A prank by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has unleashed a nightmare for 10 mobile phone numbers in Punjab.
During a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati, Bachchan gave out a random mobile number when a participant at the show pestered him for his contact.
“No sooner was the show aired on Sony TV channel than all hell broke loose for me. I have received thousands of calls in the last few days. People are calling 24 x 7 — from northeast India to Gujarat, Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” wedding planner Karan Wahi, one of those affected by Amitabh’s prank, said here.
Bachchan had given out nine digits of a mobile number (987730000) during the show, leaving viewers to guess the last one. Eager Amitabh fans did not take long to dial all digits – from 0 to 9 – in the mobile series.
Since the series belongs to mobile operators in Punjab, the mobile users with these numbers became sitting ducks for the fans.
Wahi, who owns two of these mobile numbers in the series, says his nightmare is unending.
Harassed by the constant calls and streams of SMSs, Wahi has slapped a legal notice on Amitabh and Sony TV. “People are calling from Australia, Canada, the USA, London and everywhere else. I have not received so many calls in one year as I have received in the last three-four days.”
“I am at my wits’ end. I feel like committing suicide. I will seek a compensation of at least Rs.50 lakh from the TV channel and the host for this harassment and constant mental agony,” Wahi said.
“People want me to connect to Amitabh Bachchan and don’t listen to my arguments. From knowing about his health to when he is becoming a grandfather, they ask everything 24 hours.
“They even want to talk to Aishwarya (Amitabh’s daughter-in-law and actress) and son Abhishek. Initially, we enjoyed the calls but soon got fed up with these. Even giving choicest Punjabi abuses has failed to ward off people,” Wahi said.