London, Apr 28: Amitabh Bachchan has appeared in more than 150 films and is one of the world's most recognisable movie stars.
At a recent Lincoln Center retrospective of the 62-year-old Indian filmstar's work, pandemonium erupted among the 1,100 people in the sold-out hall who leaped to their
feet, jumped up and down and waved their arms when the floor
was opened to questions.
Bachchan, or "Big B" as he is called, was gracious with every request, no matter how silly. (one questioner wanted to know: "what do you do on weekends?")
Bachchan's enduring popularity in India is matched by few of his contemporaries. More than 30 years after he started acting in films like 'Saat Hindustani' and 'Anand', he remains a bankable box-office star. The reason people continue to love him after so many years, however, is a mystery even to him.
"I wouldn't be able to answer that question," Bachchan said in a recent interview. "It's difficult to look at yourself from inside, I think you would be defeating a lot of your instincts if you already knew who or what you are."
Bachchan, son of a well-known Hindi poet, decided to try his hand at acting professionally after graduating college and taking a job as an executive at a company.
"(Iwanted) to be another actor, to get an opportunity to express myself, play different characters," Bachchan said, adding that he enjoyed acting as a youngster in school. "I was
never very sure that I would become a leading man, that was quite by accident, and then it just stuck."
On the screen, he looks the role of the leading man, with a deep, resonant voice, 6-foot-plus height - and natural instincts.
"When the camera starts, I don't know what it is that instigates or inspires you to speak the lines in a particular manner, or move your hands in a particular manner, or look at
the subject across the floor in a particular manner ... It's just that little moment," he said.
"If it's working out alright for the director, and it's working out alright for the people, than I'm happy that I did it. But there's no great research that has gone into it, it's
just very instinctive."
After starring in scores of Indian films, including classics like 'Sholay' and 'Deewaar', Bachchan quit acting for a short time to take a stab at national politics, serving as a
member of parliament. The detour didn't last long. Within a couple years, he was back at acting, but suffered a string of box office failures that called many to question whether he
should step aside for the younger generation of stars.
However, Bachchan has revived his career in the last five years after signing on to host India's version of the television game show, 'who wants to be a millionaire?' he has
been working steadily in films again ever since, appearing in recent hits like 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', 'Kaante' and this year's 'Black'.
Bachchan said he has enjoyed working with the ranks of India's hot new stars since his return to the upper echelons of Bollywood celebrity. Ever modest, he attributes his
continued success and new generations of fans to his work with younger actors.
It's "very exciting, just to be part of their thinking, part of their enthusiasm," he said.
Bureau Report
