In pursuit of perfection

Abhishek Bachchan talks about moving away from serious filmsfor now, but with a desire to go back to his Antar Mahal days

May 19, 2016 12:00 am | Updated September 12, 2016 07:28 pm IST

Mumbai 14-05-2016:Abhishek Bachchan at Reception party of Preity Zinta & Gene Goodenough at Hotel St. Regis Lower Parel.Photo By: Rajneesh Londhe

Mumbai 14-05-2016:Abhishek Bachchan at Reception party of Preity Zinta & Gene Goodenough at Hotel St. Regis Lower Parel.Photo By: Rajneesh Londhe

Sixteen years into the Indian film industry, Abhishek Bachchan seems to have moved away from the kind of cinema he started with. With films like Happy New Year (2014), All is Well (2015) and now Housefull 3 (2016), the 40-year old appears to be taking to the genre of comedy.

A preponderance of comedy on the actor’s plate appears to have happened more by choice than by chance. Bachchan says, “For the longest time, I did a spate of serious roles which drained me emotionally and mentally. That’s why I was quick to take up films such as Happy New Year and now Housefull 3 , as I wanted to do more light-hearted roles.” But the genre of comedy that he has taken to seems to be at complete odds with his own subtle wit, evident in his tweets and his self-deprecatory public persona. “We are actors. We constantly wear masks. To do a role that is close to one’s own personality is very rare. It would also be very boring to constantly take up roles that match one’s own persona.”

Housefull 3 , the third instalment in the comedy franchise, is a multi-starrer, a category that seems to feature a bit too much on his CV of late. Doesn’t he feel threatened by the presence of other stars on the screen? Bachchan thinks he can hold his own: “I think that no matter how small a role one has in a film, each actor is important and contributes to the overall production. I can’t recall a single film in which I have acted, that has not been a multi-starrer. I like that space; it’s great to work with other competent actors.”

For him, viewing films as solo-hero or multi-starrers is rather myopic. He finds it rather arrogant on the part of many actors to identify as the “lead” and think of themselves as all-important. “The need to do lead roles to prove one’s worth in this industry has been shoved down our throats. There isn’t much I can do except accept it reluctantly.”

In his forthcoming comedy, he shares space with the other leads: Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Lisa Haydon, Jacqueline Fernandez and Nargis Fakhri. The fact that the cast share a similar sense of humour, made the whole filming process a riot. While Bachchan shares good off-screen chemistry with the other co-actors, it was the lure of acting with Kumar that convinced him to join the franchise. This is the first time that he will be acting alongside Kumar, since their last film together Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (2002).

“Indeed, it has been rather long since Akki bhaiya [as he calls Akshay Kumar] and I acted together. But our last film allowed us only two small scenes together. This is the first time that the two of us will share substantial screen time.” The two had bonded during a meeting on the sets of Angaaray (1998) and since then, have been close friends.

A late entrant to the successful comic franchise that took off in 2010, it wasn’t an easy ride for Bachchan to join the Housefull bandwagon: “Riteish, Akshay and Boman already own that space in this franchise. I didn’t want to be the one to come and upset the balance. I was terrified of messing up.” For him, it was a challenge to perfect the role of Bunty, a character who pretends to be mute. “Bunty is a wannabe rapper. He has the gift of the gab, and speaks in poetry and lyrics. He can’t seem to stop talking. So, when he is put into a situation where talking is the one thing he can’t do, he is deeply troubled.” This dilemma made the role appealing to Bachchan. But he had to be careful to not portray Bunty as a stereotypical mute person, as is seen in many Bollywood comedies.

Comedy is what keeps Bachchan busy these days. But his past also boasts softer, subtler performances in films like Refugee (2000), Yuva (2004), Phir Milenge (2004), Guru (2007) and Antar Mahal (2005). “I acted in that film [ Antar Mahal ] mostly for Ritu da [Rituparno Ghosh], who was a close family friend. He’s the only director to have directed all four of us [Amitabh, Jaya, Aishwarya].” Ask him to pick one of his own performances and you draw a blank. Despite essaying a variety of roles in his career, Bachchan does not seem to have a favourite role of his own. Instead, he is typically self-deprecating: “I don’t like any of my works. When I watch a film later, I always feel I could have done better. I’m never fully satisfied with my work.”

The writer is an intern with The Hindu

When I watch a film later, I always feel I could have done better. I’m never fully satisfied with my work

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