Amitabh Bachchan, 84, said he reduced how often he posts on social media after facing repeated comments about his age, including one calling him "budhau" (old man). He made the disclosure on the game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati 18" (KBC 18), which he has hosted for most seasons since 2000, according to multiple Indian entertainment outlets that covered the episode.
What happened on KBC 18
The remarks came after a contestant, identified in coverage as Vinamra, asked Bachchan how he deals with criticism he receives online. Bachchan recalled that he initially saw social media as a useful tool for sharing his thoughts, describing it as a good way to say what was on his mind, according to Free Press Journal.
He said that changed once he started reading the comments under his posts. One comment that stayed with him, he said, read: "Apne aap ko kya samajhta hai re tu budhau... Aise kyun bol raha hai?" (What do you think you are, old man... why are you speaking like this?), according to Free Press Journal.
Why he says he writes less now
Bachchan told the contestant that encountering comments like this felt unusual, according to Telangana Today, and that it led him to cut back on how freely and how often he posts. He added, according to Free Press Journal, that once he started reading the comments, he stopped writing as openly as before.
He also pointed out what he described as an unexpected result: his follower count kept rising even as he posted less, according to Inshorts and Telangana Today. The outlets reported that the observation drew laughter from the contestant and studio audience.
A past response to an age-related jibe
The KBC remarks were not the first time Bachchan has addressed comments about his age in public. Free Press Journal reported that in 2022 a social media user called him "buddhe" after he posted a "good morning" message later in the day than usual. Bachchan replied at the time, saying, according to Free Press Journal, that he hoped the user would not face similar insults when they grew old.
- Bachchan made the comments during a KBC 18 episode after a contestant asked how he handles online criticism.
- He recalled a troll calling him "budhau" (old man) and said the comment felt unusual.
- He said he now writes less frequently on social media as a result.
- His follower count has continued to grow despite posting less, he noted.
- In 2022 he had publicly responded to a similar "buddhe" jibe rather than staying silent.
Background
Bachchan, born October 11, 1942, has appeared in more than 200 films over a career spanning since 1969 and has hosted the Indian quiz show "Kaun Banega Crorepati," an adaptation of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?," since its first season in 2000, according to Wikipedia.
Questions
- What did Amitabh Bachchan say about being trolled over his age?
- On KBC 18 he recalled a comment calling him "budhau" (old man) and said such remarks felt unusual, which led him to post less often on social media, according to Free Press Journal and Telangana Today.
- Who asked Bachchan about handling online criticism?
- A KBC 18 contestant, reported as Vinamra, asked him how he deals with criticism he receives online, prompting the disclosure.
- Did Amitabh Bachchan quit social media?
- No. He said he writes less frequently and less freely than before, not that he stopped using social media.
- Has his follower count dropped since he posts less?
- No. He said his follower count kept rising even after he reduced how often he posted, which he described as an unexpected result, per Inshorts and Telangana Today.
- Was this the first time he addressed age-related trolling?
- No. In 2022 he responded to a social media user who called him "buddhe," saying he hoped the user would not face similar insults when they grew old, according to Free Press Journal.
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