New Delhi: The cybercrime awareness caller tune voiced by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will be officially withdrawn starting today, according to sources cited by NDTV. The initiative, part of the Centre’s campaign to combat rising cyber fraud cases, had featured a pre-recorded message played during outgoing phone calls.
A source close to the matter stated, “The campaign has come to an end and therefore, the caller tune will be removed from today.”
The move follows a surge in public complaints, particularly concerning the tune’s interference during emergency calls, where the message was seen as delaying immediate communication.
Recently, the caller tune also became a topic of online trolling, with Mr. Bachchan facing criticism on social media. Responding to a comment on his post that said, “Toh phone pe bolna band kro bhay (So stop saying it on the phone),” the actor clarified, “Sarkar ko bolo bhai, unhone jo kaha humne kar diya (Tell the government, I did what they told me to do).”
In another interaction, when a user mocked him over his age, Mr. Bachchan retorted sharply: “Ek din bhagwan na karein who jaldi aaye, ap bhi sathiya jaayenge. Parantu humarein yaha kahawat hai – jo satha, who patha (God forbid it comes soon — you too will age. But we have a saying — with age comes wisdom).”
This isn’t the first time the actor has faced backlash over a government campaign. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a similar pre-recorded message urging precautions also drew criticism, with a PIL even being filed in the Delhi High Court requesting the removal of his voice after he and several family members contracted the virus.