It
was
a
war
of
words
between
Amitabh
Bachchan
and
Aamir
Khan
throughout
the
week
in
the
media.
Here's
Amitabh
Bachchan
in
conversation
with
Subhash
K
Jha.
Aamir
Khan
continues
to
justify
his
severe
comments
on
Black
and
in
the
same
breath
he
calls
you
the
biggest
star
that
Indian
cinema
has
ever
seen.
Comment.
The
only
thing
correct
about
this
question
is
Aamir's
justification
of
his
severe
comments
on
Black.
It's
his
individual
opinion
and
it
must
be
respected.
What
I
entirely
disagree
with
is
the
largesse
he
offers
me
on
being
the
'biggest
star
of
Indian
Cinema'.
There
he
has
gone
totally
wrong.
We
hear
a
lot
of
Aamir
recently
because
he
has
a
film
to
release
and
needs
to
promote
it.
Madhuri
Dixit
has
said
that
in
today's
day
and
age
everyone
needs
to
scream
about
their
product.
The
age
of
subtle
and
soft
marketing
is
over.
And
what
is
wrong
if
the
subject
of
Aamir's
film,
which
I
believe
deals
with
challenged
children,
needs
for
him
to
take
a
stand
on
his
beliefs
about
the
film.
He
did
the
same
post
the
release
of
Rang
de
Basanti.
His
beliefs
could
differ
from
the
beliefs
of
other
makers,
so
what?
Black,
which
he
had
issues
with,
won
huge
laurels,
critically
and
commercially,
nationally
and
internationally.
If
his
is
a
voice
of
lone
dissent,
it's
his
right
as
an
individual,
living
in
a
free
society.
And
if
his
comments
attract
debate,
it
can
only
help
in
drawing
attention
to
the
product
he
now
promotes.
I
think
it
to
be
very
smart
of
him
to
be
able
to
have
achieved
that.
Is
there
a
provision
in
law
or
society
that
states
that
one
cannot
be
smart?
And
why
just
Aamir...
in
today's
available
mediums
we
all
do
it.
So
what
if
Shahrukh
goes
to
a
cricket
match
to
promote
his
film?
I
see
nothing
wrong
with
that.
Does
not
the
media
dress
and
decorate
its
pages
and
headlines
to
gain
maximum
attention
and
salability?
I
will
do
it
too,
when
my
film
comes
up
for
release
to
assist
marketing.
Your
glowing
comments
on
Saawariya
have
provoked
a
lot
of
debate
and
discussion.
The
'film
not
living
up
to
expectations'
has
got
nothing
to
do
with
my
personal
opinion.
I
stand
by
my
comments
and
my
observations
about
the
film.
By
comparing
Ranbir
Kapoor
and
Sonam
Kapoor's
performances
to
a
symphony?
Have
you
heard
Beethoven's
symphony?
There's
loud
orchestra
followed
by
a
thin
flute
sound…This
was
the
genius
composer's
interpretation
of
desire
and
destiny…It's
like
the
two
protagonists
in
Saawariya
-Ranbir
is
the
storm,
Sonam
the
soft
breeze.
That's
not
what
the
film
critics
had
to
say?
Film
criticism
is
a
part
of
journalistic
freedom.
And
it
is
the
freedom
of
the
reader
to
accept
or
reject
it.
But
it's
a
healthy
practice.
It
gives
a
point
of
view.
A
view
that
at
times
gets
camouflaged
in
the
exuberance
of
the
offering.
I
read
film
criticism
regularly.
I
learn
from
the
mistakes
that
they
bring
out
and
at
times,
disagree
with
their
assessment.
That
is
my
prerogative.
At
times,
I
use
it
to
challenge
my
own
self,
to
beat
or
overcome
the
opinion
expressed.
Therefore,
I
am
happy
with
that.
I
only
wish
that
the
more
recent
-
well,
of
the
past
15
years
or
so
-
practice,
of
giving
marks
would
not
be
there.
It's
like
being
sent
back
to
school,
where
your
mark
sheet
at
the
end
of
a
paper
or
term,
would
turn
out
to
be
the
most
dreaded
embarrassment!
Some
of
your
best
works,
including
Sholay,
Agneepath,
Sooryavansham
and
Nishabd,
were
severely
panned.
I
have
two
views
on
this.
The
obvious
is
the
immense
hurt
of
reading
disparaging
analysis.
Somehow,
if
it
was
just
a
one-on-one
it
would
be
more
tolerable.
But
to
know
that
millions
will
be
exposed
to
it
is
like
losing
your
pants
in
the
middle
of
a
crowded
street.
And
two,
to
accept
it
in
the
right
spirit.
There
is
another
more
personal
factor
-
despite
the
criticism,
were
we
in
a
position
to
enjoy
the
work
that
we
did?
Well,
I've
enjoyed
immensely
working
in
all
the
films
you
mentioned.
I
found
opportunity
in
them
that
tested
or
challenged
my
creative
senses.
They
may
not
have
been
accepted.
But
they
were
my
little
personal
accomplishments.
And
that
has
been
satisfying.
There's
a
distinct
polarization
in
the
film
industry
with
the
Khans
and
the
Bachchans
said
to
be
on
different
sides
of
the
firing
line.
Once
and
for
all,
state
the
nature
of
your
rapport
with
Shahrukh
Khan?
I
disagree
with
you
entirely
and
strongly.
Our
film
fraternity
is
an
excellent
example
of
happy
integration.
Please
do
not
put
it
on
a
Psephologist's
drawing
board,
where
expressions
like
these
are
used
often
to
examine
the
political
future
of
a
party
in
an
election
process.
Finally,
why
weren't
you
at
Goa
Film
Festival
for
the
premiere
of
The
Last
Lear?
I
was
unaware
of
the
protocol
involved
at
the
Goa
Film
Festival.
My
very
busy
and
tight
schedule
kept
me
away
from
the
premiere,
since
I
was
made
aware
of
it
at
a
very
short
notice.
Story first published: Thursday, December 20, 2007, 12:24 [IST]