Sena chief shared a close bond with Amitabh Bachchan

The camaraderie between Balasaheb Thackeray and actor Amitabh Bachchan was always well known.  And Shiv Sena leader Ramesh Bodake was witness to an incident which showed how Thackeray took care of his friends.

This was in 1985, soon after Bachchan was grievously injured in an accident during the shooting of the film, Coolie, After his hospital stay, the Big B had returned home from hospital. And Thackeray wanted to call on Bachchan with an apt present for the friend who was recuperating at home.

Thackeray, along with Bodake, dropped by at Manney’s Book Store in Pune’s Camp area.

Bodake recalled how Thackeray had spent almost a couple of hours looking around for books for the superstar and purchased at least 50-odd books at the store.

“It was only after we got into the car that saheb told me that the books were for the ailing actor, Amitabh Bachchan, his close friend,” recalled Bodake.

Thackeray told him: “My friend will be lounging around at home and I know what he likes to read... Instead of taking along bouquets which go waste after a few days, our books will remain with him forever.”