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Bachchan pays up half his dues to DD

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday paid to Doordarshan nearly half of the amount, Rs 203.1 million dues his company, ABCL, owed to the channel.

Bachchan presented a cheque of Rs 96.5 million to Prasar Bharati CEO Rajiva Ratna Shah at a press conference.

He had recently given a cheque of Rs 5 million to Prasar Bharati.

Shah said Bachchan had promised to return the rest of the outstanding dues in three instalments next year during March, June and September.

He said that to pay to the interest of Rs 123.5 million as his dues, Bachchan would participate in Doordarshan's public interest programmes.

Speaking after presenting the cheque, Bachchan said that ABCL was producing three films at present, but he himself would be active on the small screen and work for advertisements for reputed firms.

Despite ABCL being referred to the Board of Industrial Financial and Reconstruction as a sick company, Bachchan said he would pay off all the outstanding dues.

To a question on the alleged mafia involvement in the film industry, he said the foundations of the industry were very strong and the mafia could not make a dent in it.

Among the 75 companies which had outstanding dues against Doordarshan, NFDC topped the list owing over Rs 630 million followed by ABCL and Multi Channel as of November this year.

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