Amitabh Bachchan reportedly turns down Pakistani role

Actor exits project following Pulwama attack in fear of being called ‘anti-national’

Actor Amitabh Bachchan was all set to play a Pakistani protagonist in Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty’s directorial debut. However, deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan ever since the Pulwama attack, appear to have prompted the Bollywood megastar to turn the role down, reported Bollywood Hungama.

According to a report, Pookutty has been discussing the project with the Paa star for two years now and was excited to play the character initially.

PHOTO: REUTERS

“Resul had been discussing the film’s script with Bachchan sahab for two years now. Bachchan Saab loved the peace message in Resul’s Indo-Pak story. Resul waited for his and they were finally supposed to go on the floors. But, when relations worsened between the two countries, Bachchan started having second thoughts,” said a source. The report added that the B-town veteran wouldn’t want to be labelled ‘anti-national’ or embroiled in any controversies.

PHOTO: FILE

Bachchan was last seen in Badla, a thriller with Taapsee Pannu in the lead. He recently took to Twitter to criticise why the Sujoy Ghosh-helmed film was not publicised by neither the producer, the director himself or anyone from the industry.

“About time someone started talking about this silent success! Because, not a single person has even spent a nano second to compliment the success of Badla.”

He will next be seen in the multi-starrer Brahmastra which is being directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Karan Johar.

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