Bachchan initially turned down the award from the Queensland University of Technology two years ago due to a wave of violent attacks on Indian students which strained diplomatic relations between Canberra and New Delhi.
But the 69-year-old said he felt the situation had now been resolved and the time had come to accept what he described as a great honour.
“It’s been a very warm welcome. I’ve only been seeing smiling faces and experiencing great hospitality. That was something that was an aberration and it’s over now,” Bachchan said of the attacks.
He was bestowed the honorary doctorate, awarded for his “outstanding contribution to creative industries over several decades”, in an intimate ceremony in Brisbane which featured a video-link appearance by Luhrmann.
Bachchan just finished work on the Australian director’s remake of the Great Gatsby featuring Leonardo DiCaprio in Sydney, and said he was a long-time admirer of his work.To find myself in a foreign country, and to have this recognition from them is truly amazing,” he said of his Australian doctorate.
“I do not have enough words to thank you for having bestowed on me this great honour. I value it a lot.”
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