My path is not same as Modi's: Big B

The presence of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan's at the inauguration of Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the subsequent controversy that it generated has once again highlighted the uneasy relationship between the first families of the Indian film industry and the Indian politics. In an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN, Amitabh Bachchan, who many see as having being unnecessarily drawn into the game of one-upmanship between warring factions in Maharashtra Congress, spoke his mind on the entire episode.

CNN-IBN: There are several questions which are being raised about your association with Gujarat and your decision to accept being a brand ambassador of Gujarat. Is that something you regret?

Amitabh Bachchan: Not at all. I don't see where the problem is. Gujarat is a part of India. It is a wonderful region. I was asked by the government of Gujarat to be their brand ambassador for tourism so I shall be promoting some wonderful sites and places a lot of which are unknown. During my conversations with the tourism department, I was informed that Gujarat is the one state that has the largest number of heritage sites in India. It was an unknown fact. It was new to me as well. There is Harappa, there is Dwarka, Somnath, Gandhiji's so many important places, Rann of Kachh which is a beautiful area, white sands on a moonlit night, and they have special festivals when it is a full moon. I just wanted to go and propagate to enhance tourism in the state.

CNN-IBN: But you don't think when you become the brand ambassador of a state, you are not just responsible for promoting the good things about the state - all these tourist destinations you are talking about, you also are promoting what the state stands for. And that's the point that some people in the political fraternity seem to have a problem.

Amitabh Bachchan: I think the word 'brand' is loosely used. It is not supposed to represent what it is supposed to represent. It is just a nomenclature that is there. I am there to talk about tourism, try and talk about what are the lovely sites in the state. And the state belongs to the country. I am a national; I am a citizen of this country.

CNN-IBN: So what would be the exact way to look at this association? The decision of Amitabh Bachchan of being the brand ambassador of Gujarat is just restricted to a promotional film?

Amitabh Bachchan: Absolutely. That's it. I am going to be making a few films. I shall actually be going to each of these various sites and not do something very abstract. I actually suggest that it would be nice if I could actually visit these sites, walk through Somnath or Harappa or the Rann of Kachh and talk about the history of the place and invite tourists. Basically, that is it.

CNN-IBN: But, in any of these films, would the Gujarat Chief Minister also be featured with you?

Amitabh Bachchan: Of course not.

CNN-IBN: That's a decision that has been taken?

Amitabh Bachchan: Yeah. I don't see how that comes in.

CNN-IBN: But then Mr Bachchan, that's where the contradiction lies. If on one hand you are okay with the idea of being, as we say the brand ambassador of a particular state. Are you uncomfortable with the idea of sharing the same film with Narendra Modi who is the Chief Minister of a state?

Amitabh Bachchan: That's all right. He is the constitutional head of the state also.

CNN-IBN: You don't think there is any contradiction there?

Amitabh Bachchan: I am not going to be talking about his politics. I am merely going to talk about the beauty of the state which is a region of India.

CNN-IBN: So how do you then respond to what has happened on Wednesday where in Mumbai you went for the inauguration of a bridge and suddenly we see that all hell has broken loose. You are being accused of being hand in glove with Narendra Modi.

Amitabh Bachchan: Everyone has the liberty to say what they want to say. I was invited by the minister in the Government of Maharashtra for the opening of another four lanes. I accepted. I went there. It was a wonderful ceremony. What happens then is their problem, not mine.

CNN-IBN: I saw that in your blog on Tuesday. You had mentioned about the fact about how you are going to inaugurate this bridge and you were almost suspicious whether the media will try and convert that into some kind of a controversy and that's exactly what has happened. But, why blame the media in this particular place?

Amitabh Bachchan: I am not blaming the media. I am just saying that the media has the right to say about it and I have a right to anticipate what they might say, just as you have the right to anticipate something or add something or make it controversial or suspect that it could become controversial. You use the same language that I do in my blog. That's what I did.

CNN-IBN: But did you feel hurt? Did you feel upset for whatever has happened because after all, they were public ads published in the newspapers but suddenly the Maharashtra Chief Minster turns back and says I didn't know that Mr Bachchan is going to be there.

Amitabh Bachchan: I am not upset. I was invited. It isn't as if I forced myself and I had a formal invitation, a formal letter from the minister on his letter head.

CNN-IBN: Which minister was this? Was this the Chief Minister?

Amitabh Bachchan: The minister in-charge of the inauguration, in-charge of PWD and then there were advertisements in the press, half page advertisements where it was specifically mentioned that I will be attending them. So I don't see any problem.

CNN-IBN: But we see once again your uncomfortable relationship with Amitabh Bachchan has had with the Congress leadership, in particular, Sonia Gandhi. We see that the entire cycle seems to be coming back. You were here in the capital today to attend an environment function where the Environment Minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, decided to skip the event at the last moment.

Amitabh Bachchan: I think you should ask them, you should ask the channel why he did not come. To load everything on to me is incorrect. Whether or not somebody wishes to make an issue out of my association is their prerogative. What I do is my prerogative. I am going to do what my conscience allows me to do. I do not think I am doing anything wrong. I have been an apolitical person ever since I left politics. I am not going back there again and I think it has been over 25 years. I have never associated myself with anything political, never ever made any kind of political statement. There are friends of mine, there are people who are in politics and are in various fields. But that is a result of who I am and what my profession leads me to attract such friendships.

CNN-IBN: You have always maintained that you have no desire of coming back to politics. In several of our earlier interviews you repeated that point. But why is it that earlier we have seen the Mahatrashtra Navnirman Sena disagreeing with you and now the Congress also making its unease, its sense of being uncomfortable with you very public with Congress spokesperson coming out and saying that they have the right to oppose Amitabh Bachchan and oppose his presence at a function.

Amitabh Bachchan: This is something that should be asked to them. I have nothing to say on that.

CNN-IBN: Do you think it has anything to do with your relationship with the Gandhi family?

Amitabh Bachchan: Not at all.

CNN-IBN: You have never talked about your relationship with the Gandhi family.

Amitabh Bachchan: I don't think it is necessary because it is personal. And I am not comfortable talking about it. But these are matters that everyone has a right to apprehend, talk about and speculate. I was invited by Kerala Government to do the same thing that I am going to be doing for Gujarat. They wrote to me and I have happily accepted this. Now, it's there decision whether they want it or not. I read in the press that there have been objections to it. That's there decision. I am okay with promoting the state of Kerala.

CNN-IBN: As the state of Gujarat. In other words, Amitabh Bachchan really is not on the defensive at as far as his decision of being the brand ambassador of Gujarat is concerned irrespective of what others say.

Amitabh Bachchan: The state of Gujarat belongs to the country. It does not belong to Narendra Modi or to the Congress party or to the Communist party. It's a constitutional decision, a democratic decision that every five years, the people of the state take and they have appointed Mr Narendra Modi.

CNN-IBN: But, what do you think of Mr Modi? What is your personal opinion about Mr Modi?

Amitabh Bachchan: That's a different question. I think that I was asked by the government to promote tourism. And if people are unhappy because I am going to be promoting tourism or the fact that Mr Narendra Modi is the Chief Minister and because some people do not like him, and therefore I should not be associating myself with him is ridiculous. In that case, you should ask every industrialist that goes to Gujarat to remove their industries from there. Why don't you ask Mr. Mukesh Ambani or Mr Ratan Tata to remove Reliance from there?

CNN-IBN: There is a vast difference between Amitabh Bachchan and all these industrialists that you have just mentioned. Amitabh Bachchan affects the psyche of this country, affects the perceptions of the society. Do you not think there is a fundamental difference between you and the others that you are trying to compare yourself to?

Amitabh Bachchan: That's something that I do not really believe in. I think you give me far too much credit than I deserve. I think Mr Mukesh Ambani, the Reliance Industry, the Tatas, they are huge figures. They are much much bigger and much important than I am. As us, there are many others who go and live there, work there. The Chief Minister is a democratically chosen representative.

CNN-IBN: So is Amitabh Bachchan a fan of Narendra Modi as the rest of the industrialists? Would that be a correct interpretation?

Amitabh Bachchan: That's a wrong interpretation. That's a personal question and that should not be brought into the context of this conversation. We are talking about whether it is right or wrong for me to be promoting tourism in Gujarat. And I think we should stick to that.

CNN-IBN: You are sticking to the point that you are only and only there to promote tourism in Gujarat. But were are here looking at a situation where the principle party in this country, the Congress party along with other political outfits are taking a position that Amitabh Bachchan needs to be a little careful, needs to take politically correct positions. Is that an unfair demand?

Amitabh Bachchan: Then, they should be responsible for my life, my career and expect that I should go to everyone and every political party in the country and ask them it is alright for me to travel to Mumbai tomorrow or is it okay for me to work in this movie. That's not correct. I have my individual right as an independent citizen, as a free citizen and I should be allowed to exercise that.

CNN-IBN: On your blog, you have mentioned that how in India it has become a fashion of sorts of trying to demerit a very momentous occasion. Is that something that is really bothering you that you are not being hailed for the kind of figure you are, for your artistic achievements?

Amitabh Bachchan: I am not bothered whether credit is given to me or not but what worries me is that there is a very cynical temperament which is pervading in society that pervades media as such. If you excuse my saying, where there is deliberate attempt to find fault first rather than give credit. I think that as a nation we need to change that. I think people like you who are senior and have a huge amount of opinion and the power to penetrate, you need to applaud the credit, applaud success and applaud something good that is being done rather than deliberately go out looking for mistakes that that could be seen or perceived to be seen. This is a very cynical attitude. I think, as a nation, we need to grow out of this. We are now a developing nation. What kind of an impression are we giving to other parts of the world? I have, within these 30 days, been to England where my wife was decorated through BAFTA. My son was also decorated. I myself have been decorated by BAFTA. Within a week I came to Middle-East, to Muscat and they decorated me with a lifetime achievement. And within ten days, I was in Hong Kong where they have given me recognition. There is a huge amount of dignity and respect that India gets in all these forums. And every time I go to these forums, I talk about my country, its success, its progress and everyone is enamoured by India.

CNN-IBN: And here you find that India itself is attacking you, some sections of India?

Amitabh Bachchan: Yes. The moment you come back, you find a very cynical, almost a defeatist attitude towards whatever you are doing. One feels sad about it. But, it is not going to stop me from doing what I am doing.

CNN-IBN: Every actor, ever artist and every performer invariably is very aware of the boundaries of reality that exists around himself. If we come back to the question of Gujarat, then the Gujarat Chief Minister, in reality, faces some really uncomfortable questions, tough question as the judicial process on. Do you not think that Amitabh Bachchan should be a little sceptical about it?

Amitabh Bachchan: There is a judicial system in the country. They would decide whether he is right or wrong. Whatever the law of the land says, everyone would have to face that. And irrespective of what their decision is and what happens to him, Gujarat will still remain Gujarat. It has been there from eternity and it will be there till eternity. There will be many chief ministers who would be coming and going but Gujarat would not change.

CNN-IBN: So what is your reply to all those who are criticising you for actually being a fan of Modi for not just promoting Gujarat brand as a state, as you are saying Gujarat Tourism, but simply promoting Narendra Modi?

Amitabh Bachchan: The fact is that I am there to promote tourism. That is is.

CNN-IBN: That is your straight forward reply?

Amitabh Bachchan: Yeah.

CNN-IBN: You are not willing to walk a single step with Narendra Modi? That's the fact?

Amitabh Bachchan: I don't see how the two come in. I do not understand what you are saying. I am not political; Mr Modi is. Our paths do not meet. But he is the constitutional head for the moment, of a state which wants tourism to multiply. He has asked me because I have a face and a voice, which a few people working in tourism think would help the state. That is all I am doing.

CNN-IBN: A lot of things fall into place, whether it is the question of choosing brand ambassadors for the Commonwealth Games, most of the Bollywood celebrities are chosen but Amitabh Bachchan's name, mysteriously, doesn't figure then, at least in the first round.

Amitabh Bachchan: That's a personal choice. Some people may want someone else. That is fine.

CNN-IBN: But then all these are decisions taken by the Congress party. In Maharashtra, you go inaugurate a bridge, there is a problem. You are invited to be a chief guest of a film festival in Goa, suddenly it gets withdrawn. These are some questions that clearly have a link. You don't accept that?

Amitabh Bachchan: I don't think that has been deliberately done. I think they are free to choose whoever they want. It the people they choose are much more valuable and creditable than I am, then that's fine.

CNN-IBN: Amitabh Bachchan, the actor, the personality, may not have said anything against the Congress party or the Gandhi family but your wife Jaya Bachchan has not made any bones about the fact that she feels uneasy, feels targetted by the Congress party. Do you think it is a result of that?

Amitabh Bachchan: That's a question that you need to ask her. Little do I follow her because I am not in politics. Neither is Jaya a regular politician so to say. She is there because she likes to be in Rajya Sabha, to be able to bring forwards issues and questions and within those limits, yes because she is representing a party, she has the right to make comments and decisions, about rival parties and what they feel about it and that's very fair in politics.

CNN-IBN: You don't think that maybe because of the political positions that are being taken by his wife are affecting him? You have been accused of being a fake farmer.

Amitabh Bachchan: I don't think so.

CNN-IBN: IT hassles?

Amitabh Bachchan: Anywhere in the world, death and income tax are unchangeable.

CNN-IBN: On earlier occasions one would have said that it was because of your association with Amar Singh, then an arch rival of the Congress party. A lot has changed since then. Why is Amitabh Bachchan still such a hate figure for the Congress party?

Amitabh Bachchan: I don't know. When I was in the Congress, I was accused for Bofors. What do you have to say to that?

CNN-IBN: And the last time you said you were accused was when your friend was the Prime Minister.

Amitabh Bachchan: I don't think that there is any meaning in the fact that there is just because it is the Congress party that I am being attacked. I don't think that that is correct.

CNN-IBN: Do you think the ghost of Bofors refuses to leave you?

Amitabh Bachchan: It's not a ghost any longer because it has been proven in court that we are innocent and also been proven in court who the culprits are. So, that is a closed chapter as far as I am concerned.

CNN-IBN: Do you think that there is need perhaps for you to really go back to the drawing board and figure out whether your relationship with the Gandhis or the comments made by your wife are affecting you as a person?

Amitabh Bachchan: I don't think there is any need to do that. I don't believe in that. I believe in the fact that if I have done anything wrong legally or constitutionally, then there is no force on earth that can stop me from being punished. I will accept that. And also I will readily accept this fact that if I haven't done anything wrong, constitutionally or legally, then there is no force on this earth that can convict me, ostracise me or take me to task.

CNN-IBN: So, will you think twice? Suppose next time you do get an invite from a Congress ruled state, will you think twice before that?

Amitabh Bachchan: Not at all.

CNN-IBN: You don't expect any apology from the Congress Chief Minister who said that he didn't know that Amitabh Bachchan would be arriving?

Amitabh Bachchan: In fact, in another two days, we are going to be on a similar platform. It is the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan. We are celebrating 50 years of Maharashtra and also a literary festival in Pune. And while I was at this function, we actually had a pleasant conversation. And we said we will meet you at this function a day after tomorrow. I don't think that this has any merit. I think that is being made up quite unnecessarily.

CNN-IBN: Do you ever feel suffocated by the political events happening around you? Does the angry young man of yesteryears feel suffocated?

Amitabh Bachchan: No I am not suffocated at all. How can I be suffocated in my own country? I am very happy to be an Indian citizen and very proud of it. I am very proud of what I do. I am very proud of the recognition that the people of this country give me and as a result of which the people from other parts of the world give. I am not going to stop doing what I am doing.

CNN-IBN: And no question that despite any criticism or any political attack or whatsoever Amitabh Bachchan moving or budging from his stated position? No question of being apologetic to anyone - whether it is Gujarat, Maharashtra anything?

Amitabh Bachchan: Where is the need for an apology. Where have I done wrong? What is the reason for me to apologise?

CNN-IBN: On that note thank you.

Amitabh Bachchan: Thank you.

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