Amitabh Bachchan challenges superstitions, questions age-old traditions in blog
Synopsis
Amitabh Bachchan used his personal blog to publicly challenge two of India's most common superstitions — the taboo on cutting nails on Saturdays and the avoidance of green gemstones — asking pointedly what logic underpins traditions that fear alone keeps alive. For one of India's biggest icons to question inherited beliefs so plainly is itself a cultural moment.
Key Takeaways
Amitabh Bachchan questioned age-old superstitions and traditions in a personal blog post on 27 October 2026 .
He specifically cited the belief against cutting nails on Saturdays and the practice of replacing a green gemstone with a green shawl.
Bachchan argued that fear and an 'obedient mind' keep unexamined traditions alive across generations.
The post also reflected on how the brain evolves across life stages — moving from carefree to restrained and back again.
This continues a pattern of candid philosophical writing on Bachchan's long-running personal blog .
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has openly questioned age-old superstitions and traditions, asking why generations continue to follow practices without understanding their underlying meaning. In a reflective post on his personal blog, the 83-year-old icon used vivid everyday examples to challenge the unthinking acceptance of inherited beliefs.
What Bachchan Wrote
In the blog entry, Bachchan mused on how desires and perspectives shift across different stages of life. '...a little self-indulgence.. often away from it.. but a time comes in the lives of life when you want to do all that you felt restricted towards.. the path taken.. that rack on the shelf.. a jacket worn often, but a wish to alter.. to see that which has not been seen before and undesired, but desired now.. strange.. the guidance that life pushes you towards,' he wrote.
He added: 'carefree earlier then, in those times and now carefree again.. the circle complete.. why..? why does the brain decide on all this..? i wonder.. discomforting, but it does.. it does so many comforting actions too, does it not?'
Questioning Everyday Superstitions
Bachchan cited two widely prevalent Indian superstitions to make his point. He specifically referenced the common belief against cutting nails on Saturdays and the practice of avoiding green gemstones in favour of a green shawl — two customs many households observe without questioning their rationale.
In Hindi, he wrote: 'Shanichar ko nakhoon mat kaato, ashubh hota hai!!! Pratha chali aa rahi hai, aur humaara bhay, ek aagyaakaari manushya ke tahat, use maanyata deta rehta hai! 'Hara patthar mat pehno, ek hare rang ki shawl bagal mein rakh lo!!' — meaning that tradition passes down through generations, and fear compels an obedient mind to keep validating it.
He followed up pointedly: 'Us bechaare patthar ne kya bigaada hai aapka, aur yeh hare rang ki shawl kaise laabhdayak ho jaayegi??? Pratha???!!! Arth??' — roughly, what wrong has that poor stone done to you, and how exactly will a green shawl benefit you?
Broader Reflection on Life and the Mind
Beyond superstitions, Bachchan's post touched on a larger philosophical theme — the way the mind evolves, oscillates between restriction and freedom, and eventually comes full circle. He described earlier carefree years, a phase of restraint, and now a return to openness, suggesting that the brain steers choices in ways that are at once unsettling and comforting.
This is not the first time the veteran actor has used his blog — a platform he has maintained for years — to share unfiltered personal reflections. His writings frequently blend Hinglish prose with philosophical candour, drawing a large readership across age groups.
Significance and Public Reaction
Coming from one of India's most recognised public figures, the remarks carry cultural weight. Critics of blind superstition have long argued that fear-driven traditions persist largely because of social conditioning rather than reasoned faith. Notably, Bachchan frames his critique not as an attack on religion but as a call for conscious understanding over rote compliance.
His blog post is likely to spark fresh conversation around rationalism, cultural practice, and individual agency — themes that resonate strongly in contemporary Indian discourse.
Point of View
But the specific examples he chose — nail-cutting on Saturdays, green stones versus green shawls — are precisely the kind of granular, household-level superstitions that rational discourse rarely reaches. The real question his post raises is not whether these beliefs are logical, but why even prominent, educated voices in India typically avoid challenging them publicly. That Bachchan did so in Hindi, in the vernacular register in which these beliefs are transmitted, makes the intervention sharper than it first appears. Whether it prompts wider reflection or simply generates a news cycle is the test.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Amitabh Bachchan say about superstitions in his blog?
Amitabh Bachchan questioned why people blindly follow age-old traditions without understanding their meaning, citing the common belief against cutting nails on Saturdays and the practice of avoiding green gemstones in favour of a green shawl. He argued that fear and social conditioning keep such practices alive across generations.
Where did Amitabh Bachchan share these thoughts?
Bachchan shared his reflections on his personal blog, a platform he has maintained for years to express candid personal and philosophical views. The post was published on 27 October 2026.
Which specific superstitions did Amitabh Bachchan call out?
He specifically referenced two widely observed Indian superstitions: the taboo against cutting nails on Saturdays, considered inauspicious, and the practice of substituting a green-coloured shawl for a green gemstone for supposed benefit. He questioned the logic behind both.
Is this the first time Bachchan has spoken on such topics?
No. Bachchan has a long history of using his blog to share unfiltered views on life, culture, and philosophy. However, directly calling out specific superstitions by name in Hindi is a notably candid step even by his standards.
Why does Bachchan's opinion on superstitions carry significance?
As one of India's most recognised and respected public figures, Bachchan's views reach audiences across generations and demographics. His choice to frame the critique in Hindi — the language in which many such beliefs are typically transmitted — gives the message broader cultural reach than an English-language commentary would.
