Date:09/04/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/09/stories/2004040903371200.htm

National - Elections 2004

Amitabh: I was a failure in politics

NEW DELHI, APRIL 8. Admitting that he proved to be a failure in politics, film star Amitabh Bachchan has said he had entered politics only in support of Rajiv Gandhi and the bereaved Gandhi family.

He told Aaj Tak in an interview to be telecast on Sunday that his closeness with the Gandhi family had waned since then and the onus now rested on them of taking the relationship further.

Mr. Bachchan said he knew he had made a mistake about joining politics once he entered Parliament as he realised he did not have the traits to be a successful politician.

On a question about actors entering politics and canvassing for various political parties, the superstar said that was a matter of personal choice, but he himself had no intentions of either entering politics or canvassing for any candidate.

Asked about his friendship with the Samajwadi Party leader, Amar Singh, Mr. Bachchan said he was a personal friend. "I consider him to be my younger brother" and we share a very good relationship, he said. He clarified that he had received no financial support from either Mr. Singh or the Reliance vice-president, Anil Ambani.

Commenting on his "overexposure" on TV and films during the past two years, he said he was doing all the work to repay the debts incurred by ABCL, now renamed as AB Corp. All the proceeds from these assignments were going to his company so that all the creditors who had stood by him would be able to recover their money.

Speaking about his son, he said though Abhishek was still to make a mark in the film industry, his time would come and he would succeed.

UNI