Amitabh Bachchan wows Dubai ahead of 'Shamitabh' release

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) In a candid chat with City Times Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan opens up about the unconventional title of his new film what he feels about roles written specifically for him in a youth-obsessed industry and how he still suffers jitters ahead of the release of his films

As a young man hoping to kick start his career Amitabh Bachchan famously auditioned for All India Radio only to be rejected because his voice they felt was not suitable for radio. Today he is not just India’s reigning superstar who at the age of 72 still commands attention at the box office but one who ironically enough has made a fortune out of his baritone voice.

So when a movie like Shamitabh comes along which in director R Balki’s words is an “ode to the Bachchan baritone the voice of India” one would perhaps expect the actor to revel in his success. But Bachchan seems very reluctant to play up to the gallery when we meet him during his brief stopover in Dubai last week to promote the movie.

“He (Balki) can say what he likes but don’t believe him” he dismisses the accolade. As for any feeling of vindication about the release of a movie centered around his voice he is quick to discard that too. “I don’t think we want to link our personal episodes with anything that happens on screen” he tells us. “This is just another story and it is purely coincidental.”

“Why do you want to connect what we do professionally with what we do personally” he continues. “I think they are two different sides to our lives. It is the obvious question to ask but we don’t mix the two or rather I don’t.“I think there are moments in our professional lives when we may want to draw from something we may have experienced or draw emotions from – loved ones getting hurt or losing them or things like that – but beyond that no. Because I am playing this doesn’t mean it has some reflection on my life.”

Point taken. But there is no denying that the plot of Shamitabh which centres around an alcoholic (played by Bachchan) who lends his voice to a mute actor (Dhanush) is an unconventional one and so is the title which is an amalgamation of Dhanush and Bachchan’s name.

Did he have any reservations about the title echoing his name “No because it is part of the script. Its not because his name (Dhanush) and my name match that we put up this title. It adds value to the script and when you see the movie you will understand why it is called Shamitabh” he explains.

“But as you know it is the story of two individuals who have different talents but individually they are almost stagnant and she (Akshara) plays the journalist who finds out that if they were to combine their talents they will move forward and that is what she does. The film is actually about sound and voice. I’m giving my voice to Dhanush and when we succeed there are problems of ego and how that is resolved or not resolved is what the film is about.”

While the concept of the movie – about an actor getting a voice-over may not be new Shamitabh seems to have introduced a revolutionary way of making a movie.

“I recorded my entire script before going on set” Bachchan says. “And relied entirely on Balki’s brief on how this should be performed. We went on set and performed according to what has been said. Then we came back and re-dubbed because our facial expressions while acting are obviously not the same as while we were dubbing. So we had to dub three times.” A laborious energy zapping process no doubt but as Big B puts it “when you are a professional you have to be ready for everything.”

Versatile star

He has played roles as diverse as a father who falls in love with his daughter’s teenage friend in Nishabd (2007) to a 60 plus old man who romances a 30 plus woman in Cheeni Kum (2007) and who can forget his transformation into a 12 year old progeria patient in Paa (2009).

In an industry obsessed with youth where actors beyond a certain age tend to be marginalised how does it feel to have directors like R Balki (Cheeni Kum Paa) write stories exclusively for him

“I’m just happy I’m getting another job” he tells us candidly. “The prime has passed” he continues. “I’m never going to be in that stage again. The youth will take over. Somebody more fresh and popular is going to come forward so whatever I get at this age is very welcome. I’m very happy that Balki keeps thinking of different kinds of roles for me. I appreciate that.”

At the same time he is the first to admit that it is the youth that drives the industry. “It’s the youth and the modern generation that is really guiding us” he says.

“And if they don’t want to see something which they feel is already played out so many times they will not patronise it and if they don’t patronise it then we don’t want to make that film. We are really happy that fresh ideas and thoughts which is what Shamitabh boasts at this point of time are coming through and there are people who want to see it.”

And at 72 how does he manage to connect with the younger audience “I know my age is not conducive to that. It’s just wonderful that I’m in my 73rd year and they (the younger actors) are about 30 so it is different. I just enjoy their company. I love to see how they work how they conduct themselves and I’m actually quite amazed about how well organised this generation is.

“Even as a start up they have worked everything out – what they want to do what kind of movies they want to make who they want to make it with. Ten years down the line they have already thought out where they are going to be which medium to be attentive to where to give their photographs who is going to design their dress what they are going to look like. And when they walk on to the set they have their whole team of people – somebody is looking after their hair somebody is managing their branding... I get scared! I have just one guy. My make-up man. And that is it.”

Moving with the times

The industry has managed to strike a somewhat precarious balance between the staid masala fare the escapist cinema for which Bollywood is know the world over and fresher more unconventional fare. So does he feel the audience has also matured of late “Yes indeed” Bachchan agrees.

“In the past two years not just in Hindi cinema even in the South there have been many pioneering directors and actors. Dhanush himself is one such actor who has worked in some very different kind of cinema. As far as content is concerned I think we have moved with the times. Whatever the youth thinks – they are the ones who patronise us the most how they are thinking is what they want to see.”

The industry may have changed but what about his attitude to films “For me it has not changed” he avers.

“Abhishek keeps saying you need to change with the times but I say what do I do But I think that is part of the system to assist the actor in all possible ways and make him only concentrate on delivering his lines and performing and not worry about what his dates are where he has to go what he has to do next or how his publicity should be managed. We never had this in my time...”

Fresh act

Many things may have changed within the industry but for Amitabh Bachchan one thing continues to remain the same – his feelings ahead of a movie’s release. “It’s got nothing to do with whether it is your first film or your 100th. It is the same feeling. I’m really really nervous. I am actually shivering!”

Any pre-release routine that he follows “If I had my way I wouldn’t want to speak at all” he laughs referring to the promotional blitzkrieg that has become an essential part of Bollywood nowadays.

And then candidly “There is always the fear – I don’t know what we are going to say and (the fear of) being able to live up to it. I may say something during this interview and you see the movie and wonder ‘but Amitabh said that…’ that’s the fear. You know sometimes you fear but hope nobody catches you! ‘You said that day that the picture is going to do this but the picture has flopped and…’ So we are very careful and we are confessing very honestly to you be compassionate with us!”

Who would have imagined these words coming out of the mouth of a veteran actor who has famously been referred to as a “one-man-industry.”

A true professional

While actors half his age are known to throw around starry tantrums during the promotional drive of a movie Amitabh Bachchan wowed us with his level-headed attitude. In Dubai post the London stint of Shamitabh’s promotion the actor may have been tired but his body language and his quick-witted answers belied his age.

Asked whether he enjoyed all the hoopla that goes around before the release of a movie he answered: “I wish we didn’t have to do so many interviews! Just kidding! You know promotions have become an integral part of filmmaking nowadays. We have been at it for so any days that it is like working on an entire film again. I keep joking and saying it is a great exercise for the artist because we get to answer the same questions in as different a manner as possible!”

Akshara Haasan hopes to make it under her own steam while continuing her family’s legacy

The daughter of veteran Tamil actor Kamal Haasan and Sarika Akshara might have chosen an unconventional route to stardom but the petite light-eyed beauty could not have asked for a better debut than Shamitabh.

On one hand she has Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan to look up to and on the other the young reigning Tamil superstar Dhanush to support her. Between them they may bear the brunt of the audience’s expectations but Akshara seems confident of holding her own in the movie. “I’m honoured to get an opportunity to work with such amazing people” she tells City Times. “It is really inspiring for someone like me to look up to them and see them working so hard with such dedication and passion. So that made me want to work harder every day.”

On whether there is any kind of pressure that comes from belonging to an acting dynasty she says “At the end of the day I have to perform according to my capabilities and I was signed on for this project not for my family to come and perform! I mean I respect my family and I really do look up to them and want to take their legacy forward but it’s about how I can bring what I have to the table…”

Dhanush proves to be a man of few words

Ayoung star in his own right today he is also identified as superstar Rajinikanth’s son-in-law a mantle he dons lightly. Lending his voice three years ago to the colloquial hit Kolaveri Di transformed him into an overnight web sensation. But through it all Dhanush has remained grounded and comes across as bashful in front of the media.

From playing a young boy obsessed with the neighbourhood beauty in the Sonam Kapoor starrer Raanjhanaa in 2013 to a young actor who is catapulted to stardom when he takes on someone else’s voice in Shamitabh Dhanush has definitely chosen roles to showcase his versatility. “It’s true when it comes to the selection of roles I have chosen to do different things” he tells City Times. “I am not restricted by any particular type.”

And did he draw on his own experience to play an actor in Shamitabh “There is a lot of similarity to what I am in my real life but there is also a lot that is completely different from my life. Every character I have played so far has something I could identify myself with” he says. “Shamitabh had a fresh concept.

I felt Balki had a new story to tell and I got the opportunity to work with Amitji PC Sreeram (cinematographer) Illaiyaraaja sir and R Balki. I couldn’t have asked for more in my second Hindi film” he explains. “I’m very proud to be part of this movie and to share space with such big legends. I will be working with a lot more pride in my third film.”

Watch highlights of the exclusive interview with the Shamitabh team Videographer: Nilanjana Gupta/Khaleej Times