New Delhi: Despite what haters will have you believe, Indian film industry’s biggest superstar Amitabh Bachchan did not charge any appearance fee for singing the national anthem during the India-Pakistan World Twenty 20 clash Saturday night at the iconic Eden Gardens
Bachchan’s rendition of ‘Jana Gana Mana’ provided goosebumps to Indians the world over. However, the overwhelming emotions fizzled out soon after social media posts about him appeared, saying he had accepted Rs40,000,000 (Dh2.2 million) to croon the anthem.
The 73-year-old actor was even questioned on various social media platforms for his patriotism.
Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president and Indian cricket team’s ex-captain Saurav Ganguly Monday rubbished all such reports and confirmed that the legendary actor did not charge a single penny for singing the anthem.
“Mr Bachchan is one and only, a special person. I am eternally grateful to him for coming down and singing the national anthem at the Eden Gardens,” Ganguly said in an interview to local media in West Bengal.
Ganguly also said that the megastar paid for his air tickets and stay at a hotel and spent Rs3 million from his own pocket. Ganguly said he begged Bachchan to take some amount but he flatly refused to charge for such an occasion.
“Can you ever imagine someone paying Rs 30 lakhs (Rs3 million) of his own pocket to perform? He booked his own flight, bought his own tickets and even paid the hotel bills. I literally begged him to take some money but he said that I am doing it for love and there is no question of money being involved,” Ganguly added.
Apparently disgusted with attacks on social media, Bachchan on Monday tweeted, “when you give attention to disgusting rubbish, you justify the purpose of the dirt. Cheap attention.”
India beat Pakistan by six wickets in the crucial match.
Meanwhile, after losing to India, Pakistanis turned their ire on one of their own.
Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan was attacked on social media for what many described as his “substandard performance” of his country’s national anthem at the Eden Gardens. Khan’s botched up rendition of the anthem caused displeasure among many fans across Pakistan.
“Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan created a jinx on our chances of winning the cricket match. He forgot the words and made a mockery of our national anthem,” tweeted Jamal Ahmad from Karachi.
“Shafqat Amanat Ali should not be allowed to sing the national anthem again. We are ashamed of his performance in front of lakhs of people,” Naeem Akhtar from Islamabad commented on Twitter.
In his defence, Khan apologised for his performance, saying he was deeply hurt by the little faith that Pakistanis showed in him.
“I admit that there were a few audio and technical glitches that may have sounded like lyrical errors and I will surely apologise for not being able to win your praises this time, but assure you I had by no means forgotten our beloved ‘Qaumi Tarana’,” Khan said in a statement Monday.
“I will still apologise though, as I do not believe that ‘apologising’ changes me as an artiste or a person, but I will say that I am deeply hurt by the little faith my fellow Pakistanis have in me after all these years of living and breathing the spirit of my country into my music,” he added.
