Bhansali is a genius! - Amitabh Bachchan 
By Taran Adarsh, November 9, 2004 - 07:11 IST
The shot has just been okayed. He rushes off to the monitor to check whether he has performed well. He's brimming with enthusiasm, his energy levels are higher than most youngsters I know.
I am talking about Amitabh Bachchan.
“How's Mumbai?,” he asks in his deep baritone voice. The weather is hot, but the box-office is ice-cold, I retort. He smiles. Bachchan has been in Mauritius for almost a month now, shooting for Romesh Sharma's directorial debut DIL JO BHI KAHEY…
Sharma is filming a song at a sugarcane field. The scorching heat may dampen the spirit of any actor, but Bachchan continues to stay put on a chair on the road, without a shade, without his Man Friday holding an umbrella for him.
Interviewing Bachchan is always a pleasure. He is articulate, very precise in what he intends conveying and most important, he speaks from the heart. Excerpts from an interview with India's biggest, most cultured and most unassuming star, in Mauritius last week:
* 2004 has been an eventful year for you.
Yes, it has been. I've worked with makers like Rajkumar Santoshi [KHAKEE], AETBAAR [Vikram Bhatt], Govind Nihalani [DEV], Farhan Akhtar [LAKSHYA], Milan Luthria [DEEWAAR], KYUN! HO GAYA NA… [Samir Karnik] and it has been one learning experience. Every director has something to offer, each has a different style of narrating a story on screen. KHAKEE and DEV have been more than satisfying experiences. Irrespective of their box-office outcome, working with Govind-ji and Raj-ji has been gratifying.
Besides, AB TUMHARE HAWALE WATAN SATHIYO [Anil Sharma] and BLACK [Sanjay Leela Bhansali] should hit the marquee before the year comes to a close. BLACK especially has been an enriching experience.
* BLACK is special.
I don't know if I am allowed to speak on the film, but this film has been a memorable experience. Sanjay deserves all the accolades and laurels that he has won, for he's worthy of it. After making a colossal film like DEVDAS, he's opted to make a film like BLACK, which is in sharp contrast to that film. He's a genius, he deserves international acclaim… He has carved a special niche for himself.
* Was it intentional to work with first-time directors?
No, not at all! It just happened. There was never a conscious effort to go out and work with first-timers. They [the makers] were kind enough to approach me and I took them on. At this phase of my life, I am still getting good work.
* You continue to figure in the 'wish list' of every director.
I am honoured. But believe me when I say this, the thought of chasing them never really occurred to me. They had a role to offer which they felt suited me and I took it up from there.
* You received flak for having multiple releases this year.
I am the last person to exercise restraint and tell the producer to postpone his film. I've never done it before, I don't see a reason why I should do it today. In any case, as a character actor I am required to shoot for a maximum of 20-25 days. What am I supposed to do in spare time? I can't sit idle for the next 11 months. And as far as release dates are concerned, it's the producers who've to plan and decide the [release] strategies. I am a mere character actor today, the story revolves around the main pair.
* You're being modest. The name Amitabh Bachchan continues to spell magic.
Are you serious? I am not trying to be modest, but the fact remains that I see myself as a character actor today. I am a small part of a film, I don't contribute much to a film. That's the way I look at it.
* You've taken on fresh assignments, again with first-time directors.
Yes, there's DIL JO BHI KAHEY… with Romesh Sharma. It was an emotional decision. He's a dear friend and when he said he was launching his son, I had to be there for him. We are midway through with VIRUDH, which is a joint venture. It's again a different film being attempted by Mahesh Manjrekar.
Then there's Ramgopal Varma [SARKAR] and Shaad Ali [BABLI AUR BUNTY], two more makers I've started shooting for. Both are refreshing stories. And yes, I am working with Abhishek in both, so that makes it special. Then there's BABUL with Ravi Chopra, with whom I had worked earlier [BAGHBAN]. An issue-based film, it talks about the resettling of a daughter-in-law by her father-in-law. The film has a message to convey.
I've also signed Vidhu Vinod Chopra's YAGNA, which should take off in June next year. Vinod had been approaching me since the time he came out of the Institute [FTII]. It's been almost 30 years since we've been talking about working with each other. Vinod has graciously put his international project on hold, focusing on YAGNA instead.
* You've been criticized for your miniscule, inconsequential role in LAKSHYA. Do you regret doing the film?
Not at all! I knew all along what my role was even before we started filming. It's not as if I was narrated something and the outcome was something else altogether.
* A.B. Corp. is no longer producing films independently.
Yes, that's true! Unlike the past, when we wanted to do everything ourselves, we've decided to go in for partnerships now. There's VIRUDH with Mahesh, there's FAMILY with Keshu, there's RANVEER also on the cards. It's easier that way, the responsibilities get divided.
* What's the latest on RANVEER?
It'll definitely be made. But it may or may not star Abhishek and me together. It may star other actors.
* There's talk that you've asked Santoshi to refund the signing amount.
Yes, you do refund monies when you aren't associated with a project. Like I refunded the signing amount of Somnath Sen's film. But Rajkumar Santoshi wasn't pressurized or asked to refund the amount. He's still associated with the film and is working on a new script altogether.
The script of RANVEER hadn't shaped up to our expectations. There was something missing. If Abhishek and I were to do a project together, it has to meet the expectations. So, we decided against going ahead with this script. But, I reiterate, RANVEER isn't shelved, it'll be made in the future for sure.
* The conversation would be incomplete without Abhishek. How do you rate him as an actor?
Well, I would say he has evolved as an actor over the years. Jaya and I have always felt that he ought to make it on his own. Of course, as parents, we are always there for him. Whatever little he has achieved or will achieve in the future, will be on his own merit. We are proud of him!
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“I am extremely proud of Black!” - Amitabh Bachchan
