I write to you in reference to Tania Bhattacharya's article India's most famous ad campaign: how the 'Amul butter girl' has been churning up debate for 50 years (September 5).
Amitabh Bachchan deserves the Dadasaheb Phalke award, Indian cinema’s most prestigious award. He is a great actor and a modest person who happens to be a great family man.
In 1992 I found myself sitting at a table next to his during an awards ceremony for which the theme was “Brave New Faces”. Yet it was Bachchan who got much of the attention. People got up from their seats just to get a glimpse of him. He was a star.
Actress Dimple Kapadia could not contain her excitement as she opened the envelope and almost screamed the name Amitabh Bachchan, as he won best actor.
When the function concluded, we happened to leave together. After congratulating him, I mentioned to him that the sister of a colleague was keen to meet him but could not see her in the crowd of admirers. “Where is she?” he inquired. “Somewhere behind you, I will take you there,” I replied. He turned around, cut through the crowd and went to the woman to shake her hand. She was thrilled that he had walked all the way to receive her greetings. I was utterly surprised that he had cut through the crowd swarming around him just to go and accept the compliments of an admirer.
I salute a man who has made many of us laugh with his films, a man who has learnt to power through defeat, who continues to show grace under duress. Even though Bachchan is a big star, he has not forgotten to be a fine human being.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
More must be done to stop reckless driving
I write to you in reference to Nick Webster and Salam Al Amir's article Eight killed and six seriously hurt in Dubai bus crash (September 30).
We need more campaigns to raise awareness about road accidents in schools and firms. Hefty fines should be handed to those who tailgate, skip queues and drive recklessly.
Julien Sanchez, Dubai
The UN has a responsibility towards Kashmiris in India
I write to you in reference to Arthur MacMillan's article Imran Khan warns of nuclear war as Kashmir crisis dominates UN speech (September 28).
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in his speech at the UNGA has denounced Islamophobia and the deteriorating situation in Indian-administered Kashmir. The curfew imposed there for two months now is no longer tenable. The UN and the international community must act with urgency to address and resolve the crisis before it is too late.
Mohammad Hamza, Dubai
