Mumbai: Bonhomie was evident at the much-awaited meeting between Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and MNS chief Raj Thackeray as they shared the dais at a programme here yesterday after five years.
Burying past bitterness, a relaxed and smiling Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Thackeray virtually forgave Bachchan who had accepted the brand ambassadorship of Uttar Pradesh in 2008, which started the fracas.
“I have always felt that in the past 100 years, there has not been an actor as big as Bachchan. He is the brand ambassador of the whole nation, and not just any state,” Thackeray said in a rich compliment to the actor, who was seen smiling.
He warmly urged the people to forget whatever happened in the past and that “it has been immersed in the Ganga river”, amidst a loud round of applause.
Thackeray said people like Bachchan and Lata Mangeshkar are sent by God and cannot be restricted to any particular region as they belong to everybody.
Reciprocating warmly, Bachchan lauded the MNS Chitrapat Sena, which celebrated its seventh anniversary yesterday, for taking up the cause of the people behind the scenes and standing behind them.
“Not many are aware that those behind the scenes in the making of a movie need to be recognised... And in the celluloid world, it is important that the financial future of these invisible artistes is secured,” Bachchan said, rounding off his speech with a recital from his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poem Agneepath.
Later, along with actor Sachin Pilgaonkar, Bachchan distributed insurance policies to junior artistes and stunt-persons who risk their lives for dangerous acts.
IANS
