Bachchan visits Pyramids in Egypt

Cairo, April 1

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has visited the Pyramids in Egypt amid thousands of cheering fans in the audience and promised to bring his family during his next visit here.

On his fourth visit to the country, the 72-year-old actor gave his eager Egyptian fans a moment to cherish forever as he addressed the audience at a glittering ceremony held near the Great Sphinx of Giza to officially inaugurate the third edition of the 'India By the Nile' festival yesterday.

"Thank you so much for the adulation. I am touched to see the rousing welcome I have been getting. I love coming to Egypt. This is not the first time we have met each other neither will it be the last. I promise that the next time I am going to bring along Jaya (wife), Abhishek (son) and Aishwarya (daughter-in-law) with me," Bachchan said.

Evoking the rich history of the pyramids and drawing comparisons between India and Egypt, the actor said he hopes that the bond between the two countries becomes stronger with each passing day.

"Here, I stand today addressing this august gathering at the inaugural of India by Nile. Egypt is the cradle of civilisation, the world's first nation state with one of the longest history. We see above us the towering exemplaries of wonders which remind us how we can aim when we aim together.

"May the great guardian sphinx of Giza above us tonight lend metaphor to the strong and enduring friendship between India and Egypt and unite us in its gaze. May we grow ever closer in mutual understanding. May we connect through the exploration of each other's culture," Bachchan, on a three-day trip to Egypt, added.

The ceremony was anchored and hosted by famous Egyptian actress Bushra.

The evening also saw performances from Indian fusion band Advaita, a Bollywood dance number by a Delhi-based group and an Egyptian drummers.

India is organising 18-day 'India by the Nile' festival, considered the biggest foreign fair, in Egypt to send a message that the country is safe for Indian tourists despite violent extremist attacks and unrest.

Tourism is one of the major centrepieces of the Egyptian economy.

Egypt is hoping that Bachchan's popularity will help bring more tourists from India to boost its economy, hit by political unrest since the ouster of long-time president Hosni Mubarak in 2011. PTI