Amitabh admits Shatrughan is 'senior', prefers to keep mum

Gurgaon, June 2 (IANS) Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan Monday refused to comment on fellow actor Shatrughan Sinha's latest barb - that he thinks the Big B is senior to him in age, but junior to him in the Hindi film industry.

Actor-turned politician Sinha made the comments at a press conference in New Delhi Monday.

Asked by the media here to comment, Amitabh was in no mood to take war of words further, saying, "He is my senior, I admit that and I won't make any further comment on this. Because I have been taught not to answer back my senior."

The actor was here to launch Idea Sarkar Raj Yatra.

Queried on the reason for starting a blog, whether it was his urge to connect with his fans, the Big B said: "I think every artist would want to connect with the people. We survive because of them and we are here because of their patronage. It is important for us to know what they think about us. The only interaction we had in the past was when we went to public forums."

"If there is loud applause you should imagine you are alive. If it is less, then you need to work a lot; and if you are abused right on the street, which has happened to many of us, including me, it means you are a failure and need to do something about it."

"When we interact with people we come to know about their temperament. It is also a great morale booster for us. It is important for us to be in touch with them. We need the people just as much as our professional success. We are fortunate that modern technology has given us this facility."

He also spoke about helping the ageing nurse who looked after him while he was admitted in a Bangalore hospital after a near fatal accident on the sets of "Coolie" in 1982. The nurse is reported to be dire need of money.

"I was not in a condition to remember who looked after me during that period. I was in semi comma. I have been told about her and I have sent money to her."

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