In 1982, the news shocked the country Amitabh Bachchan met with a near-fatal accident on the sets of Coolie which landed him in the hospital battling for his life. The entire country rallied around the actor, walking barefoot to temples and pilgrimage sites and praying for his well-being
Former prime ministers, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, had cut short a foreign visit, to pay Amitabh Bachchan a visit.
Of all the fans there was a fan named Arvind Pandya from Vadodara who had taken a vow for the recovery of Super-star of the millennium. Arvindbhai had taken a vow that he would do this act of running called “Backward Running” from Siddhivinayak Temple at Dandia bazzar till Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai. Once the news of Amitabh’s positive recovery came out, Arvindbhai started Backward Running which he finished in 13days. Arvindbhai was invited to ‘Prateeksha’ by Harivanshrai Bachchan where Amitabh was waiting in anticipation to meet and greet him. Amitabh was so moved by Arvindbhai’s such a selfless gesture that he bowed and touched Arvindbhai’s feet for blessings.
Since then Amitabh and Arvindbhai share a special bond, they keep in touch with each other through letters and phone. Jaya Bachchan made him brother and also invited him Mumbai to meet Bachchan family after his marriage. Arvindbhai also holds two World Records for backward running and has been raising funds for various social cause by running backward. He has even raised funds for PM Fund relief when Indira Gandhi was PM & also for the Nargis Dutt Cancer Foundation which was run by Sunil Dutt. Currently, he is Yoga teacher & has completely involved himself in social activities like feeding the less privileged, care-taking for stray dogs and environment
