Bollywood prays for 26/11 victims’ families
By Subhash K. Jha, IANSThursday, November 26, 2009
MUMBAI - The glamour world of Bollywood still shivers at the memory of the 26/11 terror attacks that hit the city a year ago. While some like Celina Jaitley remember how she escaped it narrowly, others like Imtiaz Ali want people to learn to deal with such situation.
Bipasha Basu: I was shooting for “Aa Dekhen Zara” at Royal Palms on 26/11. While I was on the way back, I saw the Vile Parle blast and was stranded in the crazy chaos. We somehow drove through the melee to reach home that night. I want terrorism to be wiped off the face of the earth. Is that asking for too much?
Hema Malini: I was in Mumbai. Someone told me to watch television. I couldn’t believe what I saw. November 26 used to be associated with so many wonderful things. It is a meat-less day and a friend’s wedding anniversary. Now the joy of that day is gone forever. Now 26/11 is a day of terror forever. I remember the day with a heavy heart. My love to all those who lost dear ones on that day.
Neil Nitin Mukesh: I remember, I was shooting at Film City on 26/11 last year. I wish we could change that day in Mumbai. I wish people who lost their loved ones would get back their happiness. I’ll pray for the soul of the dead and hope that their families’ wounds would heal.
Imtiaz Ali: I remember, I came home from a late night film. I got messages to switch on the TV. Then I was watching horrified for the next 70 hours. When we relive that horror this year, we have to be sensitive and not remind the families of 26/11 victims just to create media content. On the other hand, this year media should ascertain from the authorities and tell the common man what he must do if a similar situation were to arise again.
Arshad Warsi: I was shooting in Wai. I drove into Mumbai and out on 26/11 last year. I’m going to a charity dinner hosted by Prince Michael in memory of people who lost their lives on 26/11.
Kabir Bedi: Last year my companion Parveen and I were at the Juhu Marriott receiving frantic calls from my children Pooja and Adam begging us to go home. Even the press at the event only talked of shootings in South Bombay, but we took the children’s advice. I’d have liked it if the terrorists had sunk to the bottom of the sea before landing. This year I am a hosting a charity fundraiser in London, along with Pooja, for the benefit of the victims of 26/11.
Abbas Tyrewala: I was in Chennai working on the music of my film on 26/11 last year. There was cyclone that day, almost as if the elements were reflecting on the darkness and turmoil in Mumbai. I’ll say a prayer for those who were murdered by pathetic, desperate imbeciles, misled by enemies of god and humanity.
Celina Jaitley: I was saved from the attack on Trident Hotel by 15 minutes. It’s sad that after the ghastly 26/11 attacks, the Indians’ anger and outrage lasted only a few days. Ajmal Qasab is still in jail and everyone has moved on without making the correction in our security system that made the attack possible. This is alarming.
