T 2356 - I tweeted yesterday on the #pinkvilla incident and the unethical posting of my photo. Today I got an apology. Never in 47 years did I get such a heart warming acknowledgement from the media . I post both his apology and my response to him ..
Email from Viral Bhayani
Respected Sir,
I sincerely apologize on behalf of my client Pinkvilla and the photographer who clicked your photograph. The photographer who clicked your picture works for me so it becomes my responsibility as I send out these images. So, no one is to be blamed but me. It’s my fault that I sent out those images without cross checking whether these images were to be used or not. I have strict rules of not clicking any images of any celebrities if there is any disapproval. This will be my first instance in my 15 years career that an artist is so upset. There is no paparazzi culture in India an there is very little money, we do it to create good content. By hurting you we have done a very wrong thing.
The damage is already done and I will be truthful that the image was not only used on Pinkvilla but also on Deccan Chronicle website. I have got those deleted immediately after I read your tweet.
I will meet up with all my team and explain the same to them. This is shameful and such ethical practices are disgusting. I also have a strict policy against taking pictures of kids without there parents approval.
I also condemn the incident where Brinda Rai was injured at the airport. Somewhere we have lost control and in the mad rush of competition, we have crossed our lines. Yesterday I crossed the line by publishing your image which was under contract.
All other photographers present there followed you, respected you and did not click. But we were the nasty and cheap ones to do this act.
I beg for mercy and forgiveness on behalf of my photographer as the fault lies in me for releasing those images and not deleting them.
Regards,
My dear Mr Viral Bhayani,
I have to admit that in my entire professional career of 47 years, I have never ever received such an apology or an acknowledgement.
Thank you for your honesty and the respect that you have found in my heart. This is a rare occurrence, and I shall always treasure it.
I seek your permission to print this letter of yours, on my Social Media platforms, not because it comes in my favor, but because it sets a wonderful example on the credibility and ethics of the media – something that I have sincerely believed in.
I would understand your disallowance if you were to negate this request.
Thank you again
With great regard and admiration
Amitabh Bachchan
Viral gave his consent to me to print his apology .. I am grateful .. thank you
The trailer of Pink shows you in a role never seen played by you before. What was it like to stand there in the courtroom and subject the young protagonist to sexually forthright questions?
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Yes court rooms have eluded me, thankfully, but this film has been designed to keep it as real as possible and the legalese has been written after extensive research with lawyers of great eminence and experience from several quarters and courts. My participation therefore in this film as a lawyer, was, apart from being a first, quite unique as well. The language is aggressive and maybe strong, but that is the construct of the screenplay, or shall we say the construct of the arguments the defense employs to defeat an argument or claim of the prosecution. It falls in line with the story of the film. And maybe they are expressions or words never spoken or heard before in a film court room sequence. But they have been whetted and approved by, as I said, several luminaries of the legal profession !
As an actor who has played almost every kind of role, how different and unconventional is the lawyer’s role in Pink?
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I cannot and would not like to compare other efforts made by the Industry and films and actors and directors that have presented court sequences, in our films. I can only comment on what we have done and what in particular, as you ask, have I felt performing the character. Lawyers and court sequences have been presented in the past, with other colleagues and seniors to great perfection, and I dare not bring attention to how they or I would compare. That would not be correct or ethical, professionally. The circumstances in PINK are perhaps novel to not just court procedures, but also for the performers that have been asked to perform them. I found myself a part of not just the performer, but also the correctness of what I stand for in the story. That is the difference. If after seeing the film people find it unconventional, that would be an opinion to consider. I do feel though, that after the reasons are explained in the story and its presentation, whether people would want to label it as unconventional. For me as the character in the film, that assessment would annoy and anger me. Because what I stand for, not just in the film, but in my life too, is not unconventional. My belief defies and denies that. They that shall have arguments to defend against me, shall have to first stand and convincingly explain to me what is ‘unconventional’ and what ‘conventional’ !
Pink addresses itself to the question of female sexuality and its violation by patriarchal forces.As a someone who champions the cause of the girl child in real life, how deeply were you affected by the film’s theme?
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Deeply..because the words that I speak in the film, would have been no different from what I would say even if I was not acting in PINK ..!!
Pink is set in Delhi, said to be one of the unsafest cities for women in the world. As one of this country’s most responsible and powerful voices what do you feel about the growing crime rates against women and what measures do you think should be taken to contain atrocities against women?
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I wish I had an answer, but I do not. Laws, punishments, public awareness, safety, regulations, debates and discussions shall take place aplenty, and they should. But unless we change the mind set of our countrymen, or indeed any human that indulges in such horrific, depraved, degenerate and disgusting crimes in any part of the world, we cannot expect fruitful results. There needs to be an educational effort, efforts to bring uniformity, respect and equality without discrimination. Women cannot be objectified. A woman’s body is not a democracy, it is a dictatorship and its high time they started exercising that right !
Amitji, how far do you think cinema has the power to influence the way women are treated in our society. For example, a lot of social analysts believe that ‘item songs’ incite and encourage hooliganism eve teasing and even rape. Your comments please?
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Cinema is a 20th century phenomena. Anyone that lays emphasis on its power of negative influence, must necessarily possess the power to look back at the earlier centuries, and conclude affirmatively to us, whether what they consider impressionable now through film, was not accorded presence earlier too, when there was no film. Which medium can assure us poetic justice in 3 hours ? Which medium gives justice to the wronged through punishment within 3 hours ? If “item songs incite and encourage hooliganism, eve teasing and rape”, then we must all know that such horrific acts shall also incite sentences behind bars for years and at times for life. Which film has not depicted that ? You know and I know, that in reality and in life and everyday existence, not always has the process succeeded, or been exercised in its entirety !! But in cinema it does !!
Sensuality does not only hibernate in ‘ film item numbers ‘ … Nature, climate, music, flowers, the classics in poetry and writing have the power to be sensuous too .. How will that be prevented or cured – if such a cure is being sought !!??
I find the very act of social analysis, sensuous. Dare anyone stop me from feeling so !!
Society, social and moral norms were and are made by humans. They did not fall from the skies. They went through centuries of change and are undergoing change as we talk and I pray that they do for our betterment !
Pink is your second film with Shoojit Sircar after the wonderful Piku. Though Shoojit has not directed Pink, what was it like working with him again and when do we see you being directed by him again?
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Wrong !! PINK is my 3rd film with him. His first with me was ‘Shoebite/Johnny Walker’ ..not released yet !
Shoojit is a thought provoking maker. His choice of subjects and stories reflect that sentiment in all his films. Quite obviously it is a great joy to be working with him, and I do look forward eagerly to work with him again !!
Pink brings you face to face with some remarkable young actors. I am specially impressed by Tapsee.What is you taken on her?
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I have said this many times publicly and I shall say it again. In PINK you shall only notice the ‘remarkable young actors’ and no one else. They are all of them fresh, accomplished and stunning. Their performances carry the film. Their flare in incorporating their respective roles, the efficiency with which they have presented it and the absolute genuineness in enacting their complicated characters was a learning for me ! This generation of actors amazes me, and in PINK this generation has left me open mouthed in wonder and incredulity !!
This year you’ve already played two dark grieving characters in Wazir and Tee3n. Is Pink another grim character? Amitji, are you not overwhelmed by melancholic roles this year?
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Yes … True I have .. So ? What is wrong with that .. Life is grim also ..
You are now doing a film for Yash Raj with Aamir Khan for the first time.What can we expect to see in this film?
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I do not have the permission to talk of that ..
Isn’t it strange that you and Aamir have never worked together before?
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Yes it is strange, but then I haven’t worked with Brando either, or many other such greats !!
Thank you,
Amitabh Bachchan
