Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan recently on the popular television show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) Season 16 shared a heartwarming memory of business tycoon and philanthropist Ratan Tata, highlighting the simplicity and humility that defined him. Tata passed away on October 9, leaving behind a legacy that resonated deeply across the nation.
In a promo for the upcoming KBC episode, featuring guests Boman Irani and Farah Khan, Bachchan recounted an unforgettable experience with Tata during a trip to London. Reflecting on the moment, he said, "Kya aadmi the main bata nahi sakta (What a man he was). Such a simple human being." Bachchan narrated how he and Tata ended up on the same flight to London, only for Tata to encounter an unexpected situation upon arrival.
"Once, we both happened to be on the same flight. We landed at Heathrow Airport, and the people who were supposed to pick him up must have left by then. I saw him standing there, and he went to a phone booth to make a call," Bachchan recounted, smiling at the memory.
In an endearing twist, Tata approached Bachchan at the airport, asking for assistance. “A short while later, he came up to me and asked, ‘Amitabh, can I borrow some money from you? I don’t have money to make a phone call!’” This simple gesture, Bachchan said, revealed Tata’s genuine humility and left an indelible mark on him.
Bachchan further shared another story highlighting Tata’s down-to-earth nature. He recalled how a friend of his once attended an event with Tata, who then asked for a ride home. "Ratan Tata told my friend, ‘Can you drop me home? I just live behind your house.’ Ratan Tata saying, ‘I don’t have a car’ — can you imagine that? It’s unbelievable,” Bachchan said.
The two legends had also collaborated on a professional level. Tata’s production company, Tata Infomedia Ltd, had backed Bachchan's film Aetbaar. Although the film struggled commercially, leading Tata to exit the movie business, it remains a testament to the respect and admiration shared between the two.