Abhishek Bachchan in love 'Interview'

I’m not a big star, far from it and you are forgetting whom I live with!

Abhishek Bachchan Interview

SEE ALSO

Bollywood
Trailers

Abhishek Bachchan has two major releases in August, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK) and Umrao Jaan, and they are vastly different from each other. But he is not worried."As my luck would have it, both Umrao Jaan and Kabhie Alvida... are being released back-to-back. I'm curious to see how audiences react to these completely different characters. As long as they're entertained, I'm happy,” Apparently it was easier for Abhishek to get under the skin of his character in Karan Johar's romantic drama Kabhi Alvida... than JP Dutta's Umrao Jaan, a period film. "Actors always bring a lot of themselves into their characters. At the end of the day the actor is performing the character and the character must therefore have elements of the actor. It's very important for me to identify with the character I play. Otherwise, I can't play him convincingly," said Abhishek, who confesses he is bowled over by co-star Shah Rukh Khan's humility and hard work.

When you work with him you realize he's Shah Rukh Khan not because he tries to be, but because he's amazingly good at what he does. I was bowled over by him as an actor and a human being.

So, is Abhishek in love? "Yes, I am..." he says and pauses, before adding, "with my work!"
What about his alleged liaison with Ash? "This question is best answered by the media. I really don't have an answer to that." Is he then implying that he's single? "Yes," he says.

Abhishek is touted as one of the most eligible bachelors around. "I don't much care about talk that I am an eligible bachelor. I just like to be left alone to do my work."

"As of now, I am very happy with my work and the thought of marriage hasn't crossed my mind. But I would love to be married someday."
"I also love kids. My sister's kids Navya and Agastya are the two best things in my life. I wish I could spend more time with them," he says.
Given that his next release, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna is a film about extramarital relationships, what would he do if he were ever in a real-life scenario like that?
Never! I don't believe in extramarital affairs. I believe marriage is for good - full and final - and if you want to cheat on your wife then just don't get married," he says.
Real life aside, is Abhishek game for a French kiss on screen? "Yeah sure!" who would the chosen co-star be? "Whoever is working with me on the film"

And what if his co-star has bad breathe? "There's nothing I can do about it. I am a professional and I'll go ahead and do my job," he laughs.
Professionally, how much has he improved in the last six years since his debut?
"I am improving on a daily basis and if people don't think so, then I must be hopeless in whatever I do!" he smiles. "But this is just the beginning; there is a hard journey ahead. I hope I can make my parents proud," he says.
What is that one trait that he has inherited from his parents? "I'd like to believe that I have got more than one quality from them. I have imbibed a sense of perseverance, dedication and a 'never-give-in' attitude from my father. And my mother's temper!" Does he lose his head often? "No I am a very fun-loving guy," he says.

Why are you suddenly so out of the media loop?
It wasn't intentional. It's just unfortunate. I've been travelling abroad and in India, shooting. I haven't had the time to sit and talk to anyone lately.

You've two acutely antithetical films - Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK) and Umrao Jaan coming up one after the other.
It's only after I did my first period film Umrao Jaan that I realized how modern we tend to be in our everyday conduct as individuals. I had to try and forget my natural body language and demeanour and re-acclimatise myself. That was a challenge. Then again, when you've a director like JP Dutta saab, he guides you through any complexity.

Is it challenging time for you as an actor?
No different from how it has been in the past. I've chosen a challenging job. As my luck would have it, both Umrao Jaan and KANK are being released back-to-back. I'm curious to see how audiences react to these completely different characters. As long as they're entertained, I'm happy.

Apparently in Johar's film you play a character very close to your heart?
Karan knows me so well. He has used a lot of my personality for my character in KANK. But let me tell you, it's very important for me to identify with the character I play. Otherwise, I can't play him convincingly.

How was it working with Shah Rukh Khan in KANK?
When you work with him you realise he's Shah Rukh Khan not because he tries to be, but because he's amazingly good at what he does. My advice to any actor who works with him is to interact with him off the sets for a week before shooting begins. I was bowled over by him as an actor and a human being. I've never seen a more hard-working actor.

You seem totally bowled over.
I really hope I get to work with him again and again. Shah Rukh is an immensely generous actor. He almost concentrates more on getting the other actor's performance right in a scene than his own! The amount I've learnt from him about conduct as a person and an actor is insurmountable. He truly deserves his superstardom.

How was it working with Preity for the first time?
KANK was our first film together apart from a little bit of work together in Salaam Namaste, when she was just lying on an operation table and screaming. She was no longer lying down in KANK. But she was still shouting at me. She's brilliant in KANK.

She claims you can out-chatter her.
With Preity it's a bit of an ego problem. Since I'm a very sore loser, I've to try and outdo her in talking. I love Preity. She's one of the nicest persons I've met. So I'm looking forward to working with her again in Shaad Ali's Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom. It's exciting because of the cast.

Preity, of course, is one of my favourite people on earth. Then there's Bobby Deol whom I've known since I was a kid. I've had a deep desire to work with him. There have been many projects in the past together, which didn't work out.

You're also doing the sequel to Dhoom?
One of the plus points of doing a sequel is you already know the character. I play the same character. Then there's an equation already built with the crew. So, you automatically get into the groove.

How was it working with Hrithik Roshan?
Dhoom 2 is my second film with Hrithik after Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon. He isn’t only hardworking he's a notch above that. Through his hard work he pushes me to work. What's wonderful about actors like Shah Rukh and Hrithik is they aren't just concerned about their own performance but also of the film. It’s great fun just hanging out with him. Dhoom 2 is a party.

How's it working with R Madhavan in Mani Rathnam's Guru?
We got to know each other really well when I was doing a remake of his Tamil film Run. I'm very fond of Maddy and his wife Sarita. It's wonderful to get in front of the camera with Maddy.

How's it working with Rathnam again?
Yuva was a turning point in my career all credit to Mani for this. Guru is a challenge. Mani likes to push his actors. He likes to break conventions. He gives you a scene, and then you work it out as logically as you can. He then takes it and flips it around completely. He likes to go against the grain. The actor had better rise to the occasion.

Finally, suddenly you're in so many endorsements?
My criterion to endorse a brand is simple. Would I use the product and am I comfortable endorsing the product? It's very important for the brand ambassador to have faith in the product. I believe in the products I endorse.

How does it feel being a big star and getting so much attention?
I’m not a big star, far from it and you are forgetting whom I live with! I get no attention!

Is Karan the director very different from the friend?
Not at all, I treat him as disrespectfully on the sets as I do off it. (Laughs) This is a huge problem for me as we have a very informal relationship. He’s a very established director and I’m a junior actor, but that hasn’t changed our equation.

Did you have any insecurity about being the most junior member of a team of stars who are all very successful?
No, I just take comfort in the fact that people will be watching them over me. (Laughs) I’ve never been conscious of stuff like that. Being around them makes you want to give your best because they are giving their 150 per cent. Dad, at 65, is the most hard-working man I’ve ever seen and Shah Rukh is the biggest star we have and yet every morning he earns his status. They don’t rest on their laurels so I can’t afford to be slack.

Your character sacrifices self-gratification for commitment...
I don’t agree with that statement. Yeah, but his wife’s having an affair and he still wants to be in the marriage… He doesn’t know about it, that’s why! (Laughs) I disagree with the idea of sacrificing happiness in order to commit. See I’d only commit if I would be happy with that person. I believe in monogamy so get married only if you want to spend the rest of your life with that person. If you don’t want monogamy, fair enough, don’t get married.

Over the past few films you’ve turned into quite the celluloid dancer...
I’ve had anxieties, which are important because they propel you to excel. But on the whole, I enjoy getting up in the morning and going to work, which at one point, I was scared of doing.

Is this because of the success of your recent films?
Success has nothing to do with it. It’s because I’ve started getting comfortable and confident with the camera and myself.

How does it feel to be in love?
Being in love is a great state isn’t it? I feel fine when I’m in love. (Smiles). Yes I believe in love and I don’t think it happens only once.

Despite your relationship getting so much attention, why won’t you go on record to admit it?
My life is an open book and I’m not hiding anything. And since it’s so public, I’d like to keep my private life to myself. I don’t want the world to know which side of the bed I sleep on and in which pajamas. I can understand people are interested in it, but whether I want people to be a part of it is up to me. As celebrities we share our lives with you, give us a small part that’s just ours to hold on to, for sanity and out of respect.

There are rumors that you’re not happy with the way your character has shaped up in the film. Can you comment on that?
Karan (Johar) can give me a passing shot and I’d be pleased with it. I’m no one to be pleased or not pleased with my role in the film. I’m a very insignificant actor when it comes to the other actors in this film. I’ve said it before, it’s not about having a good role or not having a good role, I’m just happy I got a role in this film.

Amitabh Bachchan is playing a rather flamboyant role in KANK. So, if you take away the actor in you, was the son all right with that presentation?
Whatever Dad does, he does it with immense grace and dignity. I think he’s the best part of KANK, after Karan.

Are you looking for something else? Try our search here: