/> In what could be considered the biggest casting-off coup of the year, Balki of Cheeni Kam has decided to cast off the Big B's beard and give him a completely new look for his new film Pa.

Laughing and dodging the question Balki says, "I'm not going to tell you whether I've asked Mr Bachchan to shave off his beard or not. But for sure this is going to be his most startling makeover in recent times. While Abhishek will be given a more intrinsic personality change I'm totally changing Mr B's look"

According to those in the know Balki has convinced Mr Bachchan to shave off his beard.

Says the director, "Again Mr Bachchan and Abhishek play father and son. Pa would be a far more emotional story than Cheeni Kam which was far more caustic dry and sharp-tongued.

Actually Cheeni Kam was inspired by one scene in Raj Khosla's Dostana where Mr Bachchan had confronted Zeenat Aman. The look of utter disdain and sarcasm in his eyes remained with me. That's how his character in Cheeni Kam was born."

In Pa the Big B plays someone he has never played before. " While in Cheeni Kam he was a character I had seen earlier in Pa he's a totally different person. It' a very emotional father-son story. But the emotions won't be melodramatic."

Vidya Balan plays Abhishek's love interest. "But Amitji will have no love interest. His world revolves around his son. Will I borrow from Mr Bachchan's real-life relationship with Abhishek? No. In fact I know them so well that I'll make sure I to avoid all references to their real life."

Balki starts shooting Pa at the end of January. Reliance and AB Corp Ltd would be jointly producing the film.

"Music? Ah Ilaiyaraja again. I worship the man. And the cinematography will be by none other than P C Sreeeram, again after Cheeni Kam."