SCREEN legend Amitabh Bachchan won the best actor title in Bollywood’s top awards, but he boycotted the ceremony because of a row with a tabloid newspaper.
The 66-year-old star won for his portrayal of a child with the rapid-ageing condition progeria in Paa, which also featured his real-life son, Abhishek.
Both Bachchans stayed away from Saturday (February 27) night’s ceremony, the 55th edition of the Filmfare awards.
They boycotted the awards due to a story in the Mumbai Mirror newspaper – a sister title of Filmfare magazine – alleging that Abhishek’s wife, Aishwarya Rai, could not have children.
The family has demanded a public apology. It was not immediately clear whether Bachchan would accept the award.
Paa won two awards on the night, with Vidya Balan scooping best actress.
But it was Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots that virtually swept the board, picking up best film, best director, best supporting actor, best story, best screenplay and best dialogue.
The coming-of-age film – about three students struggling to cope with life at a leading business school – is now Bollywood’s biggest-grossing movie of all time.
Other notable Filmfare winners included AR Rahman. The composer won for best music on the film Delhi 6.
Ranbir Kapoor, touted as Bollywood’s next male superstar, won the critics’ award for best actor for his films Wake Up Sid, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year.