Panaji, November 17: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has become the bone of contention between the two organisers of the International Film Festival of India (IIFI), with the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) saying that the Directorate of Film Festival did not want to invite Big B.
ESG’s Red Carpet Committee member Rajendra Talak on Monday told reporters that the ESG wants to invite Bachchan to the festival, but DIFF is not keen on the idea. “We always feel that he should come but what can we do? It is only upto the DFF,” Talak said. Responding to a question during a press conference along with Red Carpet Committee Chairman Chandrakant Kavlekar, Talak said that the ESG is not even allowed to recommend names to the Directorate.
When contacted, Director of DFF, S M Khan denied that there was ever any formal or informal discussion with ESG about inviting Bachchan to the festival.
“We have not received any proposal either formal or informal from ESG on inviting Amitabh Bachchan to the festival. I am in regular touch with ESG officials and there has been no such request from them,” he told PTI.
Talak said that the society could not invite the star as it is not involved in conceptualising the event but is merely involved in logistic support. Talak, who himself is a National Award winning filmmaker, refused to offer any comment when asked whether Bachchan’s political affiliations had anything to do with not being invited for the festival.
Earlier last month, Bachchan during his Goa visit had expressed his interest to attend IFFI. When asked why is he not attending the festival, Bachchan had replied, “the question should be asked for those who invite people for the festival.” IFFI 2009 will be held in Goa from November 23 to December 3 in the cities of Panaji and Margao. The festival was shifted to Goa in 2004 and since then ESG has been co-hosting it.
Meanwhile, ESG has planned red carpet sessions every day in the evening during the festival, which will be open for the non-delegates too. Various competitions have been organised during the occasion and winners will be given prizes including photo opportunity with the stars.
–PTI