Punish us if we are guilty

Veteran superstar Amitabh Bachchan on Wednesday apologised for his wife and actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan's "anti-Marathi" remarks and said his family would be ready to take any punishment if found guilty of any crime.

"The remark that Jaya made at the music release function of 'Drona' last week was not meant to malign or hurt anybody or any group of people. Having said that, I would still make it clear that if even a single person is hurt by Jaya's remark, we would apologise, rather, we should apologise," Bachchan said.

He was interacting with mediapersons after his return from London on Tuesday midnight following a shooting stint abroad.

Objecting to Jaya Bachchan's alleged remarks, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists attacked a multiplex here where Amitabh Bachchan's "The Last Lear" was set for premiere.

Bachchan expressed "pain and regrets" at events of the past four days and said MNS chief Raj Thackeray was like his "brother".

Referring Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil's announcement that an order has been issued to Mumbai Police to investigate the controversy, Bachchan said he and his family would rather wait for the report of the investigating agency.

"We apologise and seek forgiveness. Thereafter, if the matter is still not settled, we have been told that there will be an investigation and we'll wait for the investigation results. If we are found guilty of any crime, punish us," Bachchan said.

He clarified: "She (Jaya) was speaking at a film function and not on a political stage. It's in the past and need not be a matter of discussion now."

"Even if a single person is sentimentally hurt, we need to apologise and we express regret. What she (Jaya) said was done without any kind of malice."

Meanwhile, "The Last Lear" producer Arindam Chowdhury said that though the premiere was cancelled, the movie would be released on Friday as scheduled.

"I am sure the whole controversy over Ms. Jaya Bachchan's remark will be settled by tomorrow," he said.

Indo-Asian News Service
Meanwhile, the Congress on Wednesday described as "unfortunate" the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's attacks on the Bachchan family over Samajwadi Party MP and actor Jaya Bachchan's alleged "anti-Marathi" remarks.
Speaking after meeting party president Sonia Gandhi, Alva said: "It is an unfortunate development in Mumbai, with language and state being made an issue by certain political parties to divide the people before the general elections.

"Mumbai has always been home to people from all over the country and anyone trying to destroy its ethos is trying to destroy the city itself," she said.

Indo-Asian News Service

For daily celebrity news updates sign up for our newsletter www.masala.com/newsletter