Mumbai, Nov 18 (NationPress) Bollywood star Jaideep Ahlawat recently shared an intriguing story about how the iconic Amitabh Bachchan has been a significant influence not only in his life but also in the lives of newborns in Ahlawat's village.

Revisiting a memory from years ago, Jaideep, who was a guest on the quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, revealed, “During my childhood, whenever a baby was welcomed into the world in my village, the festivities always involved watching your films: Deewar, Zanjeer, and Don. This tradition meant I must have viewed those films countless times.”

He continued, “Additionally, the audio cassette of Sholay played a crucial role in our celebrations. Every significant festival—Holi, Diwali, and others—would see the entire village come together to enjoy the film's soundtrack and dialogues, listening to the cassette from beginning to end.” An emotional Amitabh Bachchan expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards Jaideep and his fans for their unwavering support.

In the upcoming episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati, audiences will also witness actors Manoj Bajpayee and Sharib Hashmi, alongside Jaideep Ahlawat, promoting their new series The Family Man 3. Manoj reminisced about his first encounter with the legendary superstar during the screening of ‘Satya’ nearly three decades ago. He described it as a surreal experience, where he initially avoided facing Amitabh Bachchan, but fate had its own plans. Bajpayee shared how he was playfully compelled to face his nerves and meet the Big B.

Reflecting on that unforgettable moment, Manoj recounted, “A well-known film journalist tricked me into stepping out of the car and locked it from inside, forcing me to confront Amitabh Bachchan instead of hiding.” He elaborated, “In a panic, I knew that if I took too long, Amitabh Sir would spot me. So, I dashed into the washroom, locking myself inside. After some time, thinking he had left, I opened the door only to find Abhishek Bachchan waiting outside.”

Manoj Bajpayee added, “Abhishek mentioned he saw me running in and waited to say hello. Suddenly, this tall, imposing figure appeared right before me: Amitabh Bachchan himself. Time stood still. I couldn’t hear anything. My mind went blank. The person who inspired me back in fifth grade was there. Amitabh Sir held my hand and spoke to me, and I went deaf; I couldn’t absorb the entire experience. Overcome with emotion, I gathered the courage to ask, “Sir… can I… may I hug you?”

Bajpayee continued, “Witnessing all of this, Amitabh Sir graciously embraced me.” Manoj revisited that cherished moment on the set of Kaun Banega Crorepati with the same humility and reverence, asking Amitabh Bachchan for another hug, creating a heartwarming full-circle moment.

–IANS

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