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Flops like "Nishabd" and "Cheeni Kum" have not dissuaded Amitabh
Bachchan from experimenting with different roles under new
directors. "I don't know if the audiences are ready or not for
such films. From the box office results, perhaps not, but for me as
an artiste it gave me tremendous creative satisfaction, on a par
with what I experienced in 'Black'," Amitabh told IANS in an
interview. His latest experiment was with Bengali director Rituparno Ghosh.
Big B teamed up with him in "The Last Lear", which was well
received at the Toronto Film Festival.
"Ritu is new to me as a director but not to the film world. He
is a sensitive accomplished and acclaimed director. Intelligent and
forthright," said Amitabh.
Excerpts:
Q: Another new director, Rituparno Ghosh. I believe the last stint
in Mussoorie was loads of fun. Do share.
A: Ritu is new to me as a director but not to the film world. He is
a sensitive, accomplished and acclaimed director. Intelligent and
forthright. The entire making of "Lear" was exciting and
fun-filled. Which really is such a clichйd remark because
everyone says the same for all their films.
Mussoorie was a five-day schedule, completed in just two days. It
is a rarity, but when it happens, it can only be fun.
Q: You even wrote the Hindi dialogues for a scene. Have you lately
become more participative?
A: I would like to believe that I have always been participative in
all my films. I wrote the scene because Ritu's Hindi is somewhat
rusty. And it wasn't as though I did something historic. All I was
asked to do was to translate from English to Hindi. Anyone can do
that.
Q: People compared your character in "Cheeni Kum" with "Nishabd"
because they saw you paired with a younger woman in both.
A: The only similarity is the age difference between the two main
characters. "Nishabd" was a serious introspective look at an odd
situation and its repercussions, "Cheeni Kum" was situational,
light-hearted and hopefully funny, with tongue firmly in cheek.
I think director Balkrishnan deliberately kept himself, the
screenplay and the performances away from the norm even though
situations may have warranted it. It was just another love story,
except the boy is 64, the girl is 32 and her father is 58.
Q: Audiences, especially women, absolutely rejected the
generation-challenged relationship in "Nishabd". Was the vehemence
of the rejection a shock to you? Do you feel audiences aren't
ready for radical shifts in the depiction of romantic
relationships?
A: Audiences are always right. If they rejected something, we must
respect that. No, the vehemence of the rejection was not a shock
because there were a whole lot of very welcome and congratulatory
reactions. I stored them on my phone. They serve me whenever I need
an adrenaline rush. I don't know if the audiences are ready or not
for such films. From the box office results, perhaps not, but for
me as an artiste it gave me tremendous creative satisfaction, on a
par with what I experienced in "Black".
Q: How different is the experience of working with a younger
actress opposite you like Rani Mukerji in "Black", Jiah Khan in
"Nishabd" and Tabu in "Cheeni Kum"?
A: No difference at all. Should there be any? We all play our parts
as directed. We all mingle and enjoy the experience of working
together. We share our creativity and look forward to enjoying its
results.
Q: Tabu, I feel, is one of our outstanding actors.
A: I couldn't agree with you more. She is simply exemplary. She
works from within. Nothing that comes out from her as a performance
is without conviction. She brings the emotions from the bottom of
her heart. A keen observer can actually see the emotion building up
within, welling up in the eyes, before it pours out from her face
and mouth. Simply extraordinary!
Q: How were your screen dynamics with her?
A: My screen dynamics with her are an embarrassment to me. Because
you simply continue to admire her wide-mouthed, often forgetting
that you are in the frame as well. In fact, her personal demeanour
is no different either. It's such a delight to be in her company.
By Subhash K. Jha
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