‘Amar Akbar Anthony was also nonsensical’

Mumbai: Much as the sensation-mongers would like it otherwise, there is absolutely no ill-will between Jaya Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan over the former’s comment at a literary festival that Happy New Year, which also stars Jaya’s son Abhishek, was “nonsensical”.

While there have been shocked responses to her habitual “frank-speak”, the two individuals most effected by the response are oblivious to the uproar.

In fact, when he heard Jaya’s response, Shah Rukh apparently reminded Jaya that her husband, the great Amitabh Bachchan’s film, Amar Akbar Anthony, now considered a classic, was also considered nonsensical.

Says a source close to the Bachchans and Khans, “Jaya Ji loves Shah Rukh like her own son. She always speaks her mind and Shah Rukh loves her forthrightness. Before she expressed her opinion at the lit fest, she had personally told Shah Rukh what she thought of Happy New Year. He had coolly turned around and reminded Jaya Ji that Amar Akbar Anthony was also considered nonsensical in its time.”

Abhishek Bachchan, who is caught in the vortex, is said to be deeply embarrassed by the controversy. “Abhishek is very close to Shah Rukh and considers him his elder brother. At the same time, Abhishek respects his mom’s opinion. He has decided to keep out of it completely,” the source adds.