Amitabh Bachchan, hero of Bollywood action blockbusters such as “Sholay” and “Zanjeer” slept with a revolver under his pillow after terrorists attacked hotels, railway station and an apartment killing 121 people.
“I am ashamed to say this. As the events of the terror attack unfolded in front of me I did something for the first time and one that I had hoped never ever to be in a situation to do,” Bachchan wrote on his blog. “I pulled out my licensed .32 revolver, loaded it and put it under my pillow.”
Bachchan, 66, who often filmed stunt scenes himself, and was badly injured while shooting a fight scene for “Coolie,” said he spend the entire day watching local television channels reporting on the terrorist attacks with “anguish and anger.”
“My pain has been the sight and plight of my innocent and vulnerable and completely insecure countrymen, facing the wrath of this terror attack,” Bachchan wrote. “And my anger has been at the ineptitude of the authorities that have been ordained to look after us.”
Bachchan, known as the “angry young man,” for his roles portraying individuals fighting injustice, said he “salutes” the “brilliant officers and police personnel” who have laid down their lives. The actor made his film debut in 1969.
In “Zanjeer,” or Chain, he played a police officer out to punish the killers of his parents, while in the 1975 movie “Sholay,” or Embers, he plays the role of a petty thief, who along with his partner fights a bandit. Bachchan said he had a “disturbed sleep,” last night.
Commando Sweep
Commandos today stormed a Jewish center in Mumbai in a bid to free hostages and scoured two luxury hotels for militants, more than 36 hours after terrorist attacks across the city.
At the luxury Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, forces hunted for militants who raided the buildings late Nov. 26. The Trident and Oberoi buildings were cleared, an Indian national security guard said on television.
“It’s really devastating to see all that is happening in the city,” Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore was quoted by India Abroad News Service as saying. “When I came to Mumbai, I stayed in the Taj Mahal hotel for a very long time. So when I saw the hotel burning, I felt as if my house is burning.”
Bachchan was named the “Greatest Star of the Millennium” by BBC News online users in 1999. He also hosted the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” from 2000 to 2005.
Bachchan has been writing his “Big B” blog since April, using the site to make his views public on films, the industry and the media’s portrayal of the actor and his family. The blog entries are frequently featured in the country’s newspapers in their movie and gossip columns. The blog is hosted by BigAdda.com, part of friend and billionaire Anil Ambani’s group of companies.
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