The Importance Of Being Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan on why work is the best therapy and women the best gifts... in conversation with Raghuvendra Singh.

- Raghuvendra Singh

The more you meet him, the more eager you are to know more about him. He’s been a phenomenon since time immemorial but his aura hasn’t faded nor has his luminescence. The giants, who travelled with him through time, have long since hung their boots. But Amitabh Bachchan seems to show no signs of tiring or slowing down, devouring milestones for breakfast and trophies and awards for dinner. And yet, amidst all that glory, he remains unmindful of his halo. He’s still so humble, still so rooted, still so keen to learn... you wonder you’re meeting a newbie and not a superstar several times over... someone who walks tall over the showbiz horizon. His is an infallible myth that generations believe in, deify and revere. His charisma is unrestricted by borders and boundaries. Here, the Big B takes some valuable time off to talk about his career choices, his better half Jaya Bachchan and the other ‘pretty women’ in his life. All hail the emperor as he speaks…

Would you say playing older characters is far more liberating than playing a ‘hero’, where one had to adhere to mass expectations?

Age does allow a greater variety yes and therefore it’s more challenging at times. But let us not overlook those early years as well. They were tough and difficult too. At this phase of my career one does get the benefit of a sublime liberation, of lesser responsibility for box-office returns, not because the boxoffice does not have meaning, but because the return is not in the range of the bigger stars on the firmament. Our returns will not be in the massive range of the others, so we strive to achieve within our limited means.

Most of your younger co-actors tend to be your fans. Is it difficult breaking the ice with them?