Kamal Ghorui
Amitabh Bachchan recently expressed his joy and pride over India’s commanding triumph at the U19 Cricket World Cup, where the Ayush Mhatre-led team secured a record sixth title. India outplayed England by a huge 100-run margin at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe, marking the largest victory by runs in an U19 World Cup final. The emphatic win led the legendary actor to reflect on how India’s standing on the global stage has transformed—not just in cricket, but across multiple fields.In his latest blog entry, Bachchan shared a personal anecdote from years ago that left a deep impact on him. Recounting an incident during an overseas trip for a film festival, he chose not to name the country but vividly described the experience.
“While on the flight, I noticed a newspaper with a photograph from one of my films,” he wrote. “Not understanding the language, I asked the air hostess what it said. She told me it was a poster of an Indian film and that the paper mentioned the actor was arriving in the country.”What happened after he landed was entirely unexpected. Bachchan recalled that as soon as he stepped off the aircraft, crowds began to swell around him, making it nearly impossible to reach immigration. The situation soon spiralled out of control, prompting intervention from the authorities. “People kept surrounding me, and it became difficult to even walk,” he remembered. “The chaos grew so intense that the police had to pull me out of the crowd, escort me out of the airport, and drive me straight to my hotel.“In what he described as a first-of-its-kind experience, Bachchan revealed that his immigration process was completed at the hotel itself. He added that the overwhelming crowd made him feel suffocated. Throughout his stay, he was accompanied by police escorts and patrol vehicles, whether he was attending official engagements or simply stepping out to explore.Amid all the attention, a senior journalist from the host country penned an article about him with a headline that left Bachchan stunned. It read, “WHY IS SO MUCH ATTENTION BEING GIVEN TO THIS 3RD RATE ACTOR FROM A 3RD WORLD COUNTRY?” Looking back at the comment, Bachchan noted that while he could accept criticism directed at him personally, the reference to India was deeply painful. “The ‘third-rate actor’ comment was acceptable to me,” he wrote. “But calling India a third-world country hurt deeply.”Connecting that memory to India’s current achievements, Bachchan asserted that the country’s global image has undergone a dramatic shift.“I repeat this today for clarity,” he wrote. “U19 Cricket, India, World Champions. Blind, Women’s, Men’s cricket, all world champions. We are number one. First in the world. We are not a third-world country anymore. We are a first-world nation.” He ended the post on a powerful patriotic note, declaring, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai!”—a reflection of the pride he feels in India’s rise on the world stage.
