Dust storm Amitabh Bachchan's biggest challenge

By DV Maheshwari / DNA

On his mission to promote Gujarat tourism, cinestar Amitabh Bachchan arrived in Bhuj on Friday. He will be shooting at various tourist locations in Bhuj for three days starting Saturday.

Bachchan was welcomed at Bhuj airport by state tourism department and district administration officials amidst tight security. He was accompanied by state tourism secretary Vipul Mitra and members of ad film units.

Bachchan is scheduled to be in Kutch till May 31. He will travel to Saurashtra where he will again be shooting for three days. In Bhuj, he will stay in a private farm house near Kukma village on the Bhuj-Gandhidham highway.

"The administration approached us as it wanted a secluded and serene place with the facilities of a five-star hotel," said Vimal Gujaral, a businessman and chief executive of Cargo Motors which owns the farm house. Though no official was willing to comment on the superstar's shooting schedule, a top official told DNA that the megastar would start shooting at Dhodo in Banni, one of the biggest pastures in Asia, located on the edge of the Great Rann of Kutch.

But experts speculate that Bachchan, because of the strong dust storm lashing the state, would not be in a position to visit the White Rann this time of the year. During summer, the Rann of Kutch becomes very dusty. "The ideal time to visit White Rann is after monsoon, especially after October which is precisely the reason why the Rannotsav is held every November and December," said a group of experts who have moved around and know much about the Rann.