Terror attacks on Mumbai stun Bollywood

By Shilpa Jamkhandikar

PANAJI (Reuters) - Bollywood reacted with shock and horror on Thursday as brazen attacks on luxury hotels, hospitals and a tourist cafe in Mumbai killed at least 101 people and brought the bustling city to a standstill.

“Mumbai under terrorist attack! Terrible! Terrible Situation!" actor Amitabh Bachchan posted on his blog (bigb.bigadda.com/) just hours after the attacks were reported late on Wednesday.

Hundreds of people, including foreigners, were still trapped by Islamist gunmen on Thursday in a city that has witnessed some of India's worst terror attacks.

Several film shoots were cancelled in Mumbai, home to the world’s most prolific film industry, while security was tightened at the ongoing International Film Festival of India in the nearby state of Goa.

"Shootings in Mumbai, especially those in South Mumbai, have been cancelled because people are scared to come out of their houses,” Mukesh Bhatt, chairman of the core committee of Bollywood producers, told Reuters.

“But some producers are still shooting. We have to get used to terror now."

Many of the areas targeted in the attacks are frequented by celebrities from Bollywood.

The gunmen arrived by boats in Mumbai on Wednesday, before fanning out and attacking the Taj and Oberoi hotels, the landmark Leopold Cafe, hospitals and a railway station, firing indiscriminately.