Amitabh Bachchan hates rating his performance and expects his co-stars to deliver equally well. In a freewheeling chat with Karan Bhardwaj, he talks about Shamitabh and healthy competition within the film industry
Forty years ago, social media or aggressive publicity didn’t exist, but you have very well adapted to these new-age mechanisms...
The media has changed in decades so has the technology. It has facilitated us to be able to communicate and connect with people in multiple ways. It’s a matter of choice whether one wants to use technology or not. I do contribute to social media and blog everyday. I have finished 2,484 days blogging while Twitter feeds have crossed 1,756 entries. Facebook stands at 855th entry (smiles).
How do you manage timeIJ
I don’t struggle to get time. But I don’t do it on mobile which is more instant. I come online when I am done with work during night.
Shamitabh brings forth ego and jealousy that exist in the film industry. Have you ever played on egoIJ
I have never believed in ego. I don’t think I am great or unparalleled. Ego plays a role when I start believing that I am a great actor. I don’t know if it exists for other people but it certainly doesn’t exist for me. One can always have healthy rivalry.
Is Shamitabh tribute to your voiceIJ
In story, it may look like that but that’s not the case. In film, the character of Dhanush gets my voice which is loved by people. But it would be erroneous to state that Shamitabh is dedicated to my voice. I don’t understand why anything special has to be attested with one’s voice. If you are a professional actor, you have to be your best at all fronts. I don’t know why my voice is given special attention. The audience has the right to appreciate or criticise you.
Were you ever insecureIJ
There’s insecurity even today. Everyday comes with insecurities. You go to bed thinking ‘kal kya hoga’, whether I would be able to do a particular scene properly or not, whether people will like me or not. Insecurity is an ongoing process. I admire people who are not insecure...I wish I could be one of them. But I know I won’t.
R Balki has redefined and challenged you with every movie, be it Paa or Cheeni Kum. How do you meet his expectationsIJ
It’s wonderful. I always wonder where he gets all these thoughts from. But I know he is an intelligent man and thinks differently. He has always brought something fresh for me. It’s good for the audience as well. People are fed up of Bollywood cliches. There’s a lot of patronage towards new ideas and new cinema.
But how do you manage to reinvent yourself each timeIJ
I don’t go out looking for opportunities to reinvent myself. I have been fortunate to get roles which allow me to do things differently.
Which has been the most challenging movie in your careerIJ
I hate rating a movie. I hate comparing performances. We are asked to give our maximum to everything offered to us. To our mind, that’s the only rating that’s important. For me to say that Paa or any other movie is the most challenging film would be wrong. Every movie has its own permutations and combinations. It has its own moments. How can you rate movies, I wonder.
You never overshadow your co-actors on screen. You always let them shine standing next to you even if you have to downplay yourself for that. How does it help youIJ
If your colleague or co-star is not doing well, then you are not doing well. I may say a line beautifully, but if your co-star doesn’t react to it with equal aplomb, then it’s a waste. For me to be appreciated, I need the other actor to do equally well in a scene.
You have also sung a song in Shamitabh, composed by ilaiyaraaja.
I’m a very bad singer. Situations in the movies sometimes demand so I sing. But singing is a huge tension for me. I never went to him for recording. He recorded it in Chennai and sent pro tools to me in Mumbai. I recorded it myself in a small studio and sent back to him. I couldn’t dare sit with him.
Originally, shah rukh khan was approached to play dhanush’s role. Why didn’t he do itIJ
We were having discussions with Shah Rukh long time back but it didn’t work out. There were a few reasons why he couldn’t join us. One day, I casually mentioned Dhanush’s name to Balki, to which he agreed. Dhanush is also an exceptional artiste.