The day Indira Gandhi wept seeing Amitabh Bachchan in ICU
What's the story
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's near-fatal accident on the sets of the 1982 film Coolie is a well-known piece of Bollywood trivia. The actor had suffered a severe abdominal injury while shooting an action sequence, which led to him being hospitalized for several days. In a recent revelation, it has come to light that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had visited Bachchan during his hospitalization.
Details
Bachchan's father-in-law wrote about the incident in 1989
Bachchan's father-in-law, Taroon Coomar Bhaduri, had written about the incident in a 1989 article for The Illustrated Weekly of India. Bhaduri, a journalist, wrote that he was informed about Bachchan's accident while he was in London. He said that the news "came like a bolt from the blue." He also revealed that Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi had visited Bachchan in hospital.
Book
'Whole country, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, praying for him'
Bhaduri wrote, "When we landed in Bombay, there were several friends including the Aroras, whom we knew and others whom we didn't. But all of them said, 'The whole country, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, is praying for him. Nothing will happen to him.'" "That night I slept soundly in the belief that if prayers had any meaning, Amit would survive."
What he said
'Aunty, I can't sleep,' Bachchan told Gandhi
Bhaduri further wrote, "Two days later, Mrs. Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi also flew in separately. "To Mrs. Gandhi, Amit again said, 'Aunty, I can't sleep.' Mrs. Gandhi broke down and sobbed, 'No, my son. You will sleep. I also don't get sleep sometimes, so what?'"
Other details
Bachchan's recovery was a 'medical marvel,' says Bhaduri
Bhaduri, an atheist, disagreed with the notion that prayers had anything to do with Bachchan's recovery. He said that not enough credit was given to the medical professionals who worked tirelessly to save him. He wrote, "They thought it was God's miracle. I don't think so. It was a medical marvel of the Breach Candy Hospital."