Bachchans FC 7!-DOTW-p.119-Big B as Pres. - Page 53

Kings of convenience

Amitabh Bachchan	Shah Rukh Khan

A Bachchan buddy recently pointed out, "Have you noticed how people would get really excited to speak to Amitabh when a contestant used the Phone A Friend option on KBC?
That doesn't happen with Shah Rukh!"

True.

But that's because Khan's fans are young women, college kids and the bachcha party, while most people on the Phone A Friend list are older and have, in all probability, grown up on a steady diet of Bachchan flicks.

A clear case of 'different product, different target market' here, and who better to understand that than the Kings of product endorsements?

No March wedding

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai

All those waiting with bated breath for an announcement about Ash and Abhishek's wedding date will have to wait a wee bit longer.

Sources report that both families are yet to sit down together and have a formal discussion about THE date.

However, one thing that's been confirmed is that the wedding won't happen in March. The reason?

Abhishek will be busy shooting for Goldie Behl's Drona. While AB woos Priyanka on screen, Ash will have to wait her turn off screen.

Happy Birthday, Abhishek!
Abhishek Bachchan's 30th birthday was an appropriate occasion for a mega party.

Special: Abhishek, 30

The venue: Amitabh Bachchan's legendary residence Jalsa in Juhu, a western suburb of Mumbai.

Ajay Devgan isn't a man seen at too many parties, but Abhi's co-star from Yuva, LOC Kargil and Zameen gladly made an exception this time.

Don't miss: My buddy, Abhishek Preity Zinta, whose Salaam Namaste saw Abhishek in a madcap role, will next be seen with Abhishek in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. On the right, you can glimpse Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the director of Rang De Basanti. In the centre, fashion designer Abu Jaani chats on his cell phone. Don't miss: Readers Choice: Abhishek's best films And what party is complete without Bollywood's hottest couple? John Abraham and Bipasha Basu were around to give Abhi their best wishes.

Don't miss: Presenting, Brand Abhishek

Here comes the bad guy! Hrithik Roshan plays the villain opposite Abhi in the highly anticipated Dhoom 2.

Also smiling is Rani Mukerji, by far Abhishek's most-suited leading lady. Don't miss: Abhi's babes Maybe we should just call this red car Parineeta, with Saif Ali Khan driving and Sanjay Dutt riding alongside. Also present at the mega bash were Aishwarya Rai -- who reportedly arrived the earliest and left the latest -- Shah Rukh Khan, his wife Gauri Khan, and director Karan Johar. All in all, one rocking party! Don't miss: Abhishek Bachchan, unplugged

		In a cramped room in Manhattan, Abhishek Bachchan greets a reporter for an Indian newspaper. "I'm Abhishek," he says, offering a firm handshake. He seems shy, and terribly reserved as the interview starts. But a few moments later, he starts talking enthusiastically about his films and friends and life in the movie industry. He has taken a few hours off from the hectic shooting for Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna to promote his new film, Bluffmaster, directed by Rohan Sippy -- his friend from his school days. This is the second time the two are working together following the also-ran Kuch Naa Kaho two years ago.
Bluffmaster is important to Abhishek for more than one reason. It is a film where he won't have an Amitabh or John Abraham (as in Dhoom) acting alongside. "After a string of hits like Dhoom, Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar, the expectations from Abhishek are riding very high," says Sippy. As Abhishek speaks you notice how eager he is to praise the other artists in Bluffmaster including Ritesh Deshmukh, Boman Irani, Nana Patekar and Priyanka Chopra. When he is with a cast of wonderful actors, Abhishek says giving a good performance becomes a natural process. He spoke exclusively to Arthur J Pais. Photograph: Paresh Gandhi

		Though you have been acting only for about six years, you have seen this industry from your childhood. What do you find most exciting about it now? I think it's a fantastic time to be in the movie industry in India. It is growing by leaps and bounds. The audiences are willing to accept all kinds of films. On the one hand, they like a film like Black with no songs, which is two hours long and with much of its dialogue in English. On the other hand, they accept a film like Bunty Aur Babli, a very kitschy film, like the kind of films good directors used to make in the 1970s. Both the films had your father, and you played the lead in one of them.
Yes (chuckles). But they would have become hits if they had some other good actors, too. The growth of multiplexes may have to do with offbeat films slowly drawing the audiences, don't you think? Certainly. But surely the audiences are supporting well-made films in a big way. This wasn't the scene about 20 years ago.

		What are other recent films whose success has surprised you? Salaam Namaste is one. It has a story that many might have considered irrelevant in our society -- two people living together and having a child out of wedlock. It is wonderful and very encouraging for the film industry that audiences are willing to patronise these films. With that encouragement, an actor gets the opportunity to perform different roles. You are playing a PR man in Kabhi Alvida, an Indian who has grown up in New York. Do you have an accent in the film, and did you model the role after anyone in the public relations business?
Not at all. I had excellent guidance from Karan Johar. This is a drama of family dynamics and it has a powerful story. It was more important to me to be truthful to this character than worry about such things about accent. I also have discovered over the years that many well placed Indians here or in Britain are more Indian in their hearts than many of us. Have you had that opportunity to do three or four movies in a row with some directors? I have not been around that long to do that many movies. But I have been repeated by many directors. I'm just about to start my third film with J P Dutta. Ramu (Ram Gopal Varma) has cast me in two films. And this (Bluffmaster) is my second film with Rohan. Photograph: Jewella C Miranda

What is it like working with Rohan Sippy? He can make very contemporary films without in-your-face kind of melodrama. And he maintains his cool even if the world is falling apart around all of us. He likes working with writers who create strong characters and intriguing situations. I liked my character. It has quite a bit of intrigue in it. I enjoyed his (the character's) composure. I liked the fact that Roy Kapoor (his character in Bluffmaster)has the gift of the gab. He could talk himself out of any situation. It was fun trait to have and play. How would you describe Bluffmaster? I would call the film a comedy. It's a light-hearted film; keeps you on the edge of your seat; full of surprises. It's more relaxed; it offers a new sensibility to Indian cinema.

		You have been in New York for several weeks working on Karan Johar's film. How much of New York have you seen on this visit? Quite a bit. In between the shooting schedule. Have you taken the subway? Oh yeah. When I was in college I did that over here. Can you do it now? I think I can.
I love walking on the streets of New York. I think it's one of the greatest cities on earth. I like to get away from my security (men) and walk to Central Park or go to a roadside caf. It's something I don't get to do in India. We have been very busy so far and yet I have made some time to walk around. But there is much more to do. I really want to see some shows on Broadway; catch a few movies, if possible. My entire family is here. My dad is here; we're shooting the same film. We managed to get my mother across. So it's good; I get to spend some time with them, too.

		Going back to the movies. You seem to be more relaxed in many of your recent films. Yes, I feel very comfortable, relaxed. That is very important because the camera picks up everything. That comfort comes in after doing an X number of movies. I don't think I'm as intimidated by the camera as I was when I first started off. I used to be intimidated very much and I made plenty of wrong choices by way of signing some films. What do you find most interesting about acting?
The wonderful thing about this profession is that you learn something new every day. The minute you learn something new, you want to implement it. Once that shot is okayed and it is printed; it goes down in history; there's nothing you can do to change it. What has been his experience working with his illustrious father? There is no reaction when you're working with dad. (laughs) You're just stunned, I think. I just freeze in front of him. I don't think I can get rid of it. It will happen to me every time. What else happens? (Chuckles more) Eventually I recover. But before that I fumble my lines or forget them.

		How secure do you feel in your career now? I still wake up in the morning and think whether I am going to do my job? Even now, I ask myself if I am in the right profession. But the feeling was far more intense a few years ago. And that was because…? When you are going through a phase, when none of your films are working, you do start questioning yourself after a while. Even today, when there are times (when things are not going well) I ask, 'Have I made the right decision? Am I in the right profession?'
Why do you get that doubt? It is very simple. I may love doing what I do, but the big question is: Am I good at it? What is the best advice you have got from your father? After three or four of my films were released, I went to him and asked, 'Do you think I made a mistake?' He did not hesitate even for a moment. He said, 'No I don't think you made a mistake. Just hang in there and keep working.' Photograph: Paresh Gandhi

Presenting: Brand Abhishek

For a very long time, Abhishek Bachchan needed the 'son of Amitabh Bachchan' tag.

For years since his debue movie Refugee in 2000, Abhishek plodded through a string of hits.
But he has finally arrived. And how!
After a rocking 2005, Abhishek -- who turns 30 on February 5 -- looks poised to step out of his dad's shadow. And the story lies in the ads.



Three years ago, no advertiser would touch Abhishek unless he came packaged with his megastar father.

Remember the Maruti Versa ad? Abhishek drives his father around and extols the car's virtues, while Amitabh is finally the one making the sale. At the time, Abhishek's films were going nowhere, and his personal life was also in turmoil after falling out with Karisma Kapoor.


But today, post Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar, Abhishek is a solo brand. He endorses Ford's latest offering in India, the Ford Fiesta, and something about the man's box-office fortunes tells you that more such solo shows are on the cards.

Of course, he is nowhere near his father, who endorses more products than you can think of, but that is not stopping him from raking in sponsorships worth millions of his own.
So, here's to Brand Abhishek! Photograph: Jewella C Miranda