Apologising is a humble feeling: Big B

New Delhi, Sep 12: An innocent remark lands Bachchan family right into the midst of controversy. Jaya Bachchan's off-the-cuff remarks made Amitabh Bachchan apologise to all Maharashtrians and this Big B says is a humble feeling. ''Apologising does not make one look small,'' he told reporters on Thursday, Sep 11.

In the Capital in connection with the Delhi premiere of his latest film 'The Last Lear', Amitabh, when asked how long he would keep on apologising in the face of what are being seen as unnecessary and unjust protests by organisations like the MNS, Mr Bachchan said, ''maafi maangne se koi chota nahi ho jaata (tendering an apology does not make one look small).'' That, however, was all he had to say on the controversy at a post-premiere press meet of the film, which saw him deftly fend off all queries on the incident in his usually calm and composed manner.

Asked for his reaction on the MNS having earlier threatened to stall the release of 'The Last Lear' in protest against Jaya Bachchan's remarks, the actor said, ''the incident is a thing of the past and I would not like to discuss it.'' When a reporter sought his attention on Congress president Sonia Gandhi having reportedly asked the Maharashtra government to look into the security of his family in wake of the protests, Mr Bachchan said, ''I am not aware of the matter. So I cannot comment on it.''

On another query if he would like to respond to the reports of the MNS having withdrawn their protest after his apology on his blog, the actor said, ''that is a thing of the past. Today, I am here for the premiere of''The Last Lear'.'' On reports that some North Indian actors in the Mumbai film industry had written a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi in wake of protests by MNS against his family, Mr Bachchan said, ''You should ask them about it.'' On a question on what the coming close of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress meant for him since wife Jaya was a Samajwadi Party MP, the actor said, ''I am not really interested in politics. So I would not be able to say anything on it.'' An innocuous statement by actor MP Jaya Bachchan at the music release of the film 'Drona' recently sparked off protests from MNS chief Raj Thackeray who threatened to stall release of 'The Last Lear' and 'Drona' unless Jaya apologised.

However, the MNS yesterday withdrew its protest after Amitabh Bachchan apologised for Jaya's remarks on his blog.

UNI