FROM KBC TO ABC - THE BACHCHAN BROUHAHA

FROM KBC TO ABC - THE BACHCHAN BROUHAHA

Sitting in the cool confines of his van, clad in all off-white (including topi and barring the bright yellow sneakers on his feet), on his customary four chair throne, Amitabh Bachchan looks relaxed as he signs a bunch of cheques and pushes some paperwork out of the way as he readies to be interviewed. The van is plastered with mugshots of his, bearded, bespectacled, salt and pepper in some, darker hair in some, a long tilak on his forehead in one — he's seems to be watching himself in his roles. It's a hot muggy afternoon, but Madh Island is cool. Amitabh is shooting for AB Corp's 'Family', with Rajkumar Santoshi. The rest of the artistes are not to be seen, the technical crew's setting up. But AB is well in time to consume his modest home lunch, wrap up the interview, and have his make-up on and ready before the shift begins. Everything moves with clockwork precision in Amitabh Bachchan's diary. He could well do with 48 hour days instead of 24. He packs in half a day more activity than many manage in two. After my last torturous (for me) interview with AB, this one's mercifully brief (for him). AB, within the colourful days in his life, is a man of regularity. And so also in this interview, like in most of his, we're sticking to the pattern. The replies are half the length of one's queries. But no one's complaining. Economy of speech in his case is not a lack of time, it's more a sign of the sharpness of his observations and his keen acumen (also exposing yours truly's lack of the same in his case, because he's actually glided over so many issues rather deftly). As part of one of the promotional campaigns for your film 'Waqt — The Race Against Time', the newspapers had written about a row between you and co-actor Akshay Kumar, which was later revealed to be an April Fool prank. Given your image, is it necessary to indulge in such gimmickry, or does it imply your name alone does not sell a film any longer?

That was just a joke. I mean it's all part of the game today. Nothing else. That's the way things are planned.

At the screening of the Amitabh Bachchan Film Festival in New York, I believe some of your films could not be screened?

Yeah. 'Sholay', 'Deewaar' and 'Amar Akbar Anthony' could not be screened. Their prints were not available for various reasons. 'Amar Akbar Anthony', the print was damaged because the negative was damaged. And to get it cleaned and all that was too time-consuming and a long drawn process, because they have very strict regulations there about the quality of the prints they will show and all that. 'Sholay', the Sippys refused to give us the print because of whatever family issues they have.

But even with an event like this and your requesting, were they not willing to give you the print?

No. They were a couple of similar festivals in Cannes and elsewhere, and even for that, we had the same problem. They were not ready to give the film. They just say they don't know where the prints are. 'Deewaar', we asked the producers for a print, they said they didn't have one. Then they said, you can spend your money to make a print, so we did that. We spent our money and made the print. Then they said after that, you must send us the collection of the theatre to us and return the print also to us. Which was really a bit much considering that we had gone through all the trouble to make the print and paid for it too. This was not a collection kind of a show, it was a screening at a festival. So ultimately, we had to do without prints of these three films. They had put together a list of films, which they wanted to screen.

The festival must have seemed incomplete without these films, which were major films of yours. Did it put a kind of a dampener on the festival?

Not really. I think what they did was they showed it on DVD. Obviously the print quality is not the same though.

You did a cameo in 'Paheli', Shah Rukh Khan's home production. What made you accept it? Was it just another thing you did like you've done often enough in the past, as you say, for the love of your friends, or for emotional reasons? Or was it actually the role, even in cameo, that hooked you?

Yeah. Sure, it was for Shah Rukh. He just asked me, 'Can you do it?', and I said a 'Haan'. I didn't look for a role and all that once I had said a yes. He said it was a cameo and that was it.

The last we heard about your part in the film, was that you had refused the remuneration of Rupees one crore offered to you for acting in the film.

It was just... one of... honestly,. They just shot with me for three days. It was two days and a little over actually. I had come in from a scene and when the shooting was over, you know Shah Rukh said, 'I have to pay you for this'. I said, 'Oh no, it was really nothing. He asked me to wait. I waited and before I left he gave me an envelope with a card and flowers. It was only in the car on my way home that I opened the card and realised that there was a cheque in the envelope. And I was not working in this film for the money. So I returned the cheque.

Having said often enough that your financial obligations in the market deemed it necessary for you to work, to pay off the debts and keep the home fires burning, does one happily assume that since you are refusing cheques now, that your debts have been paid off and that you are no longer burdened by them?

How does it matter? I may have said that but I will conduct my finances according to the way I think fit.

Yet, when Shah Rukh Khan launched his second perfume 'Tiger Eyes', at the press conference, he publicly said in answer to some query about endorsements, that the people were confusing him with somebody else somewhere, and that it was not him who was endorsing every product under the sun. What do you make of this kind of dig?

I have not heard it. And if he has said it, he's right.

When you actually endorse so many products and influence subtly people's purchasing choices, do you actually use those products and try them yourself?
Or are they just commercial transactions?

No. Of course, I use all the products myself . ('That's quite a number' I find myself remarking aloud)

In 'Babul', I believe Abhishek has replaced Salman, making that your third film together, and your second film playing father and son.

I have not heard that. As far as I know, it' still Salman. So no, that's not Abhishek's and my third film together.

What is your bond with Salman, other than the obvious fact that his
father was responsible for some of your best scripts in films? You seem to get along famously with him. You even went out on a limb to support him when the whole world was castigating him at one point in time for his actions.

I've seen him grow up in front of me. I've seen him since he was a kid in short pants. He was always around whenever I used to visit Salim Saab for every story session. Salman's a very lovable sort of fellow. It's not like we meet everyday, but whenever we get an opportunity to meet, maybe at a party or some function, we spend some lighthearted moments together. I'm very fond of him.

You play a cop, and Abhishek, a con, in 'Bunty Aur Bubli'. In 'Sarkar', you'll play father and son. Which film do you think works better for the two of you'll
as actors?

This you'll find out for yourself when you see the films. Both of them are almost ready. 'Bunty Aur Bubli"s releasing next month, and 'Sarkar' soon after.

As you yourself remarked, there's something terribly wrong if Abhishek did not look like you and his mannerisms were not similar to yours. So how did you'll work at keeping the characterizations in the two films different?

See the film and you'll find out. But yes, we've worked at it.

Between the Chopras and Ram Gopal Varma, you seem to favour the Chopras. In their race to be the first to expose the father and son combination of you and Abhishek on screen, insiders tell us you've accommodated 'Bunty Aur Bubli' on first priority, even though 'Sarkar' started first.

No, there's no race. Ramu knew that I was working on 'Bunty Aur Bubli'. 'Sarkar' shot first, but that is only because of the positioning of the dates. 'Bunty Aur Bubli' was already on the floor much before. My portion came after a particular date, but before that date, 'Sarkar' started shooting. So let us say that the first shot of Abhishek and me together was for 'Sarkar'.
But Ramu was told quite categorically by me that the first film to be released will be 'Bunty Aur Bubli', and we're almost there.

What was the reason you wanted 'Bunty Aur Bubli' to release first?

No, their film was already programmed even before. Today's films are planned from the release date backwards. So everybody knows that 'Bunty Aur Bubli' will release first even though I shot for 'Sarkar' first.

'Family' is an AB Corp film helmed by Rajkumar Santoshi. But why would you agree to do an Apurva Lakhia film in 'Ek Ajnabee'? Are you saying AB Corp will make smaller films with directors even if, like in Apurva's case, their films have not done well. Are you willing to take that shot?

'Ek Ajnabee' is not an AB Corp film. Let me check (He immediately calls his office and reconfirms) No. It's purely a Bunty Walia film (a G S Entertainment production). And 'Family' is AB Corp along with DMS films.

What's the status quo on 'Viruddh'?

'Viruddh' is almost ready. I think they're looking at releasing in July, or maybe, August.

Will that be AB Corp's first release (post the new company being formed)?

No, no. There is 'Antar Mahal', which is Rituparno Ghosh's film, also releasing sometime in August. But yes, in a sense, 'Viruddh' will be the first release probably.

With Abhishek gaining a stronghold as a good actor, both within the industry, as well as with audiences, and also sustaining it over some films now for some time, that is something you had always desired should happen and it has now. Will that mean a change in your working situation? Will it make you consider folding up your working boots now and sitting back and enjoying watching Abhishek's films?

I don't know. That's a personal decision, which I haven't yet thought about. No.

About KBC, I believe you have asked that it be a weekend show instead of four days a week, because you do not want to do television. Are you afraid it may not repeat its original success? Also, you have supposedly returned a part of the cheque back to Star.

I don't know anything about the weekend or weekday issue and all that because I don't decide anything on KBC. STAR has said that they want to do it again. I have got
85 episodes remaining still by my contract. I don't dictate any terms on KBC. It's all STAR. There is no cheque that has been returned to them by me. They have already paid me my entire amount and I will be doing the balance of 85 episodes.

A personal opinion. One has always felt that you're a great loss to theatre. Considering that you lament the paucity of roles for actors your age in films, and theatre seems to hold more promise (even Jayaji's done that, and successfully and happily), have you ever thought that for a change you could do the odd play now and then for greater creative satisfaction for the actor in you?

I have never considered theatre because it is a very frightening thought. It is very strenuous and difficult. Moreover, imagine what will happen if I forget my lines. We don't have the luxury of retakes in theatre, and I've been a film actor for too long now. To be doing theatre as well as films is not possible. And I really admire the people who can risk combining the both.