Amitabh Bachchan Speaks To Subhash K Jha On Abhishek, Brand Endorsements, Land Gift From Ajitabh & The Marriage.

Abhishek's performance in Guru is being hailed as no minor achievement. In the past few months he has gone from playing a Nawab to a super-cop to a business tycoon. Do you think you were this adventurous as an actor in your heydays?
Yes, Abhishek's performance in Guru is no mean achievement. It has been hailed and acknowledged as exceptional, universally. The huge success of the film, both nationally and internationally has added greater glory to his effort.

Playing diverse and at times diametrically opposite characters, within a short span of time and so early in his career proves two things. One, that his directors and producers have the faith and confidence in him to pull off such a difficult feat, and two, that he has the capacity to deliver, when tested...not just creatively, but commercially as well.

The success of Guru and Dhoom prove that. And it does not stop at that. The coming months will see him in a complete departure from what he has just done. And let me for once be immodest and predict that Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Sarkar 2 and Drona will be hugely successful films, substantiating adequately my stand.

Considering Hrithik had the author-backed role in Dhoom 2, do you think it was a mistake for Abhishek to do the film?
No it was not a mistake. I've huge respect for him and his decision. Because, knowing fully well that his was a minuscule role he still went ahead, for the sake of his relationship with Adi Chopra, and because without him in the film there is no story.

For all practical purposes, he is the hero of the film. The success of the film will go down in his record as his success as well. At the end of the day that's all that matters. And the fact is, those that were with him in this project--Adi, Hrithik, Uday are all aware of the sacrifice that he made and have expressed that to him too.

This speaks volumes for the camaraderie that exists in the Dhoom team. Abhishek has contributed in no uncertain terms in keeping Brand Dhoom alive and successful. I admire him for that.

Apparently the director Sanjay Gadhvi has commented on Hrithik's larger impact in Dhoom 2.
Sanjay Gadhvi is the director of Dhoom 2. Strangely soon after its release he proclaimed in rather bold headlines that Abhishek is finished and beaten. I think very lowly of a director when he derides an artist of his own film.

Why take them to work for you if you consider them substandard? Why deliberately prop up and showcase the villain, as per the dictates of the script, and then scream that the other character has lost out? Somewhere your ethics are misplaced and wrong. When people talk of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, they mention the song Shava shava and not Hrithik Roshan But Karan Johar has never ever derided Hrithik's contribution to the film.

Or more recently when Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna is talked about, what comes up is Sexy Sam (me!) or the character played by Abhishek. But have you ever heard anyone say any less for Shah Rukh, Priety and Rani?

Guru coming in the wake of Dhoom 2 has proved to all and sundry that given a role and an opportunity, Abhishek can deliver. He has in one stroke silenced all his detractors and critics. It's a slap on the face of those that thought unkindly of him.

Let's now talk about your huge jurisdiction as a brand ambassador. You continue to be the primary endorser in our entertainment business. Is it hard to juggle films with ads specially now when you have so many movie assignments and family/social events claiming your attention?
Yes, the brand endorsements continue and have never been so good, contrary to certain media analysts who recently headlined that 'The King Is Dead Long Live The King'...a rather prolonged thesis on my diminishing and expired brand value and the rising value of my colleague and dear friend Shah Rukh Khan.

Firstly, the King is not dead. The prayers and good wishes of the people of this country keeps insuring that time and again.. All my clients have renewed their contracts (Dabur, Emami, Reid and Taylor, Cadbury, Parker) and if I might add, at enhanced rates for a substantial period of time.

Fresh and new products are in negotiations and soon we should be announcing their presence in my life. In particular, one historic endorsement.....more of which later. ICICI did not renew with me, and the reasons for that, I would not like to discuss in public.

No, it is not difficult to find time for films and endorsements. A very proficient schedule manager in our organization ensures that. Family and social events are a pleasure to be associated with and they find their own time. But what is really satisfying are the campaigns highlighting social and national causes.

Polio and India Poised are a pleasure, as have been the campaigns for Uttar Pradesh, I being the Brand Ambassador for the State. These are done, obviously, without any monetary considerations, and fill me with a sense of great pride and fulfillment.

Let me also say, nothing and nobody lasts forever....not Shah Rukh Khan, not me. It's how long you last and what you achieve within that time, that matters.

Your movie assignments remain as dense this year as they were last year. Which are the films we can look forward to? Every other day we've a director clamouring for your attention and pouting when he doesn't get it.
Yes the assignments remain dense. Which is good...makes me feel wanted, though I haven't the foggiest why! Films due this year should be Eklavya, Nishabd, Cheeni Kum, Sarkar 2, Ram Gopal Varma's Sholay, Bhootnath, Johnny Walker...There are a host of others that shall start this year too.

Rohan Sippy, VidhuVinod Chopra and Rituparno Ghosh want to start films with me, and some very exciting projects with a new fresh lot of youngsters, brimming with unique ideas. They're an absolute joy. As for the pouting directors, I haven't seen any. I've been very accommodating.

There was a front page report in a tabloid last week about your brother gifting you some land.
Yes he did.

Speculation on Abhishek-Aishwarya's marriage date abounds. Have you zeroed in on a date? How true is the February date being bandied in some part of the media? Where is the wedding likely to take place?
We are just about to sit down even as I respond to you, to discuss just that. And as soon as there is consensus on what it might be, we shall inform you. Dates and locations being bandied about are a lot of rubbish.