Looking for the Big B

Book excerpt: _______________ 'An assortment of autobiography, travelogue, social commentary and interviews ... held together beautifully by her bristling wit, charm and intelligence' - Daily Telegraph 'Funny, irreverent and affectionate ... a fascinating look at the Bombay film industry and the story of a very unlikely friendship' - Asian Leader 'Her quirky observations on Mumbai and its social strata are brilliantly cutting and her use of "Hinglish" is genuinely funny' - Metro _______________ In search of a one-man industry, a phenomenon, an urban demi-god and a national icon 'Jessica,' he pronounced, 'you have known me for seven years. My life has changed seven times. You will never finish this book.' There is no reason why Amitabh Bachchan and I should appear in the same sentence. He is India's most legendary film star - a mixture of Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino and Elvis. In India where film stars are treated as gods, Bachchan is the über-god, the Big B. As for me, I am English, almost thirty, and not in the least bit famous. Yet here I am in Bombay about to start writing his story. How did I get here? Why did I get here? Can I pull it off? Bombay is mayhem and Bollywood is maddening. The Big B is strangely aloof, the magazines are full of lies, and no one is talking. I want to write a book that explodes the myths surrounding India's most famous man. But what will I find?