Amitabh Bachchan Recalls Being Called A ‘3rd Rate Actor From A 3rd World Country’: 'That Hurt Me'

Amitabh Bachchan recently shared his pride over India’s emphatic victory at the U19 Cricket World Cup, where the Ayush Mhatre-led side clinched a historic sixth title. India defeated England by a massive 100-run margin at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe, registering the biggest win by runs in an U19 World Cup final. The landmark triumph prompted the veteran actor to reflect on India’s evolving global stature, not just in cricket, but across disciplines.

Big B Recalls Being Mobbed at an International Airport

In his latest blog post, Bachchan revisited a deeply personal memory from years ago, recalling an incident at an international airport that left a lasting impression on him. Without naming the country, he shared that he had been invited

to attend a film festival abroad.

“While on the flight, I noticed a newspaper with a photograph from one of my films,” he wrote. “Not understanding the language, I asked the air hostess what it said. She told me it was a poster of an Indian film and that the paper mentioned the actor was arriving in the country.”

What followed after landing took him by complete surprise.

‘I Couldn’t Even Walk’: Chaos After Landing

Bachchan described how crowds began gathering as soon as he disembarked, making it nearly impossible for him to move from the plane to the immigration counter. The situation escalated quickly, forcing local authorities to intervene.

“People kept surrounding me, and it became difficult to even walk,” he recalled. “The chaos grew so intense that the police had to pull me out of the crowd, escort me out of the airport, and drive me straight to my hotel.”

In an unprecedented experience, Bachchan revealed that his immigration formalities were completed inside the hotel itself. He added that the sheer density of the crowd left him feeling suffocated. For the rest of his stay, police escorts and patrol cars accompanied him wherever he went, whether for official events or sightseeing.

A Journalist’s Headline That Left a Scar

Amid the frenzy, a senior journalist from the country wrote an article about Bachchan with a headline that stunned him. It read:
“WHY IS SO MUCH ATTENTION BEING GIVEN TO THIS 3RD RATE ACTOR FROM A 3RD WORLD COUNTRY?”

Reflecting on the remark, Bachchan said he had no issue with the personal criticism. “The ‘third-rate actor’ comment was acceptable to me,” he wrote. “But calling India a third-world country hurt deeply.”

‘We Are Not Third World Anymore’

Linking the memory to India’s present-day achievements, Bachchan asserted that the narrative around the country has fundamentally changed.

“I repeat this today for clarity,” he wrote passionately. “U19 Cricket — India, World Champions. Blind, Women’s, Men’s cricket — all world champions. We are number one. First in the world. We are not a third-world country anymore. We are a first-world nation.”

He concluded his post with a resounding “Bharat Mata Ki Jai!”, underlining the pride he feels in India’s global rise.

Amitabh Bachchan’s Recent Work

On the professional front, Amitabh Bachchan was last seen in Vettaiyan, starring alongside Rajinikanth. Directed by T. J. Gnanavel, the Tamil film was released on October 10, 2025.