Amitabh Bachchan Speaks To Subhash K Jha After Being Cleared By The Allahabad High Court In The Barabanki Land Case.

The judgement must come as a shock to people who presumed you'd be embroiled in one more seemingly endless tangle.
In my School Boxing Championships I won the award for the ' pluckiest loser'. It meant that I had to fight against a much larger and stronger opponent and even though I lost, I fought so hard I nearly won.

It's a lesson that has remained with me and one that I practice diligently. Controversies against individuals do two things. They embarrass the person concerned.

And secondly, they justify and confirm his or her importance. When I do no wrong I dwell on and relish the latter.They also do another thing for me. They give me the strength to fight and disprove them.

You're also constantly under scrutiny from the IT department?
Service tax and income tax notices are within the jurisdiction of the law of the land and the Revenue Acts. They can be challenged, but not stopped. Indeed, income tax and death are the only two constants in life.

The Department has the right to question us and we have the right to defend it. And both parties have been given ample provision in our democratic system to justify themselves.

There is no argument here at all. But what is happening in todays media blitz is that every appeal, deliberation, comment is highlighted to seek attention. This at times creates wrong or dubious impressions causing a huge amount of irreparable damage to the victim.

Do you feel you and your family are being unnecessarily harassed ?
If you were to look at my and my family's record this year you would find endless examples of that. Be it the Office of Profit on Jaya, the Enforcement Directorate on Aishwarya and the mysterious parcel, the UP ad campaign of mine and its legal veracity, the land matter, a PIL on me for a financial matter and so on.

All have, thankfully and by the grace of God either been dismissed by the Courts, or have ended in our favor. On delving into the details of those that petitioned against us we discovered that they were all from individuals connected to a particular political party.

I only rest on one belief. If I have done no wrong, nobody will be able to touch me. And if I have done wrong, nobody will be able to save me.

Many of your wellwishers feel these are nothing but attempts to trouble your for your association with Amar Singhji.
If they call themselves well wishers they have no business asking me this question. I have never commented on or questioned other peoples choices or relationships and I do not intend to either.

Others must stop doing that for me. I am happy the way I am and content with my conduct. If others are not then they need to sort themselves out, not me.

And one last word. I consider it a great privilege and an honour if I am being troubled because of my association with Amar Singhji and Mulayam Singhji. They are family to me.

Does such harassment make you feel less than equal to the ordinary citizen or the less extraordinary celebrity who can buy land, have a wedding, and do other normal things without being hounded?
No it does not. I have always believed myself and my family to be ordinary citizens of this country. 'Extraordinary' and 'celebrity' are titles we have never believed in adhered to or enjoyed. We have never ever asked for, or exercised any special treatment in any circumstance.

All reports of 'high handedness' and special treatment meted out to us, particularly in more recent times during our temple visits or other social public appearances, are malicious, vile and deliberate misrepresentations.

I am ready to stand any test or enquiry in that regard. In public arenas if fans and well wishers mob and crowd us we have the right to seek protection for our safety and indeed more importantly, for normalcy to be restored, so that there is no cause for discomfort to the common man. Us included.

If it is projected in a manner that portrays us in bad light we can do nothing about it. We shall live with that.

But it will not stop us from doing what we believe to be our fundamental right as a citizen of this country.Those that are are unhappy with our happiness, have a serious problem. Not us.