Inside a Boeing 747 .. film directed by R Balki’s wife Gauri titled ‘English Vinglish’ … a small one day cameo … women power at its peak .. ladies all about and the ratio heavily in favor of them. It is not too far when they shall take over the world … EF ladies do nod in approval please .. this to be not appeasing the girls, it is factual and believable and doable .

And so … to future work and what lies in store for me in the days and months to come .. talks on with Ashutosh Gowariker, Rakeysh Mehra, and a few other projects of films that would be in the making during the year or perhaps early next. What is immediate is of course the release of ‘Aarakshan’ first and almost simultaneously KBC. Ram Gopal Varma with ‘Department’ starts soon .. another edgy intrigued story of today virtually .. and no, not with the gore and sex ! There is some excitement within the digital world for the Vog, available now in India and UK. Its *5000* here in India .. and will get you the UK soon .. India now at 33 lakh subs .. thats like 3.3 million .. whopppeeee ! that is a big number but still lots to go … tomorrow I do the Talk2Me for an hour late evening and must say its an absolute joy to connect live with millions of people all over the country … I speak to them through the Vog every morning though in Hindi and in English, in two separate versions, so I do hope that some of you are listening in ..

Meanwhile the news on ‘Aarakshan’ is that it was shown to the censors today and they have unanimously given it a UA Certificate without a single cut. And apparently they got in the largest panel of members to see it, including various dignitaries and representatives from those committees and commissions that represent areas that were feared could be controversial !! That is quite an accomplishment I should say by the director and his film, considering that there was a great deal of talk on the possibilities of it becoming so !

‘Aarakshan’ a film on the reservation policy of the country where the issue of securing placements in education and jobs with the intent of providing provision for the under privileged and the poor and for those that get affected because of their caste. A film that looks deep into the commercialization of the educational system, of capitation and equal opportunities, of coaching institutes for those that are affluent, of luring the best teachers to them to secure good merit … at a fee of course ! A bold and intense look within, not taking any sides, but working along with them to a level of awareness and possible solution … August 12 th .. all over the world .. Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Prateik, Manoj Bajpai and a host of very talented artists with music by the trio Shankar Ehsan Loy … and the glorious classical number sung by that eminent exponent of the raga, Channulal Misra from Varanasi … ‘kaun si dor kheechay, kaun se kate re’ …

Must to bed now to catch that beauty hour of sleep .. got some important promotions to do tomorrow .. in particular as guest on Sony’s X Factor, that talent show with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal ..

Love to you

Amitabh Bachchan