Kolkata film festival: Amitabh escapes accident, Shah Rukh takes a ride in a Santro

Actors Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are two of the biggest stars in Indian cinema. At the 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival, the two had very different experiences, coincidentally involving cars.

Both Khan and Bachchan had been invited to the prestigious film festival that concludes on 17 November. The actors were part of several prominent members of the Bengali film industry, as well as West Bengal chief minister Mamata Bannerjee, who chaired the ceremony. 

It was on the way back to the airport that Bachchan's entourage suffered an accident. The Mercedes that the actor was travelling in lost its rear wheel, while in motion. A senior official at the Kolkata secretariat was quoted by PTI news agency as saying, "The wheel on the left rear-end of the Mercedes carrying Bachchan got detached from the vehicle on Dufferin Road when he was going to the airport to catch a flight for Mumbai on Saturday morning." 

The actor was travelling with a state minister in the car, and reportedly escaped unhurt in the accident. Bachchan was later dropped at the airport in the minister's vehicle.

At the other end of the spectrum was Khan's journey back to the airport. The Raees actor was driven to the Kolkata airport in chief minister Mamata Banerjee's humble Hyundai Santro. Social media could not get enough of the sight of one of India's biggest stars being squeezed into the back of a small car, as he exited. 

Ever the gentleman, Khan didn't seem to mind it and was thankful for the ride to the airport. The actor, who has been close to Banerjee, was also seen touching the chief minister's feet before taking off for his flight. On her part, the chief minister too seemed quite fond of the actor and is heard telling the actor to 'take care' as he leaves for Mumbai. 

The Kolkata International Film Festival began on 10 November 2017.