It seems the Bachchans will stop at nothing to keep themselves in the media limelight, what with the whole fued with Shah Rukh Khan since last year, and now a new battle… this time with Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan.
There might still be some flames burning between Shah Rukh and Amitabh, but that is all old news, now Godfather of Bollywood Mr. Amitabh Bachchan has set his sights on a new adversary. When Aamir gave his honest opinions on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black (comments which many agree with), Amitabh Bachchan used it to create a a furore.
Aamir, in an interview, said, ‘I didn’t like the film. I found it very insensitive, it sends out very wrong signals. It was extremely manipulative. I could see the effort in the manipulation, and the art of the director is in not letting you see the manipulation. The sensibility wasn’t right for me, I couldn’t make out if they were living in a house or a museum or a library or a church. The performances were over the top.’
Aamir did not stop at, but continued to say, “Most importantly, it was about a child who had these problems, an alcoholic person comes and says you have to leave her alone with me for forty days, and he slaps her around. I don’t know of any parent who’d agree to that. Black reminded me of The Taming Of The Shrew, and I found that very disturbing. It was a film about ‘I can teach a bear how to dance’.”
The next day, Amitabh Bachchan hit back, ”If Aamir is unhappy with this, let him demonstrate otherwise. I would be keen and anxious to educate myself on any prospective change that he might introduce to cinema. With due respect, all the films that he features in and that I have had the great pleasure in watching, have all adhered to the very qualities that he dislikes in Black. From using the distinct handicap, or to be politically correct, challenged condition, of a crippled human in his cricket team in Lagaan, to the ’sensitivities’ of a blind girl in Fanaa. He had issues, he said. He told me the film did not work for him because he disagreed with the voice-over of Rani as soon as the film started. The argument being, if the girl is deaf, dumb and blind how can she have a voice-over! Till date, I have not been able to understand that remark. Maybe you can.’
And to top of the bitchy response, Amitabh said, “I cannot comment whether my performance was towering or not, but Aamir may be right on the other, maybe the performances did go ‘over the top’ of his head!”
UPDATE: Aamir Khan has responded to Amitabh’s comments and on the whole issue. Writing for his regular blog, Aamir blogged:
On my comments on BLACK, let me start by commenting that I have the highest regard for Mr Bachchan and I am very big fan of his work. Probably one of the biggest. I believe that he along with Mr Dilip Kumar are among my two favourite actors of Indian Cimema. I have no hesitation in saying that I don”t even feature on the same platform as an actor. He is also in my opinion THE biggest star that Indian Cinema has ever seen. However as any member of the audience I too have a right to my opinion. And let me also clarify that my observations were towards the film and the way it was handled not towards any of the actors. I am very aware that the key of every performance is very much determined by the director.
My big exception towards Black is the fact that a child with severe difficulties is shown being illtreated instead of being treated with love, care and understanding. I simply cannot come to terms with that no matter what the writer and director say in defence. I thought I was watching a rip off of Taming Of The Shrew!!! I take great exception to this kind of behaviour towards children being glorified and propagated through a popular mass medium as the way to deal with children with or without difficulties. I, without any hesitation, strongly condemn this kind of cinema no matter who is involved with the film, and that includes me if I ever have in the past, present or future made such an error of judgement. My creative differences with Mr Bansali are unimportant. I believe he has the potential to make a good film and I look forward to seeing his latest film SAWARIA.
Two of the biggest names in the industry and at each others throats… what do you make of this? What are your thoughts on this huge ‘fight’? Who is in the right and in the wrong? Do you agree with Aamir or do you believe Amitabh is right? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Aamir is 100% correct!
AB is having trouble accepting the truth….oooouch!
In USA, if you slapped a kid they will put you in jail.
why is it that AB is made out to look bad? He is giving his honest response just like Aamir gave his honest comment…why does the media term AB’s response as a “bitchy” response and his attempt to start a “furore”????? Media—particularly the person who wrote this article needs to be unbiased when writing an article…I think you did not learn that in your journalism course did you? these kinds of articles disgust me!
Aamir is right…!!!
But Aamir’s one point is really stupid- if Rani is deaf, dumb and blind, how can film have her voice over.
well, what about MIND? even deaf, dumbs have THOUGHTS…!
but except this one point he is absolutely right about BLACK
this website is always biased towards one point of view in the matter. this time it happens to be aamir khan’s point of view. despite mentioning perfectly reasonable arguments brought up by amitabh, the author of the article still says calls amitabh’s response a “bitchy” one. please i think amitabh had excellent comebacks especially when he mentions that what aamir did in his own films is exactly what he’s accusing of bhansali doing in black. im pretty sure aamir would disagree with that just as amitabh and bhansali would disagree with the “manipulation” going on. hey aamir i got a question for you: “Do you know the real meaning of manipulation?” why dont you go watch om shanti om? that is the MEANING of manipulation as SRK and Farah khan manipulated the audience to watch their film through srk’s six pack abs and by having many starts in the item song. black had no songs or glamour and certainly no six pack abs yet was meaningful.
I Do Not Blame Any One Actor. Both (That Is If This Write-Up Is Not A Sick Joke) Are Right In Their Opinions. It Is Only The F**K Journalist Who Needs A Kick On His Butt For Selling Such Cheap Stories !!!
this is stupid, everyones entitled to their own opinions, i completely agree with aamir
Mr. Perfectionist !! Aamir Khan !!
Begin to solve your problems with your brother, father, ex-wife and your kids.
all the way for Aamir he has all the rites to comment but why Amitabh is taking it on him ?
nasty nasty…we indians r nasty n jealous of success…it won best movie…amitabh won best actor popular as well as critics..o btw national award as well…..amir khan is a gr8 actor…but insecurities r always there…
I agree with aamir because he’s got some really good points and Black in terms of performances are teh best movies of Big B and Rani,but story has definitly some flaws. SLB is talented but he lives in the world of imaginations which is the case with Sawaariya. Excellent performance by Ranbir kapoor but film itself is rubbish and boring!
i dont think its any fight to make a huge deal out of. they are simply settling differences. wHy try to create a big drama out of it.
I simply think when they meet itll be straightened out and all will be fine.
I cannot understand why people get personnel what has Aamir Khan’s family got to do with this if you have nothing interesting to say dont send stupid messages. I beleive Amitabh is a great actor but he is well past his prime now the three Khans are dominating bollywood and Aamir’s constructive critism has been taken to heart by Amitabh when he should have just ignored it. I have seen the film black and although a big fan of the director it was not a good film. Amitabh needs to take a chill pill first he has problem with Salman who was his daughter in laws first love which she will never forget then shah rukh khan for making a better remake of Don and now Aamir because he has expressed how he feels of a film Amitabh was in.
oh dont forget the bachchans also have a problem with their daughter in laws ex-ditch mr vivek oberoi!!… Some family.. Really need a crash course in getting-over-themselves
I don’t think family should be brought in this topic….but yes Radiosargam always has biased articles! it is disappointing…no wonder this website isn’t as popular as other websites!!
And we all know who AB is and where he stands in the industry! NOBODY could question that…and I think AB is also right that Aamir needs to demonstrate all the complaints that he has with Black in his own films…or else its all hypocrisy! anyway media is creating a mountain out of a hill! so STOP furthering this! =)
hahha who cares who is right and who is wrong aree jao solve some important issues huhahahahah
AB along with Rani made an excellent performance in Black it was a great movie and credit to all. My partner isn’t interested in Bllywood and made an average opinion on Black.. Not everyone can make it right all the time! Amir Khan has made some good performances… Yet i didn’t see the hype in Lagaan or Rang De Bansanti!! There are extremely good actors but AB without doubt is the best… Taking the best always comes with a price!!! So chill guys. On the other hand people need to experience bring up a problem child before they can say what is good and bad…
Aamir is by far the best actor in bollywood. I am pretty sure he knows what he is talking about.
Big B these days have lost it, he appears in every other movie which is completly ridiculous, where as Aamir does not accept any movie just because of its title.
Big B did very good in BLACK but i did not catch those non realistic points until Aamir mentioned it. I MUST SAY THAT AAMIR HAS A STRONG POINT.
Why Aamir is making a big fuss about slapping a child? If the character does it out of conviction and use it as a therapeutic (mild shock) treatment what is wrong with it? And stop this humbug about American laws! Also, what is bitchy about Amitabh’s reply?. It is very decent and straight forward. In fact the reporting of this item is bitchy and not Amitabh’s reply. However, the manipulativeness of the treatment and the theme is a valid point and it has nothing to do with Amitabh. It shows Aamir has intelligent mind.
I think amitabh bachchan and aamir khan both are right because they both are mature guys and as far as I know aamir should respect amitabh’s opinion and so should amitabh respect aamir’s.