Bollywood Zone : Blog, Movies, Celebs

Amitabh Bachchan and son Abhishek were in full form recently. Father and son were shooting on adjacent sets, and unit members had a great time watching the two fool around.

Big B was shooting for his film, Bhootnath, when son Abhishek Bachchan, who was shooting for an ad next door, dropped in on the sets. In fact, the two kept paying each other mini-visits, sharing jokes and generally having fun. During one such break, Big B went to Abhishek’s sets to see him perform when the director sent an assistant to call Big B for a shot. The poor assistant didn’t realise that Abhishek’s shot was on and he simply walked across to call Big B, coming in the way of Abhishek and the camera.

Says a source , “Abhishek was at his jovial best, and declared in front of all that since the assistant had spoilt his shot, he too would go to the sets of Bhootnath to spoil their shot. And, he did actually go over to Big B’s sets during his break. What followed next was hilarious. Abhishek got into Big B’s costumes and got hold of the script. Next, he asked for the cameras to start rolling and started saying Big B’s dialogues from the script. The entire crew was in splits as they watched Abhishek. Even Big B was amused. He turned to the director and said, ‘Oh, You have got a new actor in my place, I should take your leave now.’”

When contacted, director of Bhootnath, Vivek Sharma, confirmed the incident, saying, “Abhishek did drop by on the sets frequently as he was shooting just next door. It was a great experience to watch the great rapport that the father and son share. And yes, Abhishek’s antics did have us all in splits.”

He’s the last ‘King’ of Bollywood. Even at the other side of 60, Amitabh Bachchan is the reigning Shahenshah of moviedom. And no flames of Aag can lick this man. But all those suffering a momentary loss of faith have to do is view Rituparna Ghosh’s movie which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last week. Even Shakespeare must’ve stirred from his 400-year-old slumber on hearing Big B’s rendition of his play. It had the celeb-studded audiences enthralled all right. His almost theatrical performance as an ageing Shakespearian actor leaves you feeling, ‘Yes! All the world’s definitely a stage’ for Amitabh Bachchan. Truly.

“Ironically, the role I play is that of an actor in Bengal, and in my early days I actually did do a lot of English amateur theatre there. This film gives a realistic approach not just to contemporary Calcutta, but to theatre and Shakespeare which many of you admire,” said Bachchan at the gala opening at the grand Roy Thomson Hall. This is AB’s first ever English language film, not that there’s any love lost for Hindi just yet.

Amitabh Bachchan is delighted and elated and the reason behind his happiness is that he’s won one of the most prestigious awards, the National Award for Best Actor in Black. “I don’t know what took so long for the announcement,” says Bachchan in this week’s Popcorn News on Zoom TV. “I heard that there was a petition filed in the court against the declaration of the awards. I have no knowledge about it. The guys who have filed the petition know it better. I’m just sitting here to accept the award. If they think I shouldn’t be getting the award and they need to go to court… It’s obvious these awards come from the government and it has special importance. When the government decides to honour someone with prestige and dignity, then they are special persons and one should be grateful. I personally thank the government, the committee who thought that I’m worth it, and I deserve the award. I owe the award to them and want to share my happiness with them.” What more did he say? Tune in and find out.

Some of Amitabh Bachchan’s most successful films were under Manmohan Desai’s banner, MKD Films. Together they made blockbuster films like Parvarish, Amar Akbar Anthony, Coolie, Suhaag, Desh Premi, Naseeb, Mard, Ganga Jamuna Saraswati and Toofan. Amitabh’s first film under the MKD banner was the 1977 hit Parvarish while the last film was Toofan in 1989.

Now, after 18 years, MKD Films and Amitabh Bachchan are all set to come together once again for a film to be directed by Manmohan Desai’s son Ketan Desai. Ketan Desai says, “Yes, I have spoken to Mr Bachchan and he has agreed to work in the film which will be directed by me. We have spoken about the terms and conditions and he has agreed to do the film. I ‘ll be able to give you all the details of the script by Augustend.” Desai says, “I am working on a few ideas and have finalised something but I am also listening to fresh scripts. We want to do an interesting film.”

How was the first day of shooting with your daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai for Sarkar Raj. What kind of equation do you share with her in the film?
Aishwarya plays an important part in moving the film’s story structure forward. She shares a good relationship with both Abhishek and me and is an importantingredient in the final outcome of the story.The first day of the shoot was invigorating, special, emotional, warm and extremely satisfying.

Even before the release of Ramgopal Varma Ki Aag there are reports about you planning another film with him that will all three of you in the film, which the director initially wanted to make with Shah Rukh Khan. Is it true?
Ramu and I talk constantly of several projects simultaneously. It’s a common phenomenon with most artist-director relationships. Yes we have talked of projects that could involve all three of us. I am unaware whether the projects he has spoken of have also been discussed with Shah Rukh. That will be Ramu’s prerogative. It is very unlikely in today’s time that someone would design something with Shah Rukh and then instead work with me. It would be a sacrilege and very self-destructive if he did that.

Why do you think went wrong with Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (JBJ)? Also critics did question your presence in the film as the role had nothing to offer an actor of your calibre?
What went wrong with JBJ was that the audience did not like it. Critics not liking my presence because it had nothing to offer me could be justified. I did it because the film involved Shaad, Abhishek, Adi and Yashraj and the great time I had working in their earlier project Bunty Aur Babli. It was never meant to be a test of calibre; a commodity, I believe to be very scarce in my repertoire.

Of late you have been seen in films in which you have interesting get ups whether it is the chef with a pony tail or your character in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. Even your forthcoming films like Bhootnath and Aag too have you in novel get ups. Don’t you think that get ups mostly spoil the role?
Get ups justify the effort desired to be playing different roles. Playing myself all the time would be pretty monotonous and dry. Actors need constantly to be tested and challenged in through different characterisations. A role can be spoilt by a bad performance, a bad script, a bad director. Never have I heard of a get up spoiling a role.

Animation has become an in thing in Hindi films. We have heard that Shweta has floated a company that deals with animation films…
Right now, there is nothing on the anvil. But who can say about tomorrow? Also, Shweta’s husband Nikhil Nanda has an animation company amongst his other business interests.

Will Ash’s Windfall which she was coproducing will be made under the AB Corp banner? Also there reports about Shoojit Sarkar’s film, which was to be earlier made by Percept being made under the AB Corp banner? Also, is AB Corp planning to make television serials? What is the current status of the TV serial that you are going to be part of?
I am unaware of what Windfall is, and have no information on it wanting to do something with AB Corp. Shoojit Sarkar’s film is now with UTV and they are working out the details. At the moment, AB Corp is not making serials. But there are possibilities of us getting into TV shows in the future. And the TV serial I am doing is under discussion and consideration.

Today’s generation likes being on their own. Will Aishwarya and Abhishek move into the other bungalow (Ammu) or they want to be with you and Jayaji?
They want to be with us.

There are speculations in the media and in political circles that all his not well between the Bachchans and Amar Singh. Comment.
Things between Amar Singhji and us couldn’t be better. He is a member of my family. If you have not seen us together as often as you would like us to, that is your problem, not ours.

A lot of UPiites are upset that you are no longer the brand ambassador of the state. Will you accept it if Mayawati government offers the same to you? Were you upset when you learnt that Samajwadi failed to form the government in Uttar Pradesh?
Oh..!! This a new one. I thought they were rather happy that I was no longer one. But since you express it, I have no reason to disbelieve you and yes, I would happily do whatever is asked of me, to promote Uttar Pradesh. The campaign that I did earlier on, still holds good. I still believe, as I said in the adverts, that, compared to other states, crime in UP is lesser. I think it is number 26 or 27 in the rankings. Just three days ago in the Times of India, they carried an extensive report that Delhi was no.1 and Mumbai no.2 in crime ratings. So UP is much better off. Which is what the crux of my campaigns were.

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has always said he never yearned to act in Hollywood. Though he hasn’t said no, the actor is not sure whether he’ll be able to take up director Ridley Scott’s film that stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.

“The email for this offer came from Mira Nair’s office. Someone from Ridley Scott’s unit was to come to me and tell me the story. Just an offer on the e-mail from a third party isn’t enough,” says Amitabh.

“Besides they want to shoot in September. It seems impossible for me to leave behind my commitments here to do this film,” added the Big B, who is currently busy shooting a sequel to Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar.

Amitabh has, however, asked for a copy of the script. He says he wants to get an idea about the role first and then only take a final decision. “I’ve asked for the script. Right now, I don’t have any idea about my role or the theme. Where’s the question of saying yes without getting the details?”

Scott’s film, which is titled Body Of Lies, is a thriller based on a novel by David Ignatius.

The Big B of the Indian film industry has been doing quite a few ‘mature love stories’ of late. Right from Nishabd to Cheeni Kum. But looks like he may be stepping cautiously where such films are concerned now, if rumour is to be believed. The latest is that Amitabh Bachchan is no longer doing Percept Picture Company’s Johnny Walker, which was touted as yet another such film. Johnny Walker was to be directed by Shoojit Sircar who had earlier directed Yahaan. The film’s story traced the life of a man, Johnny Walker, right from adolescence to old age, especially concentrating on his 25 years of married life, and delving into how the couple rediscover their love in later years. Vidya Balan was supposed to play the female lead. AB apparently liked the script so much that he wanted to co-produce the film, but, claimed the grapevine, when PPC failed to let go of the reins, AB decided to return the cheque instead of continuing with the film. “That is not true,” says Preet Bedi, CEO of PPC, “It was quite an amicable decision. We wanted to close our accounts in the last financial year, and we asked Mr Bachchan if he could do the film. However, he politely expressed his inability to spare the dates and returned the cheque. I’m afraid there is no controversy here.” Asked whether PPC would still be making the film now that Bachchan was no longer doing it, Bedi replied, “Yes, we are definitely making the film. However, we will have another actor in the lead, and we will be making the announcement soon.” Now we wonder who can step into Big B’s shoes? Any guesses?

Trends are slowly and steadily changing in Bollywood these days. And filmmakers and actors are gearing up to face the challenge by doing more research. Recently Amitabh Bachchan was heard saying in an interview that he did extensive research for Black and now he is doing the same thing for Rituparno Ghosh’s film. And the man to get inspired by Amitabh’s research is Amrit Sagar who had hired several historians and researchers to do background work on his debut film 1971 Prisoners of War, and he feels vindicated with the end result. “When I hired a team of researchers everyone around me thought I was going to extremes to direct my first film, but I was very confident that without research it wouldn’t look like a real drama. When a brilliant actor like Amitabh Bachchan says that certain roles require research, then I know I’m not wrong,” says Sagar. Looks like this young filmmaker is set to go places!

Indian film icon, Amitabh Bachchan, dismissed the notion that his country’s films should aspire to win the Oscars, saying that the Indian film industry is more creative than Hollywood. “India turns out about 1,000 films in 12 languages each year. No Indian film has ever won an Oscar, although Mother India and Lagaan have been nominated.” Bachchan, visiting Britain to receive several awards, told a news conference at the Houses of Parliament in London that he did not believe that an Indian film winning an Oscar was the “ultimate recognition for any great film” and added that it was offensive to suggest that.

“I do believe that Indian films have their own exhibition,” Bachchan said. “Whereas we respect the Oscars and what they are, our creativity is the best,” he added. “The Indian film industry, which makes three times as many films a year as Hollywood, has captivated cinema goers around the world with its escapist musical extravaganzas. With its centre in Mumbai, India’s film industry is popularly known as Bollywood.”

Bachchan welcomed films that married Western and Indian cinema such as 2004’s Bride and Prejudice, a co-production, featuring Indian and Western actors.

“Any kind of marriage is going to be good when creative interests are common,” he said. “I do believe that if the UK wants to make a film with India, there can only be benefits and more benefits.”

Bachchan’s 2005 hits - Black, Waqt, Sarkar and Bunty Aur Babli - together grossed nearly 1 billion rupees. Bachchan, 63, was visiting Britain to receive an honourary doctorate from a university in Leicester and awards for his four decades in film work and his humanitarian work, including his role as a goodwill ambassador for UN children’s agency UNICEF.