Amitabh Bachchan and Manoj Bajpai at P&M Mall in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Aug. 3: He came here to promote a film on reservation but Amitabh Bachchan had no reservations on heaping praise on Bihar.

“Bihar is changing. Whatever I have heard about the state seems to be true. Bihar has developed in all senses. It is developing from all angles. The atmosphere of the state has changed. This is the reason I am here and sitting in front you,” said the superstar.

Bachchan, sporting a cream blazer, reached P&M Mall, where a news meet was organised to promote Prakash Jha’s film Aarakshan. But when he landed at the airport at 1.14pm, he wore a designer jacket. To avoid the rush of a large number of people, who had turned up to see the heartthrob, he made his exit through a side gate. He discreetly got into a SUV and went straight to Jha’s house. But not before The Telegraph spotted him.

Later, he acknowledged his fans who went berserk just to see him. “I am very happy to be here. I want to thank everyone who gave me such a warm welcome. Though I don’t visit Bihar very often, whatever I have seen so far, it seems that the people of Patna love me.”

Their display of affection was indeed overwhelming. Some of them climbed trees and terraces just to see him. Some wanted his autograph on currency notes. Around 50 bouncers were deployed inside and outside the mall to control the crowd, along with policemen.

This is not Big B’s first visit to the state capital. He had come sometime in the 1980s for a private function. This, however, is the first time he will halt overnight.

The film that Bachchan came to promote revolves around the controversial issue of caste-based reservation. Though Bachchan reserved his comment on whether he supports reservation or not, he was all praise for the film.

“Seven years ago, Prakash (the director) came to me with the script of Aarakshan. I really liked it. We put in a lot of effort to complete this film. As far as the name of the film is concerned, it is a serious issue. If anybody asks for my own view on it, I will reply that no one can give a clear answer on such an issue. I can’t say whether I support reservation or not. It’s not possible to answer this question.”

The film, which also stars Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Prateik Babbar and Manoj Bajpai, will hit the theatres on August 12. Bajpai, who hails from Bihar, also accompanied Bachchan and Jha on the promotional tour today.

Bachchan said: “It all starts with the surname because that discloses the caste of any individual. That is the reason my father used Bachchan instead of Shrivastava as a surname.”

Amitabh’s father Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a famous Hindi poet.

Asked about his experience in Bhojpuri films — he has acted in two — Bachchan said: “I really loved working in both the films. The Bhojpuri culture and tradition are beautiful. As far as the language is concerned, I speak Avadhi but I do understand Bhojpuri.”

On being asked when his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was expecting the baby, he said: “I cannot tell you that as it is not me who is expecting.”

Bajpai said: “I thank Amitji for making a visit to Bihar. He is my inspiration. I used to play truant to catch his films at Mona or Regent cinemas.”

Bachchan also met chief minister Nitish Kumar and his relatives at 1 Aney Marg later in the evening.

He told Nitish: “I congratulate you for bringing change and development in the state. I would also like to request you to watch Aarakshan.”

Nitish, too, thanked Amitabh: “I don’t think there is anyone who is not a fan of Amitabh Bachchan.”

The superstar will fly to Lucknow tomorrow.