Two police vans followed Amitabh Bachchan on Wednesday night

Security to the Bachchan family was stepped up on Thursday after threats.The Bachchan residence in Juhu, Jalsa, has been given more protection by the state government, after protests from local political party the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

Two police vans followed Amitabh Bachchan on Wednesday night, and three police jeeps were stationed outside a press conference he had held.

The protests were over a statement made by Jaya Bachchan at a political rally, where she was reported as having said: "Hum UP wali hoon Hindi main baat karungi." Though the agitation was called off on Thursday following an apology from Amitabh Bachchan, it is learnt that there was concern of random violence.

Newspaper reports also said that Sonia Gandhi had inquired into the threats against the family and asked the state to do what was needed to protect the family. Big B’s latest movie, The Last Lear, is to be released tomorrow.

In the wake of the controversy, its premiere was moved to Delhi and there was a question mark over its release in Mumbai as scheduled. However that has been resolved and it will be on screen. A cinema hall was damaged, allegedly by MNS supporters on Wednesday, when the controversy flared up.

Speaking about the incident and Thackeray’s comments against wife Jaya, Bachchan said, “Whatever incident took place it is in the past. However I think if we have hurt the sentiment of even one single person by anything Jaya has said then we are expressing our regrets and we are apologizing for that. It was not said to cause any stress. Whatever she said was not with any intention or not politically motivated by any particular party.”

“However if there are people who think that we had hurt them then we apologize to them. If the matter is still not settled then we have a state government, who is going to investigate words spoken by Jaya. After the investigation, whatever the consequence, we are ready to accept it. If they will find that we did a crime please punish us; we are ready to accept that, I am ready to go to jail if the administration wishes so and that would be ultimate solution then we will accept that. Now this matter is with Government and administration. I will wait for Government’s decision,” he said.