Amitabh Bachchan Is Back From London. He talks To Subhash K Jha About The Experience Of Getting A Doctorate & Raising Funds For Mumbai Blast Victims.

Q: You've just been awarded a doctorate by the de Montford university.
A: It has been an extremely humbling experience. The honour and dignity afforded to me has been incredibly overwhelming.

The pageantry and protocol, the discipline and décor, the procedures and the grace...all just quite unbelievable and most un -deserving.

The University is the third largest in the UK and has a great history and tradition. For them to give recognition to an actor of the Indian Film Industry is a first not just for India but also for Great Britain.

Q: I believe you were mentioned in British parliament?
A: Yes, the ceremony and occasion apart, what was most breathtaking was the mention in the annals of British Parliament and therefore in British History, acknowledging my contribution through a motion passed on the floor of the House of Commons, and to top it all, a confirmation of it by the Leader of the House, Jack Straw in the august premises, during the days' proceedings, as I sat in the gallery witnessing all this.

What followed thereafter were personal meetings, with almost half the cabinet, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett, now very much in the news on Lebanon, and her great desire to seek autographs from me for the Indian staff working in her office, or else she would have 'a heavy price to pay'.

Q: Wasn't there a fun-raising dinner for Mumbai's blast victims?
A: The next day a dinner was held in my honour in the House of Commons for over 200 and it was most gratifying for me to, have turned the event at my insistence, to raise funds for the victims of the Mumbai Blasts. And may I add that the two largest donors were from Pakistan.

Spontaneously, we raised approx Pounds Sterling 26,000 and my dear friend and younger brother Amar Singhji, who had accompanied me, matched the entire amount to make it 50,000.

Q: How will you make sure the money reaches the victims?
A: We are going to distribute this personally to the victims as soon as we can obtain relevant legal permissions from the Government to bring this amount in. Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, my friend and host will be writing to the concerned authorities, for clearances.

Q: So a pleasurable experience?
A: Yes, I must tell you meeting the community in Leicester was another high. The affection and the love of the people never ceases to amaze me, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

At the end of it all, I respect the University for this recognition, but 'Dr Bachchan' is a term that shall remain always with the memory of my father. He was the true bearer of this title. I would never ever acknowledge the 'use' of this abbreviation before my name.

Q: Did you give a speech?
A: Yes I did. It was part of the protocol and a meticulously designed formal procedure.

Q: Were you accompanied by family?
A: No. Jaya had to be in Mumbai to be with my ailing mother, now hospitalised, and also to be present a day before in Parliament for her swearing in. Abhishek was in South Africa shooting for Dhoom 2. But, the family was more than ably represented by Amar Singhji.

Q: Were you also there for a shooting?
A: I was shooting for 'Baabul', left for Mumbai and connected to Delhi the next morning, witnessed the swearing in, came back to Mumbai by the evening and at night took the flight back to London to resume shooting the following morning. I returned early this morning and am on set of Baabul as I speak to you.

Q: BAFTA held a Bollywood Weekend last week. Why weren't you there?
A: BAFTA is the British Academy of Film Theatre and Arts... I presume..or something similar... It is NOT... the BRITISH ACADEMY FOR TRIVIAL AMITABH !!