Abhishek in an candid interview on his forthcoming film PAA, releasing on 4th Dec.'2009
Q1. How much effort was it to play father to your own dad? How did you make the relationship seem real?
Well we did not have to put in extra efforts to make it convincing, we just portrayed our relationship on camera as it is in real life. And the best part was I got to bully him may be only on camera. And let me tell you, playing PAA to Amitabh Bachchan is very difficult. I mean, look at him! He is a living legend...he plays role of a 12-year-old with as much ease as he plays his age on-screen. I doubt if any other actor has ever portrayed such diversified role as he has done and is still doing! Before the camera rolled, we were like buddies...at times, I was bossing over him jokingly. But once the camera rolled, he completely took over. He is the boss, from every angle, any day, anytime.
Q.2. In real life has there been any situation when you had to actually father your dad?
Yes, it was in 2005, it was so shattering for me as a son to look at my dad in the hospital. I had to take care of him completely. Throughout my life I had looked at him as the strongest and indestructible. And to look at him lie on the hospital bed, looking frail was so scary.
Q.3. So, tell us more about your character in the film?
The name of my character is Amol Arte, I'm playing a young politician who's very progressive. Though that limited my wardrobe to the same white kurtas for the film. Its a very today's character. Its a very sweet and sensitive story of a politician father and his son who's suffering from a rare ageing disease called progeria. Though the film is a light and fun film, the disease is just the backdrop. Paa is not a film about progeria. It is a happy film about a father and his son and the sweet moments that they share," Abhishek said.
Q.4. In KANK Mr.Bachchan played your dad, and now your are playing his. What do you prefer on screen and offscreen?
I think that the relationship Dad and I had in KANK (Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna) was most similar to what we're like in real life, because we truly are best friends. You know, we do everything together. Since I was a child, he's treated me like a friend.
I think being a son, I think being my father's son has been my favourite role. I enjoy the fact that I'm his son. In real life as well as reel life. I enjoy the responsibility he gives me. And most, most of all I enjoy being his bouncer. I enjoy the fact on Sunday, I don't know if you know, but on Sundays hundreds of his fans come outside the gate to the house to meet him, which is a trend that started after his '1982 accident. They used to come to see, check on his well-being. And he used to go out and wave and sign autograph and that has continued. And now, instead of everyday it's on Sundays, you literally have hundreds of people outside the gate waiting to see him. And he comes out, religiously, in the evening, waves out, shakes their hand, signs their autographs. And since I was a child, whenever I was at home, he used to always take me out with him. And I used to enjoy being the bouncer. You know, warding off the crowds. And I still do it, although now he takes me out because he's the proud father and wants to say, this is my son. And it's what I call his Lion King moment. He holds me up and says, here's the cub. But for me it's always about, you know, I'm the proud son who enjoys the fact that my father is still showered with all the love and blessings that he is and I enjoy it.
Q.5. How was your chemistry with Vidya Balan?
As a matter of fact I've always been smitten by Vidya's performance ever since I did Guru with her. And it was amazing working with her on Paa, as it a very special film for all of us. Indeed she had the toughest part to play in the film. I still had an offscreen close connection with my dad, but for her to play mother to this legend was the most challenging. But I must say she did a brilliant job, and she was able to discipline dad, as he's used to be such a brat on the sets.
Link https://www.filmicafe.com/celebrity_interview_detail.php?interview_id=786
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