Megastar Amitabh Bachchan today (September 10) apologised and sought “forgiveness” for certain remarks made by his wife Jaya, in an apparent bid to placate Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and his estranged nephew Raj Thackeray who attacked her for allegedly making anti-Marathi utterances. “Everything that we possess today is what came to us from this great state and city. We never have and never can look at Maharashtra with disrespect. If inadvertently this is what has been construed, then we apologise and are sorry and seek forgiveness for any sentiments that have been hurt,” he said.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan today said the casual off-the-cuff remarks about speaking in Hindi by his wife Jaya had hurt many people’s sentiments and was glad that she has apologised for it.

“My first reaction in this matter is that the sentiments have been hurt. I’m not going into what has been said under what circumstances even if one person is disturbed that disturbance be addressed. All else can come later,” Big B said.

However, speaking exclusively to TIMES NOW’s Deputy News Editor Maharukh Inayat, Amitabh Bachchan made it clear that the remarks made by Jaya at a music launch function were without malice or deliberate intent.

“I do feel that Jaya had said anything derogatory to the language, culture, the city and the people that live here. It was just a casual remark but was given an interpretation, which is now creating severe reactions. We have apologized and we have said that we are sorry and we seek for forgiveness. We never ever intended to hurt any sentiments at all,” he said.

But, if it has caused hurt to the sentiments of Maharashtra, Maharashtrians and indeed the city and citizens of Mumbai, then she must seek regret and offer apology.

The premiere of Amitabh Bachchan starrer ‘The Last Lear’ was today called off after suspected MNS activists attacked a suburban multiplex, which was to host the event.

Later, at a press meet, Bachchan said Raj is “our friend” and “we respect each other”.

Bachchan, who faced a volley of questions on the controversy triggered by Jaya’s comments, said his wife had made “casual off-the-cuff” comments with “no malice”.

If people people feel that their sentiments have been hurt, “we express our regret and we apologise”.

Noting that the State government was inquiring into the issue, he said “we are ready to face the consequences. If we are guilty of any crime, punish us”.

Producers of the film react

Producers of “The Last Lear”, Planman Motion Pictures, play down cancellation of the premiere of the Bing-B film. The producers also said that only the premiere of Mumbai has been cancelled, and that at other places, the premieres would happen as per schedule.

What sparked the controversy was that Jaya Bachchan at the music launch of Abhishek Bachchan-starrer “Drona” chose to speak only in Hindi. Jaya, the actress-MP, who had attended a function on Saturday (Sep 7) to promote her film ‘Drona’ had said, “Hum UP ke log hain, hume Hindi mein baat karni chahiye” (we are from Uttar Pradesh and should speak in Hindi), triggering vehement protests from the Shiv Sena and the MNS.

On Monday (Sep 8) MNS Chief Raj Thackeray warned the Bachchans that unless Jaya Bachchan apologised none of the Bachchan families films would be allowed to be screened in Maharastra. He also said that the ads featuring them would also be boycotted.

Following the statements made by Raj Thackeray some of Amitabh Bachchan’s hoardings across Mumbai were vandalised by MNS workers.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also rejected actress Jaya Bachchan’s apology published in an English daily here and asked her to tender a public apology on camera over her ‘anti-Marathi’ remarks.

“We cannot accept the apology expressed to an English paper. She should speak in front of the entire media, specially the regional,” MNS leader Shishir Shinde said.

Taking a strong objection to Jaya’s remarks, Raj Thackeray had yesterday declared a ‘ban’ on films involving the Bachchan family till she tendered an unconditional apology.

Jaya offered her apology to the people of Maharashtra in a Mumbai daily, saying she had no intention to hurt the sentiments of Marathi people.

The Mumbai police have issued a prohibitory order preventing MNS chief Raj Thackeray from making provocative speeches and holding press conferences for a month.

Bachchan wrote in his blog that Jaya’s remarks did not in any manner sound “anti-Marathi” and that “there is no denigration, but words have a funny way of being mutilated to suit a particular copy or expression in its interpretation”.

The actress-MP, who had attended a function on Saturday to promote her film ‘Drona’ had said, “Hum UP ke log hai, hume Hindi mein baat karni chahiye” (we are from Uttar Pradesh and should speak in Hindi).

“Everything that we possess today is what came to us from this great state and city. We never have and never can look at Maharashtra with disrespect. If inadvertently this is what has been construed, then we apologise and are sorry and seek forgiveness for any sentiments that have been hurt,” he said.

Big B has further written in his blog, “Driving to the airport in London early morning, I rummage through the detailed bunch of faxed cuttings of the press in Mumbai of date and am pleased and satisfied to read in the Mumbai Mirror that Jaya has on her own spoken to the media on the very same lines, regretted the hurt caused and apologised. I feel grateful and happy.”

“And I am not even going into the vast monetary contributions that we as a family have made to Hospitals Hinduja in Mahim, Mumbai, the Breach Candy in South Mumbai and several other institutions for the blind and the needy.”

“We have signed on for the education of children. Every year two or three children get educated in Mumbai through our funding because they do not have the means,” he said. “All our unused and old personal clothing goes to a ‘Home’ that cares for the poor.”

“Abhishek and Aishwarya take personal care and concern on the welfare of AIDS affected children in another special ‘Home’ in the city,” Bachchan wrote.

“Does all this reflect disrespect for Maharashtra, Maharashtrians and Mumbai??”

“I say all this with great humility. I had never ever wanted to justify our deeds and acts. I am not comfortable with it,” he added.

“We are concerned and simple citizens of this great country of ours. God has been gracious to us and to the small contributions we as a family, starting from my illustrious father, have made. There has been respect and recognition both within and outside the country. We live a quiet and a non interfering life,” he said.

“Our desire to remain within us has been judged incredulously as arrogance. Blessings have come in abundance from well wishers and fans. We are far removed from the exalted position that the outside world considers us to be in. I have but, just a simple observation to make.”

“If we have reached where we have today in the eyes of the people. And survived. There must be something we are doing, that is right.” “I pray each day for peace and harmony and strength. And the will to continue doing what is right. So help me God, the actor said reflecting his distressed state of mind,” the actor added.