British writer and Hindi film enthusiast Jessica Hines, whose "Looking for the Big B: Bollywood, Bachchan and Me" was released earlier this year, says Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan is "growing" with the variety of roles he is taking up.

Hines, a frequent visitor to India who was reportedly associated with Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, talks to Steven Baker on her views on the Big B, the response to her book in both the countries and her love for Bollywood.

Excerpts:

Q: You launched your book earlier this year. What has been the response to it? Has the response been different in Britain compared to India?
A: Well in India the response was a bit strange, but that was more because of my personal life and the fact that I had finally completed this book, than about the book itself. Britain is being its uniquely insular self and hasn't picked up on the fact that I have certain notoriety in India, which is a very bizarre thing.

Q: What do you think of Amitabh's recent performances in his recent releases "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna", "Baabul", "Eklavya: The Royal Guard", "Nishabd" and "Cheeni Kum"?
A: I think that he is growing with the variety of roles that he is taking on now. Sometimes you would think that he could just mail in a performance but I know that each shot is thought about and planned and worked on. All actors have to constantly find the feelings over again or they fail as an actor.

Q: There is very little mention of Abhishek Bachchan in the book. How do you feel he compares to his father?
A: He is an interesting actor and an exceptionally nice man. I think it is going to be very interesting to watch him develop. The Bachchans take time to become what they are meant to be. Amitabh did and so did his late father.

Q: You have travelled to India 29 times, would you consider living in India permanently?
A: I love living in India but it only works, to my mind, if you have a specific job to do there. There was a point where I thought I would be living there more than London but that didn't work out.

Q: Where did your interest in Hindi films begin?
A: It began in earnest at SOAS (The School of Oriental And African Studies). I was very earnest.

Q: You have been responsible for bringing Bollywood into the public consciousness in Britain with events like film festivals and Selfridges department store Bollywood month. When do you think Bollywood 'arrived' in Britain?
A: Well its funny, I wonder how much quicker Hindi films would have wooed the British audiences had video not made its huge impact on the Indian community.

Remember, that almost overnight the number of cinemas showing Hindi films went from almost 100 to zero. It wasn't until the early 1990s that film culture started to inch its way out of the Indian communities living rooms again. I think it started to kick off again at the end of the 90s.

Q: What was the most difficult thing about writing the book?
A: Being a single mum with a small baby and no money? Oh that's three.

Q: When was the last time you met Amitabh Bachchan?
A: We just missed each other in Mumbai and London. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago though when he called to congratulate me on my engagement.

Q: Finally, which is your favourite Hindi film?
A: My favourite Hindi film is "Amar Akbar Anthony".