Mumbai: Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan has criticised sections of the media for allegedly misrepresenting a recent devotional post on his personal blog, clarifying that his reference to a popular prayer dedicated to Lord Krishna was not intended as a challenge to his opponents.
The actor took to social media on Monday to express his displeasure over headlines that, according to him, had twisted the meaning of his words and presented the devotional reference as a statement about confronting his critics.
In his post, Bachchan explained that the phrase he had used was part of a traditional invocation associated with Lord Krishna. He objected to reports suggesting that he was issuing a warning to his opponents or declaring that he was prepared to fight them.
Bachchan explains the religious reference
Explaining the context of his earlier post, the actor referred to the popular devotional chant, “Hathi ghoda palki, Jai Kanhaiya Lal ki”, which is traditionally used in praise of Lord Krishna.
He said the media had disrespected the devotional expression by turning it into headlines suggesting that he was challenging his opponents to bring their elephants and horses while declaring that he would fight with weapons and would not be afraid.
Bachchan expressed disappointment that a religious invocation had allegedly been presented as a confrontational statement. He accused sections of the media of distorting the meaning to attract attention and promote their coverage.
The actor described the interpretation as a serious misrepresentation, arguing that the religious significance of the phrase had been overlooked in favour of a sensational narrative.
Actor warns against twisting his words
In his strongly worded post, Bachchan also referred to his large online following while responding to the reports.
He said he had around 50 million followers and claimed that a section of them would be ready to respond if given a signal. He further suggested that repeated misrepresentation of his statements could provoke a stronger reaction from his followers.
The remarks came as part of his broader criticism of media coverage, which he accused of taking his words out of context and presenting them in a manner that conveyed a meaning different from what he intended.
However, his central clarification remained that the original reference was devotional and dedicated to Lord Krishna, rather than a message directed at individuals he considered opponents.
Bachchan questions media accountability
The Sholay actor also questioned what he described as a lack of accountability when media organisations misrepresent statements made by public figures.
He said that when he made a mistake, he was expected to apologise immediately and attempt to correct it. He questioned why the same standard of accountability did not appear to apply when media reports were inaccurate.
Towards the end of his post, Bachchan reflected on the personal impact of what he described as the misrepresentation. He initially considered signing off by referring to himself as a victim, but then said he would not use that description, adding that the right to his pain belonged to him alone.
He concluded the post with a good-night message to his followers.
Amitabh Bachchan’s long association with Indian cinema
Bachchan is among India’s most recognised actors, with a career spanning more than five decades. He has appeared in a wide range of films and is associated with several landmark performances in Hindi cinema.
His filmography includes Sholay, Deewaar, Don, Agneepath and Piku, among many others. Over the years, he has received several national and international honours for his contribution to cinema.
Apart from his film career, Bachchan remains a familiar presence on television as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati. He also regularly communicates with audiences through social media and his personal blog, where he shares reflections, updates and responses to public developments.
His latest post has once again drawn attention to the importance of context when interpreting statements by public figures, particularly when devotional expressions or cultural references are involved.