Amitabh Bachchan’s recent comments about an upcoming metro railway near his house have caused quite a stir, but now the question is; has the media blown the story out of proportions?

When Big B found out about plans to construct an elevated metro railway near his house in Juhu, Mumbai, the B-town superstar took to his blog to share his thoughts on the project with fans and here is what he had to say:

“There is general happiness from the commuters, for, the misery of crowded locals and the uncertainties of the three wheeler or the yellow black cab shall hopefully be greatly reduced. But here is the killer ..its going to roll over Prateeksha [the actor's house]!! Yesterday the authorities came over to check externally the structural condition of all houses that would get affected by the rail car moving in its proximity and they came into Prateeksha. So bye bye privacy and hello fellow traveller.”

Some people seem to have taken this seemingly reasonable comment the wrong way and have started criticizing the actor, suggesting Big B is nothing but a spoilt celebrity who only cares about his own privacy and not about the people who could actually benefit from a developed railway. One follower on Twitter even told Bachchan senior: “I have a solution for you sir throw away your cars and try to travel in local trains.”

But is Big B’s statement really that controversial? Or has it simply been blown out of proportions by the media eager to report on a potentially juicy story? Mr. Bachchan sent out a statement to clarify what he meant and insisted it was not a celebrity rant over his own privacy:

“Mumbai as a city has given my family and me a place in their hearts besides recognition and respect. My family and I have never, and at no point of time would ever, like to disregard the conveniences of my fellow Mumbaikars and the development being undertaken for a better future for the city and them.

My blog represents my heart and on the matter of the Metro it clearly says the ‘general happiness’ that it brings to ‘commuters’ and that ‘the misery of crowded locals and the uncertainties of the three wheeler or the yellow black cab shall hopefully be greatly reduced’.

Indeed I have ended the piece by saying welcome ‘fellow passengers’. By fellow passenger I include myself as one. My request to everyone who visits my blog is to read it in its entirety rather than pick up words and fabricate stories which create an unnecessary sensation. I am proud to be a Mumbaikar and I welcome the changes which we are being seen in the city.”