Big B praises SC for lifting ban on 'Aarakshan'

Actor Amitabh Bachchan has praised the Supreme Court of India for lifting the ban on his film 'Aarakshan'. The actor wrote, "the highest legal body of the country cleared the film 'Aarakshan' for release form areas where it had been banned, reassuring all of us and the people in general that the rule of law prevails in this country. "

The actor is happy that both counsels for Union of India and Prakash Jha cited reasons to the judges that once a film has been passed by the Censor Board no State or organization has the right to ban it. Bachchan in his blog mentioned, "which is something that we had been saying from day one."

However, Bachchan feels that the late clearance of the film shall affect the collections of the film, he wrote,"11 days in the life of a film in today]s time can be a lifetime. Will those that opposed the film and stopped its distribution and exhibition now compensate the producer for deliberate and illegal procedures used for harming the financials of the product ? I guess not."

The actor further writes that the film is pro reservation and politicians objections were uncalled for. He writes," It is indeed a pity that those that opposed the film never even bothered to see the product before deriding it. Had they done so they would have realized that the film indeed is in fact pro them and their reasons for their anger is so unjustified."

Bachchan recalls a conversation with Prakash Jha who citing him how various factions that had expressed their anger and dissatisfaction over an unseen film were now asking him to send the script of each film for their clearance before going on the floor.

The actor writes,``that is quite audacious ! They would have to rewrite the Constitution of this land before that can be complied with ! So in fact what it tantamounts to is that there is a suggestion of a body which shall function above the governance of the country and more, the Constitution of the land ! Nothing could be more ridiculous than this !!''

Amitabh Bachchan arrives for the premiere of the movie 'Aarakshan'

Amitabh Bachchan saddened by ban on 'Aarakshan'

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is an upset man. The actor, early Friday morning, in his blog expressed dismay and loss of faith in governance after a ban was imposed on his new movie 'Aarakshan' in various states. The movie received cold response from states with Punjab and Andhra Pradesh joining Uttar Pradesh in barring its screening on Friday.

He wrote, "Without any knowledge of what the film contains, without any desire to determine the trust and the most basic principles of law of democracy, it has merely strengthened my and many others' fear of the weakness it conveys of our belief in governance and its ethics."

The actor was disappointed that the Uttar Pradesh government has banned the film for two months citing law and order problem in the state. Questioning the ban, Bachchan said that will law and order not be a problem after two months.

Ban on the film is definitely going to incur losses to both the distributors and exhibitors. Meanwhile, trade sources are saying that the revenue at least to the tune of Rs 15 crore would be lost.

He further said by banning the movie not just the producer but all those who have invested time, blood, tears and money in the film will be at a loss.

Bachchan said that politicians don't really care about the Censor Board. In his blog he wrote, "What is the need then of the Censor Board, a statutory body instituted by you, the legislatures and Parliamentarians that govern this land. You nominate what you believe, to disbelieve what you nominate!! Better to remove it altogether then rather than give it disrespect.

"I do not care and never have cared about the fate of any film of mine, and I never shall. I do not care if this film does well or not, but I shall admit, this film has shown a mirror to the country and to one of its conditions. This film has shown a path that needs to be taken for a better and more secure future of this country. And if god forbid this film fails at the box office, it shall demonstrate to a large extent the failure of the reality in the country, that today it struggles with.

"I shall believe and will always believe in the words that Dr Prabhakar Anand pronounces during the course of this film - Is desh mein do bharat baste hain .. aur sahi mano mein agar hum samaaj mein parivartan chahte hain, toh in dono ke beech ka jo antar hai use mitana padega ... (Two India's reside in this country .. and truthfully if we have to see any progress in our society, then the distance between these must be erased ..)."

Heavy police security for Aarakshan actors Amitabh and Saif

Heavy police security has been deployed outside Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan's homes in Mumbai in the wake of controversies surrounding their film Aarakshan that'll open in theatres tomorrow.

Police personnel have been deployed as there could be protests against both these actors by Republican Party of India (Athavale) group activists. 

Senior Mumbai police officials said that Bachchan's bungalows in Juhu, Jalsa and Pratiksha have been given security as well as Saif's home in Waterfield road in Bandra will have security.

The RPI activists are angry that the movie is allegedly against reservation for Dalits and have demanded that director Prakash Jha  show the film to their leader Ramdas Athavale before releasing it. However, Jha has refused to do so. 

Maharashtra PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal's organisation, 'Samata Parishad' had also threatened to have the film banned but Bhujbal was given a private screening later.

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Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan & Prateik Babbar's photo shoot for Aarakshan

(L-R) Manoj Bajpai, Prateik Babbar, Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan- 'Aarakshan' promotion at Welingkar institute

Deepika & Saif Visits Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh prmotes Aarakshan in Patna

(L-R) Manoj Bajpai, Amitabh Bachchan, Prakash Jha and Deepika Padukone during the promotion of the movie 'Aarakshan'

Deepika- Amitabh promotes 'Aarakshan' in 'UTV Bindass'

Amitabh promotes 'Aarakshan' in 'UTV Bindass'

Aarakshan, -RESERVED :: Amitabh -Saif Ali

Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone during the promotion of the movie 'Aarakshan' on the sets of TV show 'UTV Bindass'

Saif, Deepika to appear on KBC with Amitabh

Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone will appear as special guests on the fifth season of the game show Kaun Banega Crorepati", which starts off August 15 with megastar Amitabh Bachchan as the host.

"One interesting candidate and the entire anxiety of the working of the show just flies past .. we had a few today and tomorrow is another day .. let us hope that all goes well .. the second episode towards the evening will have invites to Saif and Deepika .. who come to promote their film and mine as well - 'Aarakshan' !!!"Amitabh posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com. "In many ways, the philosophy of the film and that of KBC is quite similar.

Given opportunity, even the lesser privileged shall prosper. Or at least have the capacity to prosper," he wrote. However, Mumbai rains played spoilsport as the production unit had to stall the shooting of the show several times due to the noise of the rain.

"The rains have been incessant.. and so harsh that we had to stop shooting KBC at times, because of the noise factor. But all in all a most satisfying day ... harsh and hard, but satisfactory," Amitabh said. Saif had previously appeared with actress Preity Zinta in the second season of the show, while Deepika came as a guest last year although she didn't play.