News Broadcasting
BBC World show ‘Talking Movies’ features Big B
MUMBAI: He is known for great acting skills and charismatic personality. The latest from him – the alzheimer-striken teacher in Black – has been a revelation! BBC World’s Talking Movies presents Amitabh Bachchan in coversation with presenter Tom Brook. Bachchan, who was recently in New York to receive a tribute to his film career from the American Film Institute, speaks to Tom Brook in an in-depth interview about his long and distinguished film career.
The show will feature the illustrious film career of Bachchan, which spans over 35 years and over 150 films to his credit. The Big B special will air on 4 May at 1 pm. The repeat telecast follows on 5 May at 10 pm and on 8 May at 8 am.
According to a media release, when asked by Tom Brook about the fact that most people on the streets of the United States wouldn’t recognise him as a superstar, he replies: “Thank God for that. Well, they don’t know about me and they don’t know about Indian cinema. It’s just like Brad Pitt walking around a city in India – no one would know who he is. That’s not to say I don’t have that freedom within my own country. If I chose to walk on the streets I’d be okay.”
Through the interview Bachchan says, “It’s always a great honour to be recognised by an institute that comes out from the West. [I’m] a bit surprised that the Americans would take such an interest in Indian cinema, and pay me a tribute in particular, but I’m very happy that something like this is happening. It bodes well for Indian cinema, it bodes well for the marketing of Indian cinema, for the future of Indian cinema, and I hope that there are such tributes paid to many other artists of my nation.”
According to a media release, he adds, “I think that Indian cinema got its recognition overseas because of its unique content… there is a great deal of interest now in India beyond seeing films. The economy has opened up and we are being looked upon as a powerful nation… I believe that every time a nation progresses economically and changes economically, everything about it becomes fashionable and likable. Our food suddenly becomes world-widely acceptable, the clothes that we wear, the music that we make and the films that we make. So I think that the acceptability of our films is now largely due to the fact that we are a growing economic power.”
Expressing his views on how interest in Indian cinema can be increased in other countries such as the US, he says: “Certainly a better system of marketing [is needed]. I think our systems are very individualistic, we’re perhaps not aware of the potential of how films need to be marketed as do the Americans, because they are really masters of it… I think now as visibility improves, we’ll have to get our house in order, get our management procedures in place, so that they can be marketed well and have a greater reach.”
Asked if he feels that Indian films have to be less rigid in their approach to issues such as sex and morality in order to gain international acceptability, Bachchan replies, “That isn’t the only ingredient that makes them acceptable in other parts of the world – I think it’s more to do with your screenplay and your story and the content. Yes, Western cinema does have a greater permissiveness than Indian cinema, but I don’t think that is a constant and I don’t see any necessity for loosening our morals, so to say, just to accommodate a new territory.”
Bachchan, who has also had a brief stint in Indian politics as a Member of Parliament, says he would not like to go back to politics, adding: “I don’t know politics, I just don’t know it… it was an emotional decision, and I felt that emotion really has no place in politics.”
Bachchan is also the goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and he speaks about how a celebrity’s involvement has added to the effectiveness of the organisation’s cause. Quoting the example of the hugely successful polio campaign he has been a part of, he says: “The number of polio cases came down to almost four or five instead of 3,000, and the number of mothers going to the booths increased almost by a thousand-fold…. if by my association with UNICEF we can bring about some relief for India, then I’m happy to do something.”
Asked why he doesn’t like the Indian film industry to be referred to as Bollywood, he says: “I feel it’s a bit demeaning to the Indian film industry. It’s a word that doesn’t sound very good.”
On whether he considers retiring from the film business, he says: “Someday I will, of course, because it’s impossible to retain your physicality for the rest of your life, and movie-making depends a lot on your physical demeanour. Once my face loses shape and my body loses shape, I’ll retire, but as long as it’s working and it’s moving I’d like to carry on working.”
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
