Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has criticised sections of the media for allegedly misinterpreting his social media post and presenting a devotional chant as a political challenge to his opponents. In a strongly worded message on X, the actor said the phrase “Hathi Ghoda Palki, Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki” was being taken out of its religious context and portrayed as a statement directed at his rivals. He accused media outlets of disrespecting a traditional invocation dedicated to Lord Krishna and using the controversy for publicity.
Amitabh Bachchan Says Devotional Chant Was Misrepresented
In his post, Amitabh Bachchan explained that the phrase “Hathi Ghoda Palki, Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki” is traditionally recited as an expression of devotion to Krishna Kanhaiya. He objected to reports that allegedly interpreted the words as a challenge to his opponents, suggesting that they should bring their elephants and horses because he was ready to fight.
The actor said such interpretations distorted the original meaning of the chant and turned a religious expression into an apparent political confrontation. He described the coverage as disrespectful to the invocation of “Jai Shri Krishna”.
Actor Warns Media Against Twisting His Words
Expressing his anger over the reporting, Bachchan directly addressed media organisations and referred to his large social media following. He said his account had around 50 million followers and claimed that a section of this audience was ready to respond if he gave a signal.
He further asserted that attempts to distort his words and condemn him would only strengthen the response from his followers. His remarks highlighted his frustration with what he described as the repeated misrepresentation of his statements.
Bachchan Criticises a News Headline
The actor also cited a News18 Hindi headline that reportedly described his post as a dig at opponents’ threats, using the phrase “Go, bring your elephants and horses”.
Bachchan questioned this interpretation, arguing that it ignored the devotional context of the words. He also criticised what he viewed as the media’s failure to treat religious expressions with appropriate respect.
Calls Media the ‘Fifth Column’
In his post, Bachchan referred to the media as the country’s “fifth column”, contrasting it with the four traditional pillars of society, which he said were respected in Indian traditions.
He questioned whether the media deserved such respect when, in his view, it presented statements in a distorted or misleading manner. His comments reflected his broader criticism of media practices and the responsibility of news organisations to report statements in their proper context.
Says He Believes in Apologising When He Makes a Mistake
Bachchan also said that when he makes a mistake, he tries to apologise and correct it. However, he suggested that the same sense of accountability was missing in the media coverage he was criticising.
Towards the end of the post, the actor said he had initially considered describing himself as a victim before going to sleep, but decided against using that label. He added that his pain was personal and not something he considered worthy of the media’s attention, before signing off with a good-night message to his followers.
