Ram Gopal Verma On Amitabh and Abhishek

by Subhash K Jha

"It's very boring to rave about Mr Amitabh Bachchan. Every director does so after working with him. Now after having worked with him I know why they do so. After so many films and years he still has the capacity to surprise you.

People say he's doing too many films. But I'd like to evaluate him solely for what he does in my Sarkar. Mr Bachchan has reached a legendary status where he can never be blamed for a film's failure. Sarkar is my tribute to the talent of Amitabh Bachchan. And only his face appears on all the hoardings. I've always been a huge fan of his.

So far I had restrained myself from working with him. I've gone to him only when I had the role to justify his presence. I made them do exactly what the script required without worrying about what the so-called market expected from me.

Let's be honest. I designed Sarkar for Amitabh Bachchan. Abhishek came in later. I was too much in awe of the senior to concern myself about the junior. Like most moviegoers I grew up watching the senior Bachchan doing amazing things on screen. To do justice to his presence in my work I had to design something that was as good as his best works.

Whether I succeeded or not is secondary. I took my time to conceive a role that would showcase Amitabh Bachchan the way I wanted to see him. Were it not for Mr Bachchan I wouldn't have made Sarkar. For me he's a superstar. I'm not interested in seeing him as an actor. I want to see him larger than life.

To me he's the big brother who'll take care of my problems. In Sarkar I want to recreate the intensity that he exuded in Zanjeer and Deewar, obviously keeping his age in mind.

I think he's the only actor in Indian cinema who can hold the camera without saying a word. He always seems to be communicating directly with every member of the audience. You're awed and inspired by that one impenetrable stare. That's awesome. Mr Bachchan has taken Sarkar much beyond where I could ever take it. Many actors give good performances without understanding the craft.

But Mr Bachchan understands the craft and yet remains completely authentic on screen. He adds immensely to the writer and director's vision. I feel over the years, the directors began to depend too much on his persona. The one-liners in Deewaar and Namak Haraam became one-pagers in subsequent films.

I found that tense element missing in his recent films. In Sarkar I wanted to recreate that tense aura of the one-liners. I wanted to let his silences speak louder than his words. Even in real life he has the habit of looking blankly at you, so that you don't know how his mind is working.

Yes, the interaction with him was definitely exceptional. I'm the lion who has tasted blood. I'll work with him again and again. In fact I've already directed him again, in an episode of Darna Zaroori Hai, my sequel to the horror trilogy Darna Manaa Hai.

As for Abhishek, The best compliment for his performance came from a projectionist who was at a preview of the film. 'Aisee film to maine dekhi nahin. Amitabh aur Abhishek ki acting dekh kar pataa nahin chalta kaun kisska baap hai.'

When Mr Bachchan came he grew on us. I didn't know who he was. Then one day I saw him in Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay....His personality grew in my mind. Abhishek came in as Amitabh Bachchan's son, so the expectations were extraordinarily high. And then on top of that Abhishek was made to do all those NRI films which didn't suit him.

If Mr Bachchan followed up Zanjeer with those Rajesh Khanna films from the earlier era, I doubt he would be such a big star. I think it's a very progressive cinema... Every star is a product of his times. Though loved him Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge I don't think Shah Rukh Khan would've worked in Zanjeer or Deewaar.

When Abhishek came he wasn't being given the chance to develop his own identity. In my Naach which was done with a modicum of realism, his capability was tapped, though not fully. I think I've done that in Sarkar. I've understood his potential here. Mr Bachchan would've done this kind of a thing in the beginning of his career.

To see Abhishek do the same was a shock to me. When I finally worked with him, his novelty struck me dead-on. I think Abhishek is a very very different actor from his father. Though there's a genetic likeness their approach to a scene and mode of performance are remarkably different. He's extremely involved on the sets.

I'd listen more to Abhishek's than his father's suggestions. Abhishek is extremely perceptive. His understanding of life is more contemporary than me or Mr Bachchan. After working with Abhishek Bachchan in Naach I feel he's as incredible as his father. I hadn't seen any of his films before signing him.

I just saw the promotional clippings of Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. I was quite impressed. In a very bright film he was so subdued. I like his body language, his smile and the intensity in his eyes. In Naach I was taken aback by his performance. He has gone way beyond what I expected.

To me Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan are completely different actors. And even if they weren't related I'd still want only the two of them for the two roles in Sarkar. I'm not impressed by gimmicky attempts to bring exciting combinations together. For me the characters dictate the actors. And Sarkar demanded Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan.

Sarkar was a project that I had in mind for some years now. By the time the script crystallized, a lot of time had passed. But I knew I wanted the senior Bachchan in the title role."