/> A guarded but strongly supportive section of the film industry reacts to the backlash against Bachchan for building a girls's school in UP.

Preity Zinta: "It's so sad that this is happening in this day and age when the globe has shrunk to an oyster and every country in the world is a hop away. Why are we talking about state-wise existence? Amitji belongs to the whole country.

Technically even I'm not a Mumbayite. I come from Simla. But I've never felt like an outsider. I come from an army background where as child I moved from city to city all over the country with my parents without feeling homeless.

My brother fought the Kargil war and we back home in Simla held our breath for the country, not for ourselves. We're talking of going global, we're taking cinema and cricket to an international level. Politics too needs to rise above narrow interests.

If Amitji is building a girls' school in UP then good.We need many more such schools in the country. Give us the land,we'll build one in Mumbai.Ironically I'm off to the North India for a trip. And no I'm not fleeing Mumbai, ha ha.

Farhan Akhtar: "In a census conducted in 2001 the female literacy rate in Maharashtra was 67.51 percent whereas the equivalent literacy rate in UP was 42.98 percent By establishing a girls' school in UP Mr Bachchan has made a gesture that in fact needs to be applauded by any person who values progress in this country.Jai Hind!

Govinda: "Amitabh Bachchanji is among the handful of national icons in this country. If the comment about his building a school is political then we need to solve it through discussion.

Questions about motives, no matter how noble, have been put forward even to the Gods in our mythology. Kabhi koi chuta nahin. UP is where Amitji's roots are. The state is his mother-land. If he's displaying his affection for his mother what's the harm ?

However a political party has the right to question a cultural or a national issue. But at the same time we should encourage any party or individual that thinks of country's progress. And no one has the right to make a personal comment on Bachchan Saab. He has brought fame and recognition globally.

It's very wrong. It's common practice to harass celebrities. When I am in such situations I feel very isolated. Amitji to Amitji hain. He has the whole nation standing up for him. We all respect him immensely. I'd never want any political issue to tarnish his image.

For us he's way beyond these issues. Jai sankat mochan ki. Amitji is my role-model. Sure he can be questioned for his public actions. But building a school or a hospital should be above politics.

Hema Malini: "As Mr Bachchan comes from UP there's nothing wrong in him being fond of the State. Why can't these people leave him alone and let him exercise his demorcratic rights to live and do what he likes?

Mahesh Bhatt: "While the world weeps for Amit I wonder what's the plight of the Bhojpuri producer who's film has been stopped?! Having said that, I stand firmly in Amit's defence. This is outrageous!

Vipul Shah: "The Bachchans are like family to me. It's very unfortunate that Amitji has been dragged into this. According to me he belongs to every corner of India and to every Indian in the world.

However I'm curious about certain things. Has anybody offered Amitji the brand ambassadorship of Maharashtra which he has bypassed in favour of UP?

Has anyone informed Mr Raj Thackeray that his Amitji's first regional film was in Marathi and produced by his Marathi makeup Deepa Sawant? The same Sawant has produced the Bhojpuri film that Mr Thackeray seems so upset about.

Has anyone told Mr Tchakeray about all the charity work that Amitji has done over the years for Maharashtra and Mumbai? I think once Mr Thackeray will be informed of these facts he'll change his stance towards Amitji.

Sujoy Ghosh: (directing AB and the CM's son Riteish Deshmukh in Alladdin)—"This isn't a progressive attitude at all! No one can tell me what to like or dislike. No matter where we live we've a soft spot for our roots.

Till my dying day I'll be pro-Kolkata, What's wrong with that? But that doesn't mean I don't love Mumbai. I'm shocked by this attitude in this day and age.

Vaibhavi Merchant: "I don't understand why politicians forget we're a Republican country, and Sir (AB) happens to be its citizen.

He has every right to choose which state he chooses to live in and which he chooses to support, or the kind of films he does. He's also free to choose his friends, though sadly he has no choice when it comes to enemies.

He's our country's brand ambassador and an icon to so many of us. His family and him shouldn't be dragged into politics and harassed in such political debates. He doesn't deserve this.

Suneel Darshan: "So what's wrong in being pro the state of your origin? At the end of the day aren't we all Indians ? I feel at a time when the nation is hurling forward we shouldn't create impediments in our growth by talking provincially.

Govind Nihalani: "I don't find any justifiable logic in it."

Om Puri: "It's very sad and ridiculous to pick on Amitabh Bachchan and to question him in democratic India about the source of his income and where he's putting his money. As a film person I do understand that one needs to put back some money into films.

But why question something as noble as opening a school in an under-developed area? To pick on him is nothing but arm-twisting. And he's easy target. An industrialist doing the same thing wouldn't be targeted. But targeting a Bachchan means immediate publicity.

This is a free country and it's in very bad taste to target people from particular states just because they're vulnerable. If people from Bihar and UP are working in Mumbai they're doing so because they're qualified for the jobs. No one has favoured them.

In fact Maharashtrians are favoured in many services. Most auto- rickshaws are run by Maharashtrians. Just imagine what would happen to Mumbai if the workforce from North and South India vanished!..This is nothing but a publicity stunt to get Maharashtrian votes.

They can scream as much as they like they cannot harm Amitabh Bachchan. He doesn't give a damn. Even in the farming controversy, preventing a tribal from buying farm land makes sense since that tribal may get drunk and sell it off. But why target Amitabh Bachchan?

He isn't the first person to buy land without technically being a farmer. Luckily I've never been in a controversy. But I can understand how annoying it must be for Mr Bachchan."