Delhi-6 (Hindi: दिल्ली 6) is a national award winning 2009 Hindi-language film directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and starring Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Om Puri, Waheeda Rahman, Rishi Kapoor, Atul Kulkarni, Deepak Dobriyal and Divya Dutta.^[2] The film is reportedly based on Mehra's growing up years in Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi.^[3] It is Mehra's third film after Aks and Rang De Basanti. The acclaimed score and soundtrack of the film was composed by A. R. Rahman. The film released on 20 February 2009, won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration at 57th National Film Awards.

Plot[link]

Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) accompanies his dying grandmother Annapurna (Waheeda Rahman) to their ancestral property in crowded Delhi. Roshan is initially stunned by the mad rush of various neighbours: Ali Baig (Rishi Kapoor) the renaissance man, feuding brothers Madangopal (Om Puri) and Jaigopal (Pavan Malhotra), their wives and families, Mamdu (Deepak Dobriyal) the halwai, Gobar (Atul Kulkarni) the simpleton, Sethji and many others. However, Roshan eventually warms to the place and wholeheartedly embraces the sense of community in it. He accompanies his grandmother to the Ramleelas, hangs out at Mamdu's sweet stall, plays with the children, and gradually becomes steeped in the culture of the place.

Roshan is also slowly exposed to some sobering realities. When Annapurna faints (due to fluctuating blood sugar levels) and they scramble to get her to a hospital, he finds the roads choked by traffic because of an impromptu ceremony around a cow in labour; he is further surprised when his grandmother, despite her stupor, stumbles forth to seek the blessings of a sacred cow; and he is astounded when the local police seem to encourage the practice. Roshan begins to understand the feuds and social issues in the community. Madangopal's sister Rama (Aditi Rao Hydari) is unwed (at an age when spinsterhood is a significant social no-no) and Jaigopal's electrical business is going nowhere. The lecherous old local money lender Lala Bhairam (Prem Chopra) is married to a young girl who, in turn, is having an affair with a young photo-studio hand Suresh (Cyrus Sahukar). Suresh is a double timer who is also pursuing Madangopal's daughter Bittu (Sonam Kapoor). Bittu secretly wants out of the stuck-in-time Old Delhi; she secretly prepares to audition for a popular reality show Indian Idol in the hope that she will win her way to Mumbai. Roshan comes to appreciate Ali Baig's cosmopolitan tastes and is surprised to learn that Ali Baig fancied his mother many years ago, and has since never married. And Roshan comes to empathise with the lower-caste trash collector girl Jalebi (Divya Dutta) who must endure untouchability at social functions except for when some of the brutish locals seek company. Roshan also crosses paths with the loutish inspector Ranvijay who blithely stretches his authorities to manhandle the locals, and becomes acquainted with the local assembly-woman who displays political power at every opportunity.

In the meantime, the news media is all abuzz with tales of a fearsome terror known only as the "Kala Bandar (The Black Monkey)". This miscreant (never shown clearly in the film) attacks people, steals various articles and has also caused the death of a few innocent people. (These deaths are mostly accidental, as in the example of a pregnant housewife who was supposedly startled by a silhouette and fell down a flight of stairs or the example of an unfortunate man who was briefly zapped by a live electric wire.) Nonetheless, the local news picks up on every move by the kala bandar and loudly blares about all his exploits. Jaigopal, the self-proclaimed electronics genius, theorises that the kala bandar likely has an electrical circuit (to zap his victims) and may be electrocuted by water; this rumour is quickly propagated through the locality.

The film takes several turns. After some initial friction, Roshan and Bittu warm to each other. Roshan intervenes when Bittu is about to receive a prospective suitor arranged by Madangopal. He echoes Bittu's desire to pursue other dreams; this drives the suitor away and brings Madangopal's wrath upon him. He gradually begins to fall in love with Bittu, but is confused when Bittu expresses her affections for Suresh (she believes he will support her dreams). Around this time, the kala bandar attacks Old Delhi. The simple-minded locals bring in a tantrik Shani baba to exorcise the demonic influence of the kala bandar. After an extended havan ceremony, the tantrik baba, clearly an self-aggrandizing actor who dislikes the inter-religious equality practised in the community, speculates that the local mosque must have been built over the ruins of a temple that was demolished for the purpose, and he thus initiates a vicious cycle of animosity in the previously harmonious Hindu-Muslim community. After the initial peaceful demonstrations (by rallies and angry meetings), a mob goes on rampage and attacks some of the Muslim members of the community and their shops. This prompts one Muslim shop-owner, Mamdu, to set fire to the tree temple. Roshan attempts to make peace, but is rebuffed because of his mixed religious parentage. The locals ultimately settle on the fact that the kala bandar is hiding out in the sooni galli (a dark lane known to harbour evil presences) and must be destroyed. They command the simpleton Gobar to fetch a lock of hair from the evil enemy so that the tantrik can burn it and complete the exorcism.

Roshan becomes aware of Bittu's plan to elope with Suresh, and that Suresh is a low-life two timer. He dons a monkey mask and monkey outfit and stealthily follows Bittu by leaping across the rooftops. In the meantime Gobar ventures into the sooni galli where Jalebi gives him a lock of her hair so he may return in triumph and bring peace to the community. At that moment, Roshan (in his monkey outfit) intercedes in Bittu and Suresh's rendezvous and causes the cowardly Suresh to flee. Bittu raises a loud alarm before Roshan unmasks himself, Roshan tells Bittu he loves her where she also responds to his feelings,the two share a hug, whereupon the angry locals storm the place. Believing Roshan to be the kala bandar, they beat him to within an inch of his life and Mamdu shoots him. Then, Gobar comes up with a startling deduction about the reality of the kala bandar; that the kala bandar is in fact the vices residing inside the people of Delhi 6 and something that the people must defeat within themselves. In the end the neighborhood realizes this and helps Roshan to reach a hospital with the help of an ambulance. But while on the way, roshan was not able to respond to the treatment leaving people believe that he died. In the meanwhile Roshan meets his grandfather(pretends to be after his death) in the terrace of a building in Delhi. Roshan's grandfather (Amitabh) also reveals that there is a Kaala Bandhar in his heart and that is why he wanted to ask forgiveness to his mom for not accepting their inter-religious marriage. After that he said he will meet him once again. Roshan responds to his treatment and everyone is happy that he is not dead. The film ends with Roshan understanding the diversity of Delhi 6. During the end-credits of the movie, all the important characters appears before the mirror and reveal their emotions during their days in Delhi 6.

Cast[link]

• Abhishek Bachchan as Roshan
• Sonam Kapoor as Bittu
• Waheeda Rehman as Annapurna (Dadi)
• Rishi Kapoor as Ali
• Om Puri as Madangopal
• Divya Dutta as Jalebi
• Tanvi Azmi as Fatima
• Atul Kulkarni as Gobar
• Aditi Rao Hydari as Rama Bua
• Supriya Pathak as Vimla
• Deepak Dobriyal as Mamdu
• K.K. Raina as Haji Sulamaan
• Pavan Malhotra as Jai Gopal
• Amitabh Bachchan as Dadaji
• Vinayak Doval as Bobby
• Prem Chopra as Lala Bhairam
• Vijay Raaz as Inspector Ranvijay
• Cyrus Sahukar as Suresh
• Hussan Saad as Bhisham

Production[link]

Development and casting[link]

In the early stages of development it was rumoured that Rakeysh was going to cast newcomers for his next film.^[4] It was even reported that Aamir Khan's nephew Imran Khan would make his debut with this film, but this was later revealed to be Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na.^[5] Frequent changes in casting made headlines, with Hrithik Roshan being set to play the main character and then he being reportedly replaced by Ranbir Kapoor^[6][7] Even Akshay Kumar was supposed to play the lead, but refused. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra stated that Abhishek Bachchan was always the first choice for Delhi-6. Date problems for Abhishek Bachchan delayed the film, but it all worked out in the end with Abhishek portraying the lead actor in the film.^[8] Sonam Kapoor was paired as the leading female character opposite Abhishek Bachchan.^[9] Rishi Kapoor and Tanvi Azmi are also a part of the film.^[10] The film went on the floors 20 February 2009.^[11] Amitabh Bachchan plays the grandfather to Roshan, played by Abhishek Bachchan, whereas Waheeda Rahman plays the grandmother of the same.^[12] Gulshan Grover plays Abhishek Bachchan's dad in the film.^[13] Editing for the film was done by Meghna Aschit and Rakeysh's wife Bharthi. In an interview Rakeysh said that he was not involved with the editing.^[14]

Promotion[link]

The film was first unveiled on the Dubai International Film Festival. Following the screening was an interactive Question and Answer round, consisting of the director with the rest of starcast and a vast audience. During this interaction, Rakeysh spoke about his key influences and the theme of the film, while the film's actors described their experience of working with Rakeysh. A video featuring Abhishek and Sonam's interview can be watched in the reference along with this section.^[15] The official trailer for the film was released on 4 January 2009 which featured scenes from Delhi along with Jama Masjid, theatre groups, Red Fort at night, Sonam Kapoor coming out of a public escalator at central park in delhi and finally Abhishek watching Sonam dancing with the pigeon "Masakalli" on her head.

Release[link]

The film was supposed to be released on 13 February 2009, but A. R. Rahman's continued absence from the project led to a delay in the film getting released. The film's back ground score remained incomplete and hence a delay in release by one week. The film finally released on 20 February 2009 and premiered in New Delhi on 19 February 2009. The film had its first screening on 15 February 2009 in New York.^[16]

Reception[link]

Critical reception[link]

As of 11 March 2009, Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a 33% rating with 3 fresh and 6 rotten reviews. The average score is 3 March 2010.^[17]

Pratim D. Gupta of The Telegraph gave two thumbs up to the film calling it a must-watch for just its "overwhelming audio-visual eruption".^[18] Nikhat Kazmi of Times of India rated the film three out of five stars, saying, "Watch it for the message of Delhi-6 and the ekdum desi India-feel".^[19] Anupama Chopra of NDTV said that the film is a noble failure, "Delhi-6 is ambitious and well-intentioned, but good intentions don’t always translate into good cinema".^[20] Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gave it 3 stars, saying that it's a story with heart and Delhi-6 isn't great cinema like Mehra's Rang De Basanti and has frustrating climax.^[21] Rachel Saltz of New York Times stated "Delhi-6 can be maddeningly vague, which robs its ending..of the impact it intends".^[22] Shashi Baliga of Hindustan Times gave the film 3 out of 5 saying "Mehra sure has his heart in the right place. But couldn’t he have allowed himself… and us, a little more fun?"^[23] However, Arthur J Pais of Rediff.com gave the film a much better verdict remarking the film's innovative style and storyline.^[24] Amanda Sodhi posted an in-depth write-up about Delhi-6 on PassionForCinema.com, defending the film against flak it was receiving.^[25]

Box office performance[link]

the movie is a super block buster movie grossed 1812 cr in worldwide.and grossed 150 cr in india from a budjet of 20cr.delhi 6 was the biggest 0pening in 2009.and 2009 biggest hit film of the year.opening day movie grossed about 15cr from mumbai and 3cr from others.

Music[link]

A.R. Rahman is the music director of this film.^[26] Prasoon Joshi is the lyricist. The music was released on 14 January 2009 at the Indian Idol 4 competition.^[27] The first video of the song "Masakalli" was released featuring Sonam and Abhishek with a pigeon. However, the song was not part of the original film. According to the director, "The song was not really meant to be part of the narrative. I mean, who would think of putting in a song about a dove in a film like 'Delhi-6'? It just happened. When I came to the pre-climax portion of my script, I was stuck. I needed a continuity link taking the narrative to its finale".^[28][29] Other videos released include the title track Delhi-6, the romantic interlude Rehna Tu as well as the folky Genda Phool, an adaptation of a folk song from Chhattisgarh.

Inspiration[link]

Reports of "Kala Bandar (Black Monkey)" attacks in the city of Delhi as shown in the film are inspired by real reports of much publicised monkey or monkeyman attacks in and around Delhi in 2001.^[30]

References[link]

Actually kala bandar has been shown as symbolic character for a bad thing. In this movie it has a deep meaning. Kala bandar is inside every person who is doing something wrong. We have to kill that kala bandar within ourself.

External links[link]

• Official website
• Delhi-6 at the Internet Movie Database
• Delhi-6 at Planet Bollywood
• Kala Bandar – The Most Thoughtful Song of 2009

Sonam Kapoor
Kapoor at the Cricket stars party (2007)
Born	(1985-06-09) 9 June 1985 (age 27) Chembur Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2007– present
Parents	Anil Kapoor (Father) Sunita Kapoor (Mother)
Relatives	Surinder Kapoor (Grandfather) Rhea Kapoor (Sister) Harshvardhan (Brother) Arjun Kapoor (Cousin) Sanjay Kapoor (Uncle) Boney Kapoor (Uncle) Sridevi (Aunt) Mona Shourie Kapoor (Aunt)

Sonam Kapoor (born 9 June 1985^[1]) is an Indian film actress and fashion icon who appears in Bollywood films. Sonam made her acting debut in 2007 with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya opposite Ranbir Kapoor and subsequently featured in the offbeat drama Delhi-6 (2009). She earned her first commercial success with the romantic comedy I Hate Luv Storys (2010) and followed with such films as Aisha (2010) and Thank You (2011). She is known as a fashionista, she has been getting various accolades for her unique sense of style rather than her films.^[2]

Early life[link]

Kapoor was born and raised in Chembur, Mumbai. She is the eldest daughter of Anil Kapoor and Sunita, who is Sindhi^[1] and the granddaughter of filmmaker Surinder Kapoor.^[3] She is the niece of producer Boney Kapoor, actress Sridevi, actor Sanjay Kapoor and producer Sandeep Marwah.^[4] Kapoor is the eldest of three children; the others are sister Rhea Kapoor and brother Harshvardhan.^[5] She is also the cousin of upcoming actor Arjun Kapoor.

She went at the Arya Vidya Mandir school in Juhu and then enrolled in the United World College of South East Asia to do her International Baccalaureate.^[1] She also studied Political Science and Economics from University of East London. She speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi and Marathi and is a well trained classical dancer.^[5]

Career[link]

Early Work (2004–05)[link]

Before starting her career off as an actress, Sonam and Ranbir Kapoor worked as assistant directors under Sanjay Leela Bhansali in 2004, and assisted him during the making of his film, Black which was released in early 2005.^[6]

Film Debut & Breakthrough (2007–09)[link]

She made her acting debut alongside newcomer, Ranbir Kapoor in Bhansali's Saawariya (2007), which failed to do well at the box office,^[7] but her performance opened to good reviews by critics.^[8]

In 2009, Kapoor appeared in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Delhi-6, opposite Abhishek Bachchan. The film flopped at the box office and received mixed critical reviews, but her performance was praised. Critic Rajeev Masand commented, "Sonam Kapoor is the revelation in Delhi 6. She's a firecracker performer, instinctive and uninhibited in what isn't even a conventional female lead".^[9] Sonia Chopra, film criric from Rediff commented, "Sonam Kapoor is an earnest and effortless performer so she does make you like the character somewhat, despite the typical Delhi-girl recipe".^[10]

Initial Success (2010–present)[link]

In 2010, she appeared in Punit Malhotra's I Hate Luv Storys opposite Imran Khan. The film went on to become her first box office success.^[11][12] She also appeared in the romantic comedy, Aisha, opposite Abhay Deol, which was declared a below average performer at the box office.^[13][14]

Kapoor's first release in 2011, Thank You was a critical failure, although the film was an average grosser at the box office.^[15] The same year, she made an appearance at the 64th Cannes Film Festival representing L'Oréal, the brand she endorses in India.

Her second film of the year was the romance film Mausam, in which she and co-star Shahid Kapoor had four different looks representing each of the four seasons. The film received mixed reviews and was a failure at the box office.^[16] However, Sonam's performance was appreciated by most prominent critics. Taran Adarsh commented, "For Sonam, MAUSAM will prove to be a turning point in her career. Astonishing -- that would be the right word to describe her work this time around. The confidence with which she handles the distinct characterization speaks volumes".^[17]

Her first release of 2012 is Players, a remake of The Italian Job, alongside Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu and Neil Nitin Mukesh. The film received mixed to negative reviews and didn't do well at the box office. At the moment, she's busy shooting for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag with Farhan Akhtar and Raanjhnaa with Dhanush of "Kolaveri Di" fame.^[18]

Filmography[link]

Awards[link]

Honors & Achievements[link]

See also[link]

• List of Indian film actresses

References[link]

External links[link]

• Sonam Kapoor at the Internet Movie Database
• Sonam Kapoor on Twitter

Abhishek Bachchan
Abhishek Bachchan in 2007
Born	(1976-02-05) 5 February 1976 (age 36) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actor, producer, television presenter
Years active	2000–present
Spouse	Aishwarya Rai (2007–present)
Children	Aaradhya Bachchan
Parents	Amitabh Bachchan Jaya Bachchan
Signature	150px

Abhishek Bachchan (born 5 February 1976 in Mumbai, Maharashtra) is an Indian actor and producer. He is the son of Indian actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan and is married to actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai.

Bachchan debuted with J.P. Dutta's Refugee (2000), but it was not until 2004 that he achieved success when he appeared in the commercially successful Dhoom and the critically acclaimed Yuva. His work in Yuva received several awards, including his first Filmfare Award in the Best Supporting Actor category, an award he would win for the two next years as well. In 2010, he won his first National Film Award (as a producer) for Paa which won the award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. He has starred in films such as Bunty aur Babli, Guru, Sarkar and Dostana.

Early life[link]

Abhishek Bachchan is the son of Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan and actress Jaya Bachchan, his elder sister is Shweta Bachchan-Nanda (b. 1974). His grandfather, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a poet of Hindi literature and professor at the Allahabad University in Uttar Pradesh. The original last name of his family is Shrivastava, Bachchan being the pen name used by his grandfather. However, when his father Amitabh entered films, he did so under his father's pen name. Bachchan is of Kayastha heritage from his father's side,^[1] Bengali Kulin Brahmin from his mother's side^[2] and Punjabi Sikh from his grandmother's side.^[3]

Bachchan was dyslexic as a child.^[4] He attended Jamnabai Narsee School and Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai, Modern School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, and Aiglon College in Switzerland.^{[citation needed]} He then attended Boston University.^{[citation needed]}

Career[link]

In the year 2000, Bachchan began his career with J.P. Dutta's Refugee. The film performed moderately well at the box office and was the fifth highest grossing film of that year.^[5] Bachchan went on to do other films, including Kuch Naa Kaho and Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai, without much success.^[6]

Abhishek went on to give a string of 17 poorly received films^[7] but his performances in Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003)^[6][8] and Mani Ratnam's Yuva (2004) proved his mettle as an actor.^[9] The same year, he starred in Dhoom his first commercial hit.^[6] Earning over Rs. 55 crore (US $12 million), the film became one of the top-grossing Indian films of 2004.^[10] For his work in "Yuva", Bachchan was awarded his first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor

In 2005, Bachchan shot to fame with four movies that did well commercially. He starred in Shaad Ali's Bunty Aur Babli opposite Rani Mukerji. The film was a critical and commercial success becoming one of the biggest hits of 2005.^[11] In July, he appeared in Sarkar was a success at the box office and was greeted very well by critics. His performance earned him another Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. His third film was Dus was a commercial success. He starred in Rohan Sippy's Bluffmaster was a moderate success.^[12] He also received his first Filmfare nomination in the Best Actor category.

Bachchan's first 2006 release Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, became one of the biggest box office hits in India, earning Rs 458 million, and grossed over Rs 480 million abroad, the biggest Bollywood success of all-time in the overseas market up until then.^[13] He played the role of Rishi Talwar, a young man who lives in New York whose wife cheats on him with a family friend. His performance in the film earned him his third consecutive award for Best Supporting Actor at the Filmfare Awards. Bachchan's second release Umrao Jaan failed to do well at the box office, but his third film that year, Dhoom 2, did very well—although, as in the first Dhoom, critics noted that Hrithik Roshan, as the antagonist, stole the show.^[14] The film was generally well-received by both critics and the mass audience. It became the highest-grossing Indian film of 2006,^[15] and remains in the top ten on the list of highest-grossing Bollywood films in India.^[16]

In early 2007, Bachchan starred in Mani Ratnam's Guru. The film was a commercial success and his performance was acclaimed by critics and audiences, earning him his first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.^[17] His next release of that year, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, failed to do well in India^[18] but did better overseas, especially in the UK.^[19][20]

In 2008 he co-starred with wife Aishwarya Rai and father Amitabh Bachchan in Ram Gopal Verma's Sarkar Raj, the sequel of Sarkar. His next film Drona was critically and commercially a failure. Later the same year he starred in Karan Johar's romantic comedy Dostana opposite John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra.^[21] Bachchan and Abraham star as two men who pretend to be gay, so that they can rent an apartment from an older lady, and later fall in love with the same girl, who is the woman's niece. The film was a big success at the box office.^[22]

In 2009, Abhishek appeared in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Delhi-6. The film opened to mixed reviews and received a poor financial profit.^[23] In the same year, Bachchan produced the Hindi film Paa for AB Corp. Ltd.^[24] The film is based on a rare genetic condition known as progeria and places emphasis on a father-son relationship. Abhishek played the father of his real-life father Amitabh, with Vidya Balan playing the mother. The film received positive reviews and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

In January 2010, Bachchan hosted a game show for Colors titled National Bingo Night.^[25][26] The debut episode fetched a 3.5 in the TV ratings.^[27] In 2010, he starred as the villain in Mani Ratnam's Raavan, alongside his wife Aishwarya. Rediff said the film had "great performances", but the film was generally a critical and commercial failure.^[28][29][30] In the same year, he appeared in Ashutosh Gowariker's Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey.^[31]

In April 2011, Abhishek starred in the action film Game directed by Abhinay Deo.^[32] Later in that month, he played the lead in Dum Maaro Dum, which opened to mostly positive reviews from critics. Bachchan's acting was highly appreciated in the movie and considered as one of the best roles of the year.^[33][34]

Abhishek Bachchan is working on releasing a hip hop album titled "Side B" in late 2011.^[35]

Other work[link]

In 2005, he was a part of Tamil director Mani Ratnam's stage show, Netru, Indru, Naalai, an event which sought to raise funds for The Banyan, a voluntary organisation which rehabilitates homeless women with mental illness in Chennai.^[36]

In the summer of 2008, Bachchan, his wife, his father, and actors Preity Zinta, Ritesh Deshmukh, and Madhuri Dixit starred in the "Unforgettable World Tour" stage production. The first leg covered the USA, Canada, Trinidad, and London, England. Bachchan is also involved in the functional and administrative operations of his father's company, originally known as ABCL, and rechristened as AB Corp. Ltd. That company, along with Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., developed the Unforgettable production.^[37]

In 2011, Bachchan has promoted awareness of drug abuse in India as part of a citizen education campaign. The actor launched the Awareness Day race, which celebrated the silver jubilee of the country's Narcotics Control Bureau.^[38][39]

Personal life[link]

In October 2002, at Amitabh Bachchan's 60th birthday celebration, Abhishek and actress Karisma Kapoor announced their engagement.^[7] The engagement was called off in January 2003.

Bachchan and actress Aishwarya Rai announced their engagement on 14 January 2007.^[40] The couple was married on 20 April 2007, according to traditional Hindu rituals of the Bunt community, to which Rai belongs. The wedding took place in a private ceremony at the Bachchan residence, Prateeksha, in Juhu, Mumbai, but was heavily covered by the entertainment media. The couple appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 28 September 2009.^[41] Rai gave birth to a baby girl on 16 November 2011.^[42] Their daughter's name is Aaradhya Bachchan.^[43]

Filmography[link]

Producer[link]

• 2011: Bbuddah... Hoga Tera Baap

See also[link]

• List of Indian Actors

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Abhishek Bachchan

• Abhishek Bachchan at the Internet Movie Database

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Narendra Modi નરેન્દ્ર મોદી
Chief Minister of Gujarat
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 October 2001
Governor	Dr. Kamla Beniwal
Preceded by	Keshubhai Patel
Constituency	Maninagar
Personal details
Born	(1950-09-17) 17 September 1950 (age 61) Vadnagar, Gujarat, India
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Residence	Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Alma mater	Gujarat University[1]
Religion	Hinduism
Website	Narendra Modi
As of 9 March, 2009 Source: Government of Gujarat

Narendra Damodardas Modi (Gujarati: નરેન્દ્ર મોદી; born 17 September 1950^[1]) is the current Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat. Born in a middle class family in Vadnagar, he was the third of six children born to Damodardas Mulchand Modi and his wife Heeraben.^[2] He has been a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood also having interest in politics since adolescence. He holds a master's degree in political science. In 1998, he was chosen by L. K. Advani, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to direct the election campaign in Gujarat as well as Himachal Pradesh.

He became Chief Minister of Gujarat in October 2001, promoted to the office at a time when his predecessor Keshubhai Patel had resigned, following the defeat of BJP in the by-elections. His tenure as chief minister of Gujarat began on 7 October 2001, and he is the longest serving Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat.^[3] In July 2007 he became the longest serving Chief Minister in Gujarat's history when he had been in power for 2063 days continuously.^[4] He was elected again for a third term^[5] on 23 December 2007 in the state elections, which he had cast as a "referendum on his rule".^[6][7]

Personal life[link]

Modi was born in a middle class family in Vadnagar in Mehsana district of what was then Bombay State, India.^[8] During the Indo-Pak war in the mid sixties, even as a young boy, he volunteered to serve the soldiers in transit at railway stations.^[9] As a young man, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a student organisation and was involved in the anti-corruption Nav Nirmāṇ ("Reconstruction") Movement. After working as a full time organiser for the organisation, he was later nominated as its representative in the Bharatiya Janata Party.^[10] As a teenager Modi used to run a tea stall with his brother.^[11] Modi completed his schooling in Vadnagar. He earned a masters degree in political science from Gujarat University.^[12]

Early activism and politics[link]

Modi was a pracharak (campaigner) in the RSS during his university years.^[12][13] He took up the challenging task of energising the party cadres in right earnest. In partnership with Shankersinh Vaghela, Modi set about creating a strong cadre base in Gujarat. In the initial period, Vaghela was seen as a mass leader, while Modi was recognised as a master strategist.

The party started gaining political mileage and formed a coalition government at the centre in April 1990. This partnership fell apart within a few months, but the BJP came to power with a two-thirds majority on its own in Gujarat in 1995. During this period, Modi was entrusted with the responsibility of organising two crucial national events, the Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra (a political rally through India on a converted Toyota van) of L.K. Advani and a similar march from Kanyakumari (the southernmost part of India) to Kashmir in the North. After the exit of Shankarsingh Vaghela from the BJP, Keshubhai Patel was made Chief Minister while Narendra Modi was sent to New Delhi as a General Secretary of the Party.

In 1995, Modi was appointed the National Secretary of the party and given the charge of five major states in India. In 1998, he was promoted as the General Secretary (Organization), a post he held until October 2001. In 2001, Narendra Modi was chosen by the party to be the Chief Minister of Gujarat after the removal of chief minister Keshubhai Patel.

Tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat[link]

Personality[link]

Modi is known for leading a frugal lifestyle. He has a personal staff of just three. He is known to be a workaholic Chief Minister and an introvert.^[14] He ordered the demolition of many Hindu temples that were built without proper government sanction which earned him the ire of VHP^[11] He is a crowd puller as a speaker. Modi has also tried to turn his image from an Hindu Nationalist politician to an image of able administrator. He wears business suits and is improving his command over the English language.^[15]

Awards and recognitions[link]

Modi was awarded Gujarat Ratna by Shri Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on celebration of centenary year.^[16]

Development of Gujarat[link]

As a Chief Minister, Modi started various 'yojanas' or plans. This includes:

• Panchamrut Yojana,^[17][18][19] a five-pronged strategy for an integrated development of the state,
• Sujalam Sufalam, a scheme to create a grid of water resources in Gujarat in an innovative step towards water conservation and its appropriate utilisation.
• Krishi Mahotsav – agricultural research labs for the land
• Chiranjeevi Yojana – To reduce infant mortality rate
• Matru Vandana – Providing preventive and curative services under the Reproductive and Child Health Programme
• Beti Bachao – Campaign against female infanticide to improve sex ratio
• Jyotigram Yojana – Provide electricity to every village
• Karmayogi Abhiyan – To educate and train government employees
• Kanya Kelavani Yojana – To encourage female literacy and education
• Balbhog Yojana – Midday meal scheme for students to encourage school attendance from poor backgrounds.^[20]

Vibrant Gujarat[link]

Vibrant Gujarat is a biennial Global Investors' Summit held by the Government of Gujarat in Gujarat, India. The event is aimed at bringing together business leaders, investors, corporations, thought leaders, policy and opinion makers; the summit is advertised as a platform to understand and explore business opportunities in the State of Gujarat. the event has been held continuously since 2003.

Gujarat earthquake[link]

The biggest challenge which he had to face when he took over as the Chief Minister, was the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas affected by the massive Gujarat Earthquake of January 2001.

Gujarat violence[link]

On 27 February 2002, a train was burned by a Muslim mob in the town of Godhra leading to 59 deaths, most of them Hindu pilgrims and activists returning from the holy city of Ayodhya.^[21] Riots broke out in the state after it was suspected to be caused by Muslims, leading to 1180 deaths, many of them Muslims. Modi administration was accused of inaction over the riots and for encouraging them.^[15] As an aftermath of the riots, there were calls for Modi to resign from his position as chief minister of Gujarat. The opposition parties stalled the national parliament over the issue. Even Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), allies of the BJP, asked for Modi's resignation.^[22][23] Modi submitted his resignation to the Governor and recommended the dissolution of the 10th Gujarat Legislative Assembly.^[24][25] In the following state re-elections the BJP, led by Modi, won 127 seats in the 182-member assembly.

In April 2009, the Supreme Court of India appointed a special team of investigators to look into the role Modi had played in the alleged anti-Muslim conspiracy.^[15] The team was appointed in response to the complaint of zakia Jafri, the widow of ex-Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was murdered in the riots.^[26] In December 2010, a Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) in its report to the Supreme Court seeking answers pertaining to the Ehsan Jafri case, submitted that they had found no evidence against Narendra Modi.^[27]

However in February 2011, the Times of India reported that a confidential report from the SIT indicted Modi on several counts of alleged complicity in the Gujarat riots of 2002.^[28] Most other sources have noted that the SIT report does not indict Modi for the riots due to lack of evidence.^[29][30] The Indian Express too said the report did not find any Modi involvement in the violence, though it did accuse him of watering down the seriousness of the situation.^[31] According to the Hindu, the report not only found that Modi tried to water down the seriousness of the situation, but Modi also implicitly justified the killings of Muslims, and failed to condemn the attacks on them.^[32] The Bharatiya Janata Party demanded an investigation into the publication of the report, claiming the leak was politically motivated.^[33]