/> Amitabh Bachchan Was Recently In New York, Speaks Of Family Matters

You attended an event for your father in the US.
Yes, the 'Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan' an organisation in USA which works for the propagation of Indian Arts and Culture organised an evening in remembrance of the 100th year of my father's birth, at the prestigious Lincoln Centre in New York.

The Avery Fisher Hall is one of their most decorated locations, one that Lincoln Centre takes great pride in. It's a three-tier almost semi -circular facility, with the most amazing acoustics. The New York Philharmonic plays there. Has a capacity of over 2500 seats.

What were you required to do?
I did a live recitation of my fathers works, which was followed by a short Kathak ballet by a group from Delhi on my father's poems. A book written by Pushpa Bharti, wife of the late Hindi author Dharamveer Bharti, on my father was released by me.

Were you accompanied by the rest of the family?
Abhishek and Aishwarya, who were in LA for the screening of Guru at the UCLA, joined me in New York, after flying through Toronto where they had gone for the press conference on their forthcoming World Tour Unforgettable.

It was an emotional moment for me. Remembering my father through my years spent with him is always emotional. There was a detailed analysis and appreciation of his work done by the speaker before me. I spoke of the more personal moments. And then I did an hour and a half rendition of his poems.

It must have been a well-attended event.
The Hall was packed. Many went back because there were no more seats available, and I was absolutely surprised at the number and quality of the audience who were so aware and appreciative of Hindi and Hindi literature and poetry.

Several bouquets and standing ovations later, we came back to the Hotel and travelled next morning to London and Mumbai filled with great nostalgia and immense pride.

You seem overwhelmed.
It was just like the numerous Kavi Sammelans that I used to attend with my father and witness the euphoria that he used to create. Just such a wonderful and memorable evening. Abhishek and Aishwarya left for Paris. She starts shooting there for Pink Panther 2 for a day and we all come back on 22nd. The three of us also did a press conference for the World Tour in New York as well.

While in NY, Aishwarya also unveiled another wax statue...her second after the one in London. Both you and she figure in Madame Tussaud. Your thoughts on that.
No, she did not unveil any statue. She, as I just said, was in LA for Guru. Her dates could not match. But yes, great that Tussauds happened in New York. It's wonderful to see so much importance and relevance being given to things Indian. And to have a member of the family being given this honour...well, nothing could give us more pride.

Back home there's a kind of media-hounding going on against you regarding the farmlands.
No, I don't believe that there is any media hounding. None at all. Media is merely reporting what they see and gather. The farm matter is in the Court now and sub judice. The law of the land will decide and we shall abide.