AFP

Mumbai, Jan 23: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan said he has cleared the air with British director Danny Boyle over his perceived attitude to the Oscar-nominated film "Slumdog Millionaire".

Comments posted on Bachchan's personal website said the movie, about a lowly Mumbai tea-boy who wins the popular television gameshow "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" showed India's "third-world underbelly".

The post was interpreted by the media as a slight on Western directors and their perceptions of the country.

Bachchan -- who hosted the gameshow in real life – has, however, denied he was being critical of Boyle's success.

In another post, Bachchan said he spoke to one of the film's stars, Anil Kapoor, by telephone and took "the opportunity to clear the air on the media twisted comments, wrongly attributed to me, via the blog".

He then spoke to Boyle, who was "gracious and complimentary to me and my work".

"I explain the entire misinterpretation to him and he has a good laugh over it. I extend to him my apologies if this uncalled for misdemeanor has caused him and his film any anguish and grief," he added.

"He understands and acknowledges my calling him," Bachchan wrote.

"Slumdog Millionaire", which won four Golden Globes earlier this month, had its Indian premiere in Mumbai on Thursday evening and went on general release across the country in English and in Hindi on Friday.

Despite having a British director, producer, writer and studio, its cast, crew and location is Indian.

The film has been nominated for 10 Oscars, including best film and best director, with music director A R Rahman up for three awards.