Una (H P): The father of one of the three Indian hostages, abducted by an Iraqi militant group, today (Aug 8, 2004) requested film stars Amitabh Bachhan and Dharmendra and yesteryear actress Asha Parekh to make an appeal for the release of the hostages.

Ram Murthy, Antaryami's father, was speaking to media persons in the light of a new demand from negotiator Sheikh Dulaimi that these Bollywood personalities make such an appeal.