Whether it was actress Bipasha Basu who narrowly missed the Vile Parle blast or model-turned-actor Zulfi Syed who witnessed one of the attacks, 26/11 shook the human spirit. It spared no one - whether it was the common man or Bollywood's favourite stars. Even after a year since the horrific incident, nothing much has changed, say Bollywood celebs.
We should take an example from the US: Mandira Bedi
I was close to the Oberoi when the 26/11 attack happened and I heard a gunshot. It was scary. It was frightening. I have been watching news since morning today. Everybody says, we won't forget 26/11. Obviously we can't. What needs to change is the way we look at such incidents. I am staying in a hotel in Delhi right now and I don't feel any safer even after a year. Ofcourse, time does heal wounds but this date will forever be etched in my memory. We should take an example from the US. They have taken strict action since the 9/11 terror attacks and there hasn't been a single instance since then. In India, however, there's still a lot we need to do about every citizen's security.
There is a lot we need to do: Zulfi Syed
Last year, on this day, model Zulfi Syed had organised a party at Hotel Sahara Star and was waiting for his guests when he heard a blast outside the hotel. "I saw a taxi blown to pieces and the two people inside the taxi being killed. I saw the news on television about people being taken as hostages at the Taj and Oberoi hotels. I called up my guests and asked them to return home." One year after the tragedy, Zulfi recalls the horror. I remember seeing the deserted streets last year as I returned home. It was horrifying. I have moved on in life but I strongly feel that the incident was a lesson for our country. We need immediate steps to tighten up the security."
There is a lot we need to do: Zulfi Syed
Last year, on this day, model Zulfi Syed had organised a party at Hotel Sahara Star and was waiting for his guests when he heard a blast outside the hotel. "I saw a taxi blown to pieces and the two people inside the taxi being killed. I saw the news on television about people being taken as hostages at the Taj and Oberoi hotels. I called up my guests and asked them to return home." One year after the tragedy, Zulfi recalls the horror. I remember seeing the deserted streets last year as I returned home. It was horrifying. I have moved on in life but I strongly feel that the incident was a lesson for our country. We need immediate steps to tighten up the security."
I don't see any major change since 26/11: Milind Soman
Last year on this day, I was right next to the Oberoi at a club called Dragon Fly and I was stuck there till 1 a.m. I got to know the news when I heard it on television. I don't see any major change in the country's attitude since then. Everybody wants to do something but they are not sure how. There seems to be no proper plan in place to deal with such issues even if they happen in future. It's a serious question of the security of the country. People who were not directly affected by the incident, seem to have got over it already, which is sad.
26/11 has exposed us: Rahul Bose
I think 26/11 has exposed us. It has forced us to look into ourselves and the state of our country. We need world class anti-terror squads and security to fight terror. That's possible only when we have good governance, which sadly Mumbai doesn't have. There is no political leader, we as Mumbaikars can look up to for standing up for us. It is high time we stop thinking as individuals and start thinking collectively about the country.