Exclusive: Bachchans' World Tour details

Now it can be told.

The now on-then off World Tour by the Bachchans - featuring Amitabh, Abhishek, Aishwarya and possibly even Jaya - is finally taking place this July!

The family is waiting for the release of Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar Raj - in which Abhishek and Aishwarya play business rivals - before packing their bags and taking off.

The first leg of the tour will take the Bachchans, to Europe and North America, over July and August.

They will then travel elsewhere, covering 25 cities in all.

Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar - who were star attractions in the original line-up - have opted out because they had no dates to offer.

Instead, the Bachchans now have Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta and Ritesh Deshmukh - among their entertainers - for the tour.

An excited Ash said, "It's always wonderful to be on stage with Abhishek and Pa (the Big B).

I remember what fun it was, when we did Kajra Re for an awards function, two years ago. That one act, was a fantastic rock concert by itself. Now going on stage as Amitji's daughter-in-law and Abhishek's wife, will be doubly fantastic!

We really do have a good time. I've watched Pa's earlier concerts, he rivets the audience, while Abhishek has a blast. All three of us love live shows, because we genuinely enjoy music and dance. So the world tour is going to be a grand party, on stage!"

Stay tuned in!

Amitabh Bachchan's house attacked in Mumbai

Two motor-cycle borne youths threw glass bottles at Amitabh Bachchan's residence, in the wee hours on Monday, in the wake of Maharashtra Navnirman Vidhyarthi Sena (MNVS) attacking the superstar for alleged negligence of Maharashtra.

Security was already stepped up at Bachchan's house - Prateeksha - in Juhu, following the MNS chief Raj Thackeray's attack on the superstar, for preferring Uttar Pradesh over Maharashtra for opening a girls' school.

Senior police inspector Deepak Katdare, of the nearby Juhu police station, denied the attack and said: "Apart from the private security guards posted there, we had also deployed our own men at the spot, and no such incident has been observed there during the night."

However, a media person - present at the spot - said: "At around 1:30 am, some cameramen, who were posted outside the bungalow anticipating trouble, heard the abuses and also saw a bottle being thrown at the direction of bungalow."

Stay tuned in!

Bachchans' special gesture for late Teji Bachchan

The Bachchans are known for making people feel special, in their own unique way.

Even as Bollywood's most powerful family is still coming to terms with the demise of Teji Bachchan (Amitabh's mother), they did take out time from their busy schedules, to thank all those, who stood by them in their moment of grief.

Apparently, Amitabh and his brother Ajitabh Bachchan's families have, personally, sent out cards carrying a photograph of Late Shrimati Teji Harivansh Rai Bachchan to close family and friends.

The card also carries excerpts from Amitabh Bachchan's autobiography, and notes from his mother.

Must say, in this age of high speed communication, the Bachchans do believe in doing things with a touch of difference.

Snapshots: A rare picture of teenaged Amitabh Bachchan!

It's said that, striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted.

This saying couldn't have been more true in case of the Superstar of the Millennium aka Amitabh Bachchan!

The above photograph has the great Indira Gandhi along with the wrestler-turned-actor Dara Singh.

So far so good.

But what really takes the cake is the tall, young man standing on the extreme right. It really takes more than just general knowledge, to identify this young man!

Since I do not like to trouble my readers by asking them such tasking questions, allow me to let the cat out of the bag by telling you that the man is none other than our very own Shahenshah - who finds immense pride in making Crorepatis out of you and me - Mr. Amitabh Bachchan himself!

This is probably one of the rarest childhood photographs of Big B.

The picture also has Sanjay Gandhi (extreme left) and Rajiv Gandhi (third from left) accompanying their mother.

To sum it up, all that I would say is, Nostalgia is not what it used to 'B'.

What say Mr. Bachchan :o)

Amitabh Bachchan to do the voice-over for Jodhaa Akbar

He did it in Aamir Khan's Lagaan, and now, he will be doing it for Ashutosh Gowarikar's Jodhaa Akbar as well.

Amitabh Bachchan will be doing the voice-over for the epic romance, which stars his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan, in the lead roles.

Ask him if he's doing it because of Aishwarya Rai's presence and the Big B demurs, "No, that's not the reason. I had also done the voice-over for Lagaan. In Jodhaa Akbar, I'll be serving as the narrator."


Reportedly, Big B is all set to do the voice-over next week.

Surely, Gowarikar has high hopes from Jodhaa Akbar, now that Big B too features in it!

Jodhaa Akbar is all set to release on Feb 15, 2008.

Amitabh's mother Teji Bachchan passes away

Shrimati Teji Bachchan, wife of legendary poet Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan and the mother of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, passed away at Lilawati Hospital today.

Teji Bachchan, 93, was suffering from prolonged illness and had been admitted to the hospital for the past one year. In November, she was shifted to the ICU after her condition became serious.

Born to a Sikh family, Teji Suri married Harivansh Rai Bachchan in 1941, after the death of his first wife Shyamala.

She was an accomplished singer and stage performer in her early days and acted in Shakeapeare's plays translated by her husband.

Teji and her husband became friends with the Nehru-Gandhi family in Allahabad and the family connections with Indira Gandhi prospered when the Bachchans moved to Delhi.

My thoughts are with the Bachchan family right now. May her soul rest in peace...

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Amitabh in Nariman Irani's Don sequel: The Return Of The King

Perhaps it was the success of Farhan Akhtar's remake of Don that gave way to this brainwave!

According to gossip mongers in Bollywood, Nadeem and Nasir Irani (sons of Nariman Irani, the producer of the original Don) want to make their own Don sequel with Amitabh Bachchan titled The Return Of The King.

Sources close to Bachchan say that he is keen in doing the movie.

"He has met the Irani brothers and there are talks on for the sequel. They are looking for a good director. Negotiations are on with an ad filmmaker. They want to make a slick film with lots of special effects."

Stay tuned in!

Amitabh Bachchan: Genie, Ghost and God!

Amitabh Bachchan is ready with a slew of films aimed at the young.

If 2007 was the Big B's adult year with Nishabd, Cheeni Kum and Aag, 2008 promises to be the superstar's year for kids.

While Junior Bachchan plays a super-hero in Drona, the senior plays a genie in Alladin. Both films will be released at around the same time.

Big B is getting ready to unleash three flicks aimed predominantly at kids.

Apart from Alladin, there is Ravi Chopra's Bhootnath and Rumi Jaffrey's God, Tussi Great Ho where he plays a ghost and God, respectively.

"Maybe this is the producers' way of telling me it's time for me to move upstairs," Bachchan suggests with ghoulish humour.

"Shooting Alladin is fun. I get to sing as many as three songs, dance and whoop it up. I play the genie more as a modern dude than a costumed anachronism."

Obviously kids are going to love Uncle Amit in this unseen avatar. And that's precisely what director Sujoy Ghosh is aiming to achieve.

"Alladin would probably be Mr Bachchan's first full-fledged film for kids. And he is the biggest kid on the sets. We have so much fun shooting the film.

I want to make at least 25 more films with him. Grown-ups are welcome. But my film is designed as Mr Bachchan's gift to his young fans," says Ghosh.

Shemaroo releases exclusive Amitabh Bachchan’s scenes/songs VCD/DVD packs

Shemaroo Entertainment brings home a unique concept, The Big B Unleashed - A Bonanza of Amitabh Bachchan's Scenes and Songs in exotic 6 VCD and 3 DVD packs!

Amitabh Bachchan's name itself invokes a larger-than-life and enigmatic image, which has become immortalized with the passage of time.

The various moods and interpretations of this legendary star from films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Satte Pe Satta, Chupke Chupke, Baghban, Majboor and The Great Gambler among others have been assimilated in The Big B Unleashed.

While the 6 VCD pack comprises of 3 discs of scenes and 3 discs of songs, the 3 DVD pack is inclusive of 2 discs of scenes and 1 disc of songs. Each scene is presented with an attractive caption and each song is preceded with relevant details.

Hiren Gada, Director - Shemaroo Entertainment, shares his thoughts, "Shemaroo has always taken the initiative to come out with something new for audiences.

This concept too of compiling Amitabh Bachchan's popular scenes and songs and presenting it in a slick fashion is one such innovative approach. We are certain that the efforts gone behind this product will be appreciated by one and all."

I'm getting the DVD pack for myself this weekend!

Bachchans offers prayers at Dwarkadheesh temple

Bollywood mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan alongwith his family on Tuesday visited Dwarkadheesh temple and offered prayers, temple authorities said.

Bachchan, alongwith his wife Jaya Bachchan, son Abhishek Bachchan and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, visited the temple and performed puja there, sources said in Rajkot.

The Bachchan family came to Mithapur by two chartered planes and went to Dwarka by road.

Amitabh Bachchan-Johnny Depp starrer Shantaram delayed

The shooting of Mira Nair's movie Shantaram has reportedly been delayed due to the ongoing writer's strike in Hollywood.

The movie, starring Johnny Depp in the lead role, was scheduled to go on the floors in February next year. But now Warner Bros. has reportedly called off the schedule because the script, adapted from Gregory David Roberts' novel Shantaram, isn't ready yet.

Scribe Eric Roth, who wrote Forrest Gump, had been working on the novel's screen adaptation. But the writer's strike in Hollywood has prevented him from working on the project.

Shantaram has Johnny Depp playing an Australian convict who escapes from a high-security prison and rediscovers himself in the slums of Mumbai. Later, he uses his connections in the underworld to help the Afghans fight the invading Russians.

The movie has Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan playing the role of an underworld don named Kader Bhai.

Depp was expected to fly to Mumbai before commencing the film's shoot early next year. But now it is doubtful if the Hollywood star will visit Mumbai soon.

Stay tuned in!

Rakeysh Mehra's casting coup with the Bachchans

Even as Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra prepares to start his next project, the autobiographical Dilli 6, he is also planning a casting coup for his future project Bhairavi - three of the Bachchans!

Mehra intends to bring Amitabh, Jaya and Abhishek together in their real-life roles of husband, wife and son in Bhairavi, which will be set in the world of classical Indian music and carry forward the theme of strife amidst competitive creativity.

"It's a project that has been with me for a while. I have already narrated it to the Bachchans and they're on," Mehra said.

Stay tuned in!

Amitabh Bachchan brings in a quiet birthday

Bollywood Shenshah Amitabh Bachchan turned 65 today and spent a quite day but his birthday was marred by chaos outside his suburban Juhu home where hundreds of fans had turned up to greet the superstar.

Bachchan's security guards were reportedly involved in scuffles with some media persons and fans while they were jostling for space and vantage points outside Pratiksha in suburban Juhu to get a glimpse of their idol.

Bachchan, who enjoys a iconic status in filmdom, however made it a point to acknowledge the presence of the huge gathering by coming out briefly and waving at them as has been the tradition. Bachchan was later seen leaving his home in a vehicle.

It was a low-key birthday for Bachchan since his mother - Teji Bachchan - was critically ill.

"Since his mother has been critically ill for some time, Mr Bachchan decided to have a quite birthday, without any fanfare," sources close to the actor told the media.

Amitabh Bachchan to observe father's centenary

2007 being the year of Harivanshrai Bachchan's centenary, Bollywood mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan has many plans to honour his father's memory.

The Big B is recording the senior most Bachchan's poems in his own voice.

"I'm looking forward to doing a comprehensive recording in both the spoken voice and in song form in the months to come. 2007 is my father's centenary. He was born on Nov 27, 1907. We are planning a celebration when I hope to bring out recitations of his works," Bachchan said.

The Bachchan baritone will boom again for the father.

"I want to put to music some of his prominent poems, and that will include a lot of the folk songs he wrote. And I want to render the version of the Gita he translated in the meter and style of the Ramayan. Not too many people know he did this.

I would also want to read important chapters of his magnificent autobiography on tape and put out a DVD with memorable visuals," Bachchan said.

Amitabh unveils Dev Anand's Romancing with Life

The autobiography of legendary film actor, director and producer Dev Anand, Romancing with Life, was launched by mega star Amitabh Bachchan in a glittering function in Mumbai on Thursday night

Speaking to the scribes, the evergreen hero thanked all those present saying his autobiography is for his fans and people from film fraternity.

"My book is now in their hands, they will enjoy it," he added.

Several personalities including Bachchan, Hema Malini and the Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh were present on this occasion.

Anand's autobiography was released by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, on September 26, the birthday of both Singh and Dev Anand.

Amitabh Bachchan bags National Award for Black

With son Abhishek and daughter Shweta joining in the loud applause, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan received the National Award for Best Actor for his role in Black from President Pratibha Patil at a glittering function in New Delhi on Friday evening.

Looking debonair in a black bandhgala suit, Amitabh Bachchan walked up to the stage at Vigyan Bhawan to receive the award from the president.

Bachchan's performance in Black was recognised for his "dramatic rendition of a reformed alcoholic who struggles to give a physically handicapped child a new life".

Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan in Ketan Desai's next film

Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan may come together for Ketan Desai's next film.

To be made under his father Manmohan Desai's banner, this film will be a treat for movie-goers since it will have such an unusual pairing.

Salman and Ketan have been friends for a long time and have also worked together earlier in Yeh Hai Jalwa which Ketan had produced and David Dhawan had directed. They have wanted to work together since a long time.

So, when Ketan approached Salman, the latter immediately agreed to do the film, no questions asked.

"I have spoken to Salman and we both are very keen to work with each other but at the moment I can't say anything as Salman's date-diary is full," says Ketan Desai.

Amitabh turns dialogue writer with The Last Lear

Having repeatedly proven his versatility - from playing Babban in Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag to a 60-something man in love with a teenaged girl in Nishabd - Bachchan adds yet another feather to his cap with The Last Lear.

Having written dialogues for the film as well, Big B plays Harish Mishra , an aging Shakespearean actor.

"It was exciting to approach the role because part of him is still an actor on stage, and the other half he's a very normal human being and therefore a lot of contrast in portraying the role in different ways. Also the fact that although English is a very common language in our country, it's spoken in different variations in different parts of the country, so I tried to bring all of that in one role," he says.

Based on a play by Utpal Dutt, the film also stars Preity Zinta and Arjun Rampal along with Divya Dutta and Shefali Shah and is slated to hit the Indian theatres later this year.

Amitabh Bachchan in Ravi Chopra's Pocketmaar

After Baabul and Baghban, it's time for the prolific Ravi Chopra to conceive yet another project with Mr Bachchan in mind.

Says Ravi Chopra, "We've so far done Baghban and Baabul. I'm now planning Pocket Maar with Mr Bachchan for early next year."

Does the Big B play the title role again as he did in Baghban and Baabul?

"No, this time he plays the victim of a pickpocket's designs. For the man who commits the crime it's just another job done, and finished with. But what about the man who loses, say 10,000 rupees? What repercussions does this loss have on his life? Mr Bachchan will play that man."

Playing the victim isn't new to the Big B. He did it recently in Viruddh and Baghban. But Ravi Chopra has an entirely new character and look planned for the Big B.

Let's wait n watch!

Amitabh Bachchan in Jahnu Barua’s Har Pall

Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua is making a new movie - Har Pall - whose cast boasts of the likes of Amitabh Bachchan , Preity Zinta and Shiney Ahuja .

Bachchan plays the role of Preity Zinta's father.

"Har Pall is a love story but there is a bigger human aspect to it," said Barua, who won widespread critical acclaim in 2005 for his Hindi film Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara.

The film, which also stars Isha Koppikar and Lillette Dubey, is being produced by Tony Juneja and features music by Pritam.

Update: Amitabh is not doing the movie.