Film industry exemplifies national integration: Amitabh Bachchan

With the release of Aarakshan less than a month away now, Amitabh Bachchan is getting busy promoting the film directed by Prakash Jha. Big B plays a college principal in the film.

Aarakshan touches the controversial issue of reservation in education system. Saif Ali Khan plays a dalit teacher while Big B plays a principled head of a college.

While promoting the film at a radio station in Mumbai, Amitabh Bachchan said that Indian film industry has no reservation policy.

“There is no 'aarakshan' in Hindi film industry. Rather I would say that Indian film industry is big example of national integration,” Amitabh told reporters on Tuesday.

“When you stand in a line to buy a ticket you don't see whether you are standing in the queue with a Hindu, Muslim or Sikh. You neither check the caste or religion of the person sitting next to you in the hall....Above all in the hall, you laugh together at the same comedy, you sing the same song, you cry at the same emotional scene. Across the world you won't get a bigger example of integration than this,” added the 68-year-old superstar of the Indian film industry.

Talking about his role in the film, Amitabh Bachchan said: “I am playing a principal of a private institute who is a man of principles. He believes that everyone should be equally treated.”

Slated to release on August 12, Aarakshan is produced and directed by Jha. It also stars Manoj Bajpai, Deepika Padukone, Prateek Babbar and Tanvi Azmi.