Amitabh unveils wax look-alike at Tussaud's

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, DEC 20. Mr. Amitabh Bachchan today became the first Indian film actor to join some of the world's most renowned personalities who have been immortalised at Madam Tussaud's wax museum here. A large number of his fans mobbed him as he arrived at the museum and unveiled his own wax look-alike this morning.

The figure of the Bollywood legend, dressed in a black jacket (`bandgalla') and a shawl, has cost 30,000 pounds and taken sculptor Stuart Williamson six months to get it right. Apart from a personal sitting by Mr. Bachchan, the figure was drawn up with the help of ``hundreds of photographs,'' a

spokesperson for Madame Tussaud's said.

Amid clamour for autographs and handshakes, Mr. Bachchan said he was ``deeply honoured.'' ``I want to express my gratitude and thanks to Madam Tussaud's, particularly for giving Indian cinema a place in their prestigious exhibition,'' he said as tourists, wondering what the fuss was about, milled

around the place. He had flown into London this morning for the event and was to return home in the evening.

The museum's spokesperson said the decision to include Mr. Bachchan in its gallery of ``greats'' was taken on the basis of a public poll which voted him as the most popular film star. He beat Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and late Raj Kapoor to join the ranks of Elizabeth Taylor and Mel Gibson, among others.

The museum had made special arrangements to ensure that nobody was denied access to the event so long as they paid for it. A ``fast track'' booking system was introduced to clear the rush.

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Section  : International
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