Big B goes after fake video showing him backing Narendra Modi

MUMBAI/GANDHINAGAR: Superstar AmitabhBachchan on Thursday expressed outrage over a doctored video that suggests he is backing NarendraModi as the next prime minister and threatened legal action against its creators.
Following Bachchan's strong protest online, Modi tweeted, demanding an apology for the Big B. The video, uploaded on YouTube as part of a series under the name Jitega Bharat, was withdrawn soon after and a music composer from Rajkot admitted to having uploaded it and apologized.
Beginning his blog with the words, "this is an outrage", Bachchan called the video "an illegal act, inviting strong action, one that I am appalled by, and one that has no concurrence from me at all. I have brought this to the notice of the concerned authorities, and asked my digital team to find out its origin so that we can initiate action against the perpetrator… Infuriated and angered!!"
The 70-year-old star, who is the brand ambassador of Gujarat Tourism, said the video was made by manipulating a voiceover he did in 2007 for a 'Lead India' campaign by the Times of India. In the doctored version, Modi's video clips were superimposed as Bachchan spoke about a suitable leader for the country while reciting a poem by his father Harivanshrai Bachchan.
"Dear all... Fake video circulation... In the year 2007, I did a 'Lead India' campaign..., where we talked of the glorification of the country and India! Somebody has made a fake video by using my voice and text of what I spoke in the original, and falsely and mischievously, interspersed it with visuals which indicate a campaign for the promotion of the Hon Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi!!," Bachchan wrote.
Modi shared the concern. "Agree with @SrBachchan. The author of the fake video should take action immediately and apologize to Amitabh ji," Modi said in his tweet. The CM, who is pushing to be the BJP's PM candidate for the 2014 elections, boasts an aggressive and savvy cyber group as part of his team.
Utpal Jivrajani said he uploaded the video but denied creating it. "I have nothing to do with this video. I just got it on WhatsApp… On August 15, I received this video of Mr Amitabh Bachchan and I found it very interesting, so I uploaded it. But when I realized it has enraged him and our CM Narendra Modi, I apologized to both and have deleted it," said Jivrajani.
"If anyone is hurt by this act, I would say sorry to him. Those who made it (the fake video) must be punished,'' added Jivarajani, who has made music videos like 'Gujarati Shakira' and 'Gujarati Gangnam'.