Why Big B is getting personal ?

Bollywood’s superstar Amitabh Bachchan and actor turned politician Shatrughan Sinha are lodged in a war of words.

Shatrughan Sinha made comments implying that the recent International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards nominations have been fixed in the Bachchan family’s favour. Sinha’s comment prompted a response from the Big B, who is the brand ambassador of IIFA awards. But rufusing to relent, Sinha hit back making caustic comments suggesting that if a film like ’Taare Zameen Par’ failed to make it to the awards, it was surprising that a film like ’Guru’ did.

When TIMES NOW spoke to Shatrughan Sinha, he maintained that he was not referring to the IIFA awards being ’fixed’, but awards in general. He, however, alleged all the awards lacked transparency as these were influenced by individuals, groups and politics.

"It is a conflict of interest because he is a brand ambassador of IIFA and so it is natural that he will advocate IIFA awards. He is associated with IIFA, there is some kind of obligation of contract; am not saying it is in cash, it can be in kind."

On Bachchan’s remarks that IIFA awards are given on the basis of voting and computerisation, Sinha said he is elder to him in the film industry and knows the truth. "Why a popular film like Amir Khan’s ’Taare Zamin Par’ which has been appreciated by the audience did not get a nomination?" he asked.

Sinha said "this significant omission is due to extraneous factors to benefit certain people and families."

"He is saying the awards are based on computerisation, etc. I am in this industry for almost 35 years, I need not be told how the awards are given out," he added.

Describing Amitabh Bachchan as his good friend, Shatrughan Sinha on Wednesday said he was taken aback by superstar’s outbursts against him over IIFA award nominations.

Bachchan’s comments on him were "unnecessary and bad in taste", the shotgun told news agencies.

Describing the mega star as his good friend with whom he did many successful movies, Sinha said he failed to understand the reason for his being overtaken by anger. "I had just said the award has turned out to be a function of a Bollywood family and did not name anybody... there are families of Khans, Raj Kapoor and Rakesh Roshan in the films...so on what basis Amitabh assumed I was referring to his family," he said.

Sinha said the IIFA itself did not react to his comments and asked "is Bachchan senior trying to be more loyal than the king to please IIFA (of which he is brand ambassador)?"

On Big B’s allegation that he had a role in actress Raveena Tandon getting the national award when he was a minister in the Vajpayee government, Sinha said "assuming it is true, everybody knows that there was a hand of the then Mulayam Singh Yadav government in all the awards given to Bachchan’s family in Uttar Pradesh."

Stepping right into the controversy over the IIFA awards, Amitabh Bachchan on Wednesday hit out at co-star Shatrughan Sinha in his blog.

“A section of the print media carried comment from my colleague and friend and neighbour, Shatrughan Sinha. It reportedly quoted his reactions to the nomination list of the IIFA awards, wherein he has purportedly stated that sab kissika beta hai, ya kissiki bahu, ya kissiki biwi ’, and the media adding there interpretation to it, stating that this was directed to a particular family of ’guru’ fame," he states in his blog.

The Mani Ratnam directed Guru , starring Amitabh’s son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, has been nominated in all the main categories of the IIFA awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Performance in a leading role.

"I believe what is being insinuated is that there is partiality or some ’fixing’ in the choice of the nominations carried by IIFA. And as the report concluded, the indication was towards one family, not difficult to guess which one," Amitabh writes.

The actor, who is readying for the release of his next film Bhootnath , said he is surprised by Shatrughan Sinha’s allegation and harks back to the past to make a point.

"I am surprised at this observation, especially since, during the time of the National Award selection for best actress in one of the past years, when the award went to Raveena Tandon, it was alleged that Shatrughan Sinha’s wife, the lovely and graceful Poonam, a great friend of Raveena’s mother had recommended the appointment of MacMohan, the brother of Raveena’s mother, on the board of the jury (structured by the government, in power - in this case the BJP, of which Mr. Sinha was a Minister of State) in order that he may cast his vote in favour of Raveena Tandon."

"If this alleged story is true then I do value Mr. Sinha’s alleged statement of sab kissika beta, kissiki beti, kissiki biwi - you are so right Shatru," he wrote.

"Of course, this does not take anything away from Raveena’s very deserving award - she has been a wonderful and talented co-artist in many films of mine, or, MacMohan, the Sambha of Sholay , who has remained a dear friend and has worked with me in several films. As has Mr. Sinha."

Commenting on the IIFA nominations, Amitabh said the names were finalised through computerised voting system.

"And may I also state that IIFA nominations come from the film fraternity through computerised voting systems, audited and compiled by PriceWaterhouse Coopers, an international company of repute and standing."

"And Shatru! I have seen some very encouraging reports of the film, where your son is being introduced to this great industry. May he prosper and succeed even more than his illustrious father and may he never have to face a slighted accusation of ’fixing’, when his name comes up for an award in future."

The shotgun expressed serious doubts over transparency and objectivity with regard to all the awards.

"Some of the undeserving films like ’Eklavya’ and ‘Jeans’ were nominated for Oscar recently in place of deserving ones. As a result, ’Eklavya’ did not get the Oscar nomination," he said.

Sinha said Hollywood awards still hold credibility and this is the reason those winning or even losing these are respected. He said people with impeccable credibility should be made jury members for fair selection of award winners.

The IIFA awards will be held this year in Bangkok from June 6-8.

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