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Looking for the Big B: Bollywood, Bachchan and Me
By
Jessica Hines
'Jessica,' he pronounced, 'you have known me for seven years. My life has changed seven times. You will never finish this book.' There is no reason why Amitabh Bachchan and I should appear in the same sentence. He is India's most legendary film star - a cross between Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino, Elvis, and with more than a hint of John Travolta. In a country like India where film stars are treated as gods, Amitabh Bachchan is the uber-god, the Big B. As for me, I am English, almost thirty, and not in the least bit famous. But here I am in Bombay about to start writing his story. How did I get here? Why did I get here? Bombay is mayhem and Bollywood maddening. "The Big B" is strangely aloof, the magazines are full of lies, and no one is talking. I want to write a book that explodes the myths surrounding India's most famous man. Can I pull it off? Funny, irreverent and affectionate, "The Big B" is a fascinating look at the Bombay film industry and the story of a very unlikely friendship.
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