Jaya Bachchan under attack from Thackeray

Even before ‘Drona’ could hit the screens, the Bachchan family faced a fresh round of attack, this time from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. It all started with a light-hearted jovial remark from Jaya Bachcan on the audio release of Abhishek Bachchan’s ambitious project ‘Drona’. “We are from Uttar Pradesh and we will speak in Hindi—Maharashtrians will forgive us,” said Jaya.

MNS leader Raj Thackeray in February 2008 had accused Jaya’s husband, superstar Amitabh Bachchan, of not doing enough for Maharashtra and favouring his home state of Uttar Pradesh. This seems to have given fresh additions to the issue and now Thackeray has announced a “ban” on films in Maharashtra which features the superstar and his family members.

“All Bachchan family movies and advertisements in Mumbai and Maharashtra are banned from today (Monday),” said Thackeray at a press conference.

“This is an affront to the Marathi Manoos (Marathi-speaking people). All parties should unite and condemn what she said,” said Thackeray.

However, the Bollywood fraternity is with the Bachchans with veteran Shyam Benegal saying it was a “childish” and “silly” remark over a “light-hearted joke”.

“This is an attempt to divide the entire industry and create borders within the nation,” actor and social worker, Nafisa Ali said.

Little did Jaya know that one joke at the launch function would cost so much for her political career as well her son’s upcoming movie ‘Drona’.