Indian star
Abhishek Bachchan, a rising Bollywood leading man with a
growing female following, says he's ready to be an icon for
gays as well.
Asked by The Times of India newspaper if he would feel
comfortable having a big following among gay men,
Bachchan responded: "Great! Why not?"
"Appreciation and love from any quarter is
welcome," he was quoted as saying in Monday's edition
of the daily.
While such a sentiment would surprise few in
Hollywood, homosexuality remains taboo among most of
India's billion people. Even in Bollywood's relatively
liberal social circles, there are few openly gay personalities.
As for his female fan base, Bachchan jokingly
told the paper: "You bribe them very well and keep
them on payroll."
Bachchan is the son of Amitabh Bachchan,
arguably one of India's biggest stars over the past
three decades. The two were among the star-studded
cast of the industry's latest big hit, Kabhi Alvida
Na Kahna, or Never Say Goodbye, a movie
about infidelity. (AP)