Big B puts a smile back on fans’ lips

And the grateful dozen have lined up an assortment of gifts: a 6-ft statue of Bajrangbali made of paddy; spices like cumins, cardamoms; a wax model of the star in a KBC posture; plus a greeting card with names of three charcaters played by the star, Vijay (used by him in numerous films), Iqbal (from Coolie) and Anthony (from Amar Akbar Anthony). They have also ordered a 6 ft-3 inch cake from a confectioner’s in Mumbai, which reportedly ‘Dada’ Amitabh has agreed to cut before any other that day.

New association secretary Sanjay Patodiya can’t stop talking of Bachchan’s ‘‘generosity’’ in ‘‘forgiving one man’s misdeeds’’. He says when a letter didn’t work to appease him, they went to Mumbai to meet on October 18. ‘‘We asked him if he would punish us for the scandal. He said we should forget what had happened earlier and engage in social work.’’ Bachchan even gave a formal letter pledging his support.