Jaya, Amitabh and Abhishek have a private discussion

Amitabh says thank you to wife Jaya with a kiss

For the first time the superstar gets emotional in public

The press throng the venue

Jaya Bachchan was the anchor for the evening

Grand-daughter Navya Naveli launches the festivities. Amar Singh (left)

“He’s my dad” - Abhishek Bachchan proud of his papa

Such a long journey. Amitabh with his family

It was like one more festival in the list of festivals celebrated in India. The 60th birthday of Amitabh Bachchan was celebrated just like any other festival on October 11, 2002. The “angry young man” turned over a new leaf and donned the real life image of the father figure. He choked, was overwhelmed and even moved to tears in public for the first time as he spoke before a very large gathering of the press. With him was his entire family, his wife Jaya Bachchan, his son Abhishek, his daughter Shweta, her husband, Nikhil Nanda, their children, Navya Naveli and Agastya and the Nanda family. He made the occasion more memorable when he invited Karisma Kapoor, his daughter-in-law-to-be and her parents, Randhir Kapoor and Babita to be a part of the Bachchan family. He said he did not believe in formalities and had accepted Karisma as his daughter-in-law “the minute Abhishek told me he had proposed to Karisma and she had accepted”. The formalities of the ceremony of the engagement would take place at the appropriate time, he said.
The celebrations started the previous night when Amitabh who flew down from Mauritius for the occasion, Jaya, the entire family and some very close friends went on a pilgrimage to Tirupati to spend time in thanksgiving and prayers for a better future for Bachchan.

Bachchan started his birthday morning with prayers at the private temple of the Bachchans within ‘Prateeksha’. He then sought the blessings of his ailing parents, Dr. Harvanshrai Bachchan (to be 95 next month) and his mother, Mrs Teji Bachchan (86) who he felt sad could not take part in their son’s celebrations. He paid a special tribute to Dr. Bachchan by reciting one of his favourite poems which he had heard him reciting when he (Amitabh) was a child, imitating his father and the way he recited the poem. He spent a major part of the morning receiving guests from all walks of life and waving out to the massive crowds outside ‘Prateeksha’ from time to time, crowds which kept swelling with people coming in even from different parts of the country and the world.

The most significant part of the birthday celebration was the release of the book on his life and times, To Be Or Not To Be Amitabh Bachchan, published by Jaya Bachchan and her company, Saraswati Publications and written by Khalid Mohamed. The book which consists of 400 pages is a coffee-table book which has more than 800 exclusive photographs covering his entire lifespan till date, has been designed by Ms. Dhun Cordo and the entire family are the exclusive contributors to it. It was Jaya’s idea to present her husband with a book on his 60th birthday which she felt was the best gift for a man who loved books, who indulged in nostalgia and was very sentimental about events, people in his life and the life of his family. The first official book on Bachchan was released by his grand-daughter Navya Naveli. A cake presented by the JW Marriott Hotel where the function was held was cut by Bachchan amidst thunderous applause and singing even from critics. The festive atmosphere had gripped one and all, it seemed.

Amitabh who made one of his most solemn and short speeches choked in between sentences and his tears were visible when he thanked his wife and his entire family who stood by him all the time. He took the opportunity to thank the people of India who had given him so much love for more than 30 years and promised that he would try his best to live up to the expectations during the rest of his life. He thanked the press for being with him through good times and bad times. He said he learned from their criticism. He took time off to make a special mention of his “brother”, the well-known Samajwadi Party general secretary, Amar Singh, who he said was very much a part of his family. Amar Singh, one of the most vociferous speakers among politicians in the country found words difficult to come to him to reciprocate his feelings for Amitabh. He too was almost in tears. He embraced Amitabh and took his seat without saying much. Conspicuous by their absence at the press meet where the entire family had assembled was his brother Ajitabh and wife Ramola but they were represented by their son Bheem.

He later signed some copies of the book, priced at Rs 3000.

Amar Singh and Ms. Jaya Bachchan later in the night held a party to celebrate the occasion where almost anyone who was anyone in the industry and was in Mumbai was present.

Ali Peter John

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