NEW DELHI, 16 October 2004 — Legendary film star Amitabh Bachchan yesterday denied he harbored any ill-feeling toward the Nehru-Gandhi family. “Our relationship with the Nehru-Gandhi family is much older than people like Sonia, Rahul, Priyanka or Jaya (Bachchan). This relationship was established 30-40 years ago with our father and mother, and I respect that relationship,” Amitabh said.

Giving an insight into the relationship dynamics, the actor said: “Nehru-Gandhis are the kings and we are only paupers. It’s the king who determines with whom he wishes to have a relationship.” He said Sarojini Naidu was instrumental in developing a relationship between Jawaharlal Nehru and my father Harivanshrai Bachchan. Amitabh said he had never showed any disrespect to the relationship established by his father and mother.

Replying to reporters’ queries, Amitabh clarified that he had himself decided to quit politics. “I left politics because of my own shortcomings. I just did not know how to be a politician,” he said, adding he preferred to serve art to carrying on in politics.

The cold war between two of India’s most high-profile families — the Gandhis and the Bachchans — once known to be the best of friends, has taken a bitter turn, with now the young Gandhi leader, and a Congress MP from Amethi, Rahul Gandhi saying that “Bachchans are full of lies.”

While, lashing out against Jaya Bachchan for saying that the Congress and the Gandhi family had betrayed Amitabh, Rahul said, “It is full of lies. Why are they leveling charges now after so many years? Amitabh was inducted into politics two decades ago. In fact, the Bachchans are the ones who have changed loyalties.”

Rahul’s attack on the Bachchans is confirmation of the souring of ties that date back to Nehru and Amitabh’s parents, Teji and Harivanshrai. The ties are said to have hit a nadir after Jaya accepted a Samajwadi Party nomination to the Rajya Sabha.

To a question on whether the Bachchans deceived the Gandhi family, Rahul said, “No comments. I am sure that those who know the Gandhis also know that we have never ever betrayed anyone.”

Rahul refused to take a question on why Amitabh claimed that Sonia closed the door on him. When asked how the Bachchans distanced themselves from the Gandhis, after Rajiv Gandhi’s name was dragged into the Bofors scandal, Rahul said, “People know better who betrayed whom. People also know with whom their loyalties are now.