~*Sushant's Bollywood Journey *~#17 - Page 85

Amitabh Bachchan urges support for flood-hit Kashmir

On behalf of the Indian film fraternity, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan Tuesday appealed to all citizens to contribute to the cause of rehabilitating the flood-ravaged Kashmir.

Big B is the front-runner of the campaign "Hum Hain...Umeed-e-Kashmir", an initiative of the entertainment industry, led by the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA), the Film and Television Producers Guild and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEE).

"When we see (the kind of things that have happened in) Kashmir, Assam, Meghalaya or the Andhra Pradesh cyclone... when we see these things, I feel that as an Indian, whatever I am able to do for my nation, I must do," the 72-year-old said here at a press conference.

Calling himself a "small member" of the Indian film fraternity, the globally popular icon said that whenever the country has witnessed a disaster, "the nation's film industry has, without hesitation, tried to help people, and share their sorrows".

"During 45 years of my career, I have seen many such times when some disaster has hit the country, and the film industry has stood united for the cause and contributed towards it. I dedicate myself for this cause. I will do as much as I can do for Kashmir," he said.

He added that he feels "immense sorrow" to see the post disaster photographs of the scenic land, which was once Bollywood's favourite destination to shoot.

Film producer Mukesh Bhatt, president of Film and Television Producers Guild, too was present at the occasion, which was also graced by Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal.

Bhatt said it's like "payback time" for the film industry.

"We feel emotionally committed to that land, and we must come together to help in its hour of darkness," Bhatt said of Jammu and Kashmir, which was left devastated after floods hit the region in September.

Hence, as part of the "Hum Hain...Umeed-e-Kashmir" campaign, a slew of celebrities from the film and music world will come together to perform for a charity concert, to be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here Saturday. They will also appeal their fans and the public to donate generously for the cause.

From Gulzar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Sharmila Tagore and Vidhu Vinod Chopra to Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Ranbir Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Sushant Singh Rajput and Parineeti Chopra -- various known names are lending their support to the effort.

Sonowal said that on his part, he has waived off the stadium rental for the event, which he will attend only after buying the tickets.

All money generated through sale of tickets, donations and sponsorships, will be given to select charities for relief work.

The director says his new film based on detective Byomkesh Bakshi is not inspired by the international detective and is an original work

Director Dibakar Banerjee's next, which is said to be based on the fictional character, detective Byomkesh Bakshi, and features Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead, is complete. But rumours suggest that the detective in his film bears a resemblance to popular fictional detective Sherlock Holmes instead of the one authored by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay.

Dibakar rubbishes the rumours, saying, "My film is an answer to Sherlock Holmes, and is not based on him. It is an original and is a desi jawab (answer) to Sherlock Holmes in desi language. Byomkesh Bakshi remains the first and the most famous detective in India, and this is the first time that he will be seen on the big screen."

The director adds that the film will have an indigenous essence and is self-sufficient. It doesn't need to rely on an international detective series. "Why ignore the real Byomkesh stories " some of the most striking and original in the world " and borrow from an English franchise with no desi connect? All the aspects of the film are original and Indian," says Dibakar.