FILM INTERVIEW: AMITABH BACHCHAN

 

Producer under Big B’s AB Corp banner, Bbuddah…Hoga Tera Baap, which is a romantic comedy centering around an aging man who is bitter and angry, essentially featured a loud lead character that was perfectly suited for Mr. Bachchan’s personality and style.

 

“When Puri Jagannath narrated the story of the film to me, there was a track that I felt won’t go well with my character. It was a little more frivolous than I was comfortable with. Puri readily agreed, and we changed it,” Mr. Big B told reporters. “The track was that, since he was a flamboyant character, there were many extra curricular activities that he was involved in, so different tracks with different ladies were there. I didn't think that was nice and needed, so we dropped it.”

 

Opening July 1st, Bbuddah…Hoga Tera Baap sees Big B’s character constantly get into trouble because he cannot control his anger. Yet, what audiences will probably remember most about Mr. Bachchan’s lead role is his flamboyant tendencies, his over-the-top wardrobe, and his riding of a Harley Davidson.

 

“It was difficult to ride the Harley. I am not very good with motorcycles. When I was told that I would have to ride one, I told Puri that I would need seven (to) eight days to rehearse in a big ground,” Big B candidly shared with reporters. “But one day, he suddenly told me that I have to ride it today itself. It's an amazing motorcycle -- very heavy and powerful. Somehow I just did it.”

 

Make like Nike, he did, but the Becker-like character will entertain audiences in a completely different manner than Bbuddah…Hoga Tera Baap’s competitor film, Aamir Khan’s Delhi Belly, would.

 

“Aamir and his production company are much bigger than me and my AB Corp, in commercial standing. We are a small budgeted film of Rs.10 crore from a group of artists that do not compare equally with the cast and starring of Delhi Belly,” Mr. Bachchan posted on his blog, bigb.bigadda.com. “They have spent Rs.35 crore on their film. That would show the intensity of their investment. They would have to do a very large business to recover their money, and they will, looking at the past record and the present standing that they have.”

 

Still, while he is conceding to the bigger size of Aamir Khan Productions, one thing he will not give in to is his claim to be the ultimate item boy. (Interestingly enough, Aamir Khan is donning the item boy moniker this weekend in Delhi Belly, with both legendary actors turning the tide and shifting how Bollywood fans look at and appreciated item numbers.)

 

In “Go Meera,” the effeminate Mr. Bachchan takes Bollywood fans down memory lane with many of his item boy hits of the 1970s and 1980s, including the likes of “Rang Barse” and “Khaiyeke Paan Banaras Wala.”

 

“All these years, I have been desperately waiting to be called an item boy. Please call me that,” be confessed to reporters. “I feel, with this song, my wish has come true. I am satisfied.”

 

Also starring Hema Malini, Minissha Lamba, Raveena Tandon, Sonal Chauhan and Sonu Sood, Big B hopes he is just as satisfied with the film’s box office receipts. Look out for the film this weekend and next, as it battles with Aamir Khan and Delhi Belly for box office supremacy!