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In the spotlight
HE’s an icon. He’s a legend. He’s a superstar. He’s Amitabh Bachchan. And when the Big B, superstar of the millennium, turns 60, it has to be a bash in keeping with his legendary status. The birthday party thrown by wife Jaya and close friend Amar Singh in honour of Amitabh Bachchan, at Enigma in Mumbai, turned out to be a memorable event.
The celebrations started a day before, with Amitabh, Jaya and the immediate family taking off to the Balaji temple in Tirupati. Son Abhishek, fiancee Karisma Kapoor, daughter Shweta Nanda, son-in-law Nikhil Nanda, grandchildren Navyanaveli and Agasthya and Amar Singh formed part of the entourage. On his return from
Tirupati, Amitabh headed to his bungalow Pratiksha, where parents
Harivanshrai Bachchan and Teji stay. After seeking their blessings,
Amitabh came out to wave at the fans who had been waiting outside since
the wee hours of the day to wish their favourite star. Sweets were also
distributed throughout the day at the Bachchan bungalow. |
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Later in the afternoon, a book on Amitabh, aptly titled To Be Or Not To B, put together by Jaya and journalist Khalid Mohamed, was released at the J. W. Marriot hotel. The book, priced at Rs 2,950, has an exclusive collection of pictures, most of which are from Amitabh’s personal collection. Besides the immediate family and Karisma’s parents Randhir Kapoor and Babita, the function was attended by journalists, who had gathered in huge numbers. But the highlight of the day was the big bash in the evening, which was attended by close friends of the Bachchans from the film industry and the social circuit. It was completely out of bounds for journalists and press photographers. The huge crowds that gathered outside the hotel, despite tight security, brought all traffic to a halt outside J. W. Marriot. The host of the evening, Amar Singh, was seen running around, welcoming guests, playing M.C, dragging the guests to the dance floor and requesting singers, who were in full attendance (Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan, Nitin Mukesh, Sunidhi Chauhan, Jaspinder Narula, Vinod Rathod, Sapna Mukherjee and Sonali Bajpai) to sing songs from Bachchan’s all-time hit films like Don, Mr Natwarlal, Laawaris etc. The couple of the moment, Abhishek and Karisma, who are to be engaged soon, took to the dance floor as soon as the music started. While a live band played popular Bachchan numbers, Amar Singh dragged Jaya Bachchan to the dance floor.
Later, Jaya forced her reluctant husband to dance to Ek Punjaban (Major Saab) and Shava Shava (Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham). As the clock struck 12, the Happy Birthday song from Hindi film Farz, starring to-be-in-law Babita, was played. And this time round, a sporting Babita took to the dance floor. Later, an emotional Amitabh, sang two of his popular numbers, Mere angane mein (Laawaris) and Rang barse (Silsila), which was greeted with a loud applause. The celebrations continued late into the night with close Bachchan associates trooping in. Those present on the occasion included industry big wigs Prakash Mehra (Zanjeer), Yash Chopra (Silsila, Kabhie Kabhie) Yash Johar (Dostana, K3G), Ramesh Sippy (Sholay, Shaan, Shakti), Romu and Raj Sippy, Rakesh Mehra (Aks) and Subhash Ghai. Conspicuous by his absence was director Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who has not been keeping well of late. He is responsible for giving Bachchan some of his best films like Chupke Chupke, Anand, Mili and Abhimaan. Bachchan’s leading ladies, Sridevi and Jaya Prada, walked in with their husbands Boney Kapoor and Srikant Nahata, respectively. Zeenat Aman, Tina and Anil Ambani, Shatrughan Sinha, Jeetendra and son Tusshar Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Leena Chandavarkar with son Sumeet, Anupam and Kiron Kher, Jackie Shroff and wife Ayesha, Sanjay Dutt minus wife Rhea Pillai were also present. Govinda, the live-wire that he is, was active on the dance floor. Stars of the present generation Aamir Khan, Sunil Shetty, Shilpa Shetty, Sonali Bendre, Mahima Chaudhary, Aftab Shivdasani and Uday Chopra also were present to greet their senior on his birthday. — Leisure Media News |
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It can well be called the most celebrated birthday of the year. Here’s a special report on Amitabh Bachchan’s 60th birthday celebrations. The mega event sparkled with glitz and glamour though the much-awaited Abhishek-Karisma engagement, scheduled for the day, was put off.
