Birthday message for Amitabh from London

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. My first little treasure has been working with Amitabh Bachchan in my first film, Happy Birthday, Mr. Bachchan," said Jiah in a press statement.

Amitabh turns 65 Wednesday.

Jiah has already set Bollywood afire with her sensuality and her devil may care attitude. In fact, people are already talking about her performance as an 18-year-old in love with a much older person in "Nishabd".

Recalling her first meeting with Amitabh, she said: "Meeting Mr. Bachchan for the first time was nerve racking but he has the ability to calm your nerves. He makes you feel settled which is vital for an actor. Throughout my first shot with him I only remembered his performance in 'Black'.

"I have learnt more from him than I learnt at Lee Strasberg Institute of Acting. He is a genius of an actor and watching him act before my eyes was like watching Da Vinci paint."

Jiah liked his role in "Zanjeer".

"He was very sexy in 'Zanjeer'. He had the persona of Clint Eastwood in the film. As an actor he sets a perfect example for someone like me. I am grateful for his presence and feel a sense of gratitude towards him."

Talking about her pairing with the senior actor in "Nishabd", she said: "'Nishabd' will surprise a lot of people. The film is a highly emotional and intense drama and acting opposite him was such a wonderful experience. He guided me to scale emotions to that height. He was very patient with me since I was facing the camera for the first time."

Copyright 2006 by MusicIndiaOnLine.com

'Every filmmaker has so much to learn from him. I learnt about the craft and spontaneity of acting from him. He's a very inspiring artiste and no director's portfolio is complete without working with Amitabh Bachchan,' he says.

Bhansali says that while doing 'Black' with him, he realised he was working with a maestro.

'His complete understanding of all aesthetic arts - from music to theatre to photography to cinematography and screenplay - makes him a complete actor. He's so well-versed with all forms of art that he can delve deep down within himself to find references from every scene and emotion.'

Commenting upon the upheavals in Amitabh's personal life, Bhansali said: 'The ups and downs of life have been handled by him with such dignity. That quality shows in his performance. When his fans and admirers - and I'm one of them - say Amitji is the god of acting and he deserved an Oscar for 'Black', I think they wanted to tell him he has reached international standards of performance.

'I agree with that view completely. He played his character with such flamboyance and lan. It isn't over-the-top acting, as some cynics have said. It's a passionate confirmation of life, no less.'

Bhansali says that it is amazing to know that even today filmmakers are devising projects with him in mind.

'I think that makes him the greatest star-actor of our country. I've been his diehard fan from childhood. Ever since I started making movies it was my dream to work with him. Even my first film 'Khamoshi' was written for Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. But at that point of time he had taken a break from acting, and I felt with a baritone like his, he'd never come back with a role that required him to be mute. For the fear of rejection I never approached him.

'But let me tell you, during 'Khamoshi' I had already started to plan 'Black'. I've realised there's no actor like him in Indian cinema. I've three idols Lata Mangeshkar, Birju Maharaj and Amitji. And I'm proud to say I've worked with two of them.'

Though Bhansali has not worked with Amitabh's son Abhishek, he talks with the same enthusiasm about him.

'I haven't worked with Abhishek. But he's a wonderful guy and a fine son, and he has evolved as an actor - from 'Bunty Aur Babli', where he's bubbly, to 'Sarkar' where he's so intense.'

Bhansali says 'Yuva' was a turning point for Abhishek.

'In that complex role, I realised, Abhishek had arrived. No actor could've done a better job. He uses his eyes beautifully on screen. He had to fulfil the responsibility of being Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan's son without losing his identity. How gracefully he managed to come into his own!

'Now he's liberated and passionate on screen. The beauty of being Abhishek Bachchan is that he lives up to his parents' image without being their clones.'

Bhansali calls Abhishek a warrior.

'For four years he has withstood the vicious criticism in the wake of his flops and emerged as a powerful force. Look at him in 'Sarkar'. He stands tall and so sensitive. I think he has inherited his inner strength from his father. When we see father and son perform we can see Abhishek's reverence and yet it isn't blind awe.

'Amitji too gives Abhishek the space to express himself without undermining his histrionic powers to let his son shine. In 'Kajra re' song they both give their best, and are yet so complementary.'

Copyright 2006 by MusicIndiaOnLine.com