Bollywood Icon Amitabh Bachchan recently reflected on a painful personal experience from his early international travels while celebrating India’s historic U19 Cricket World Cup victory. The veteran actor praised the Ayush Mhatre-led India team for defeating England by 100 runs in Harare, Zimbabwe, marking India’s sixth U19 World Cup title and emphasizing the nation’s top position in global cricket.

In a blog post, Bachchan recalled an incident when he was mobbed upon arrival at an international airport for a film festival, forcing authorities to conduct his immigration inside a hotel. He described being suffocated by the crowd and requiring police escorts for every outing during his stay, highlighting the overwhelming reception he received abroad for his films.

The actor recounted that an elderly foreign journalist had described him in a newspaper headline as a “3rd rate actor from a 3rd world country.” While Bachchan accepted the critique of his acting, he revealed that the “3rd world” remark deeply hurt him, noting India’s growing stature across global arenas.

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Reflecting on the incident, Bachchan linked it to India’s current achievements in sports, stating, “U19 Cricket INDIA… WORLD CHAMPIONS! Blind, Women’s, Men’s Cricket – all world champions. We are NUMBER 1…on top, FIRST in the World. We are NOT 3rd World…we are FIRST World! BHARAT MATA KI JAI!”

The blog post came on the heels of India’s record-breaking cricket success, with the U19 squad securing the largest victory margin by runs in a World Cup final. Bachchan used the moment to celebrate the nation’s growing recognition and respect in the global sporting and cultural arenas.

Amitabh Bachchan was last seen in the Tamil film Vettaiyan alongside Rajinikanth, released on October 10, 2024.  He is set to reprise his role as Ashwatthama in the highly anticipated sci-fi sequel Kalki 2898 AD: Part 2, with filming reportedly beginning in May 2025 for a future release. His upcoming lineup also includes the courtroom thriller Section 84 and Brahmāstra: Part 2 – Dev, both expected to hit theatres in 2026.

Despite decades of stardom, the actor continues to reflect on early international experiences that shaped his perspective on India’s place in the world.

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