? Say, opening a school for girls out here?Accusations and insinuations are not going to make me change the course of my conscience. I shall do what I want to do and what I feel needs to be done ; whether it is in Maharashtra, or UP or Bihar or Punjab or Bengal or TamilNadu or any part of the Country. The people of this country have loved and given unbounded affection to my family and me. I am equal in the eyes of the entire nation and no one should stipulate what I must do or not. My sense of fairness and fortitude is not up for scrutiny.
6. Correct me if I am wrong, but your continued involvement with UP has perhaps more to do with your friendship with Amar Singh rather than deep emotions attached with that state. And either the Maharashtra politicians don’t understand this or simply don’t want to understand this.
You are wrong. And I shall correct you. Where was Amar Singhji when I fought the election from Allahabad. What does anyone, you included, know of my connections with UP, prior to my association with Amar Singhji. It is as though my association with any issue is a problem with the so called ‘discerning’. Repeatedly, the Amar Singhji factor is brought to the forefront, whenever the media or other exalted bodies have been unable to find credible reason on the matter under question. Its an assessment that I have lived through year after year. When it was Bofors, the tale was - “Its your proximity to the Gandhi’s that is your problem “. Conveniently, it swiftly changes to “my non proximity to the Gandhi’s that is my problem”, in more recent times. I suspect the same would happen if Amar Singhji were to find himself in the seat of power in the future, or some equally exciting permutation. How interesting to see what their refrain would be then. So I am attacked because of “my proximity to Bala Saheb”, I and my Miss World is attacked because of “my proximity to SP”. And on and on and on. Your argument Anil, as you can see is not as simplistic as it sounds.Sometimes in life, situations demand the proverbial ‘whipping horse’. And there are a few ‘chosen’ people in this country that fit that bill.
7. Do you find it scary that netas in India keep getting away with it despite spewing communal venom, which is unlawful and unconstitutional?
I have zero political acumen. This could best be answered by one that has.
8. Do you feel insecure in Mumbai these days? Are you a worried man?
No. The State has provided me with security, which they feel is adequate. I have faith in the Maharashtra and Mumbai Police.
9. Your message for Raj Thackeray. And please eschew diplomacy out here, things seem to be going out of hand.
N.A
10. Your message for Marathi speaking people of Mumbai on the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padva…
On this auspicious occasion wishing all a very happy and prosperous Gudi Padva.
> thanks> anil
Thank you,Amitabh bachchan