Q: How do you react to the exceptional praise?
A: Yaaaaay! I want to enjoy what I'm finally getting in Black . I can't right now think of the future. If I did then I should get married and retire. What makes me really happy is the messages of appreciation. People have suddenly become aware of the deaf and the blind. And physically challenged people are also responding to Black . I think all of us actors should do at least one socially relevant role every year. At the same time I love doing my song and dance routine.

Q: Black defies all superlatives. Isn't it an honour to be part of something so pathbreaking?
A: From the time I heard the script I knew this would be a very special film. I've never been afraid of commercial failure. Any artiste who signs a film thinking it would be a hit is in for a disappointment. You just have to do what you believe in. And I really believed in Black . While it was being made I knew something extraordinary was happening.

As it was shot I knew it was going to be a landmark. There is no dispute about Sanjay Leela Bhansali's talents. After Devdas he could've done yet another song-and-dance extravaganza. But he chose an unusual story of a bonding between a physically challenged girl and her teacher. And he chose an unusual star cast like Mr Bachchan and me.

Black wasn't just another film. It needed a lot of homework from the director and the actors. Sanjay could've made Black as a small dark art-house film. He turned the story into inspirational epic. The vision that he has given to the subject calls for a standing ovation, and it's getting it. To work in a film by Bhansali is said to be an extraordinary experience. Sanjay doesn't carry around the baggage of self-importance. He's so much fun on the sets. With him great shots aren't a reason for self-congratulation. They're a matter of fact.

Of course we were both serious about our work. But off-camera it was masti all the way. When we would watch our shots the cameraman Ravi Chandran, Sanjay and I would praise ourselves. That got us so charged for a 100 days. All artistes need that push to do better. Sanjay is brilliant at that. On his sets even the light-man does his job better. No one wants to let his vision down.

Q: Did Sanjay help you with the deaf and blind girl's mannerisms?
A: When he'd enact the mannerisms he was terribly funny and cute. We'd die laughing. I was really fearful about the challenge. I didn't want my director to regret the decision of signing me. Initially, I just wanted Sanjay to be happy with my performance. I pushed myself into learning the sign language. My instructor Sangeeta Gala came home for 3-4 hours everyday.

To learn to communicate with hands and fingers was physically tiring. And Sanjay is a tireless perfectionist. He gave me six months to prepare. I think that's mind-blowing. For a director to put his vision on hold to let his actors prepare is a sign of perfection. If I didn't have the time to learn the sign language, I'd only be concentrating on getting that right.

Q: How was it bonding in such an exceptional way with Amitabh Bachchan?
I've always been in awe of Amit uncle. He's always been incomparable. Everyone in my entire family is an AB fan. I admire him as an actor. After working with him I admire him even further. He is truly exemplary. He showed me how humble a person can remain after getting all the accolades of the world. Because of my immense love and respect for him I had no trouble expressing the same through my character in Black .

On the sets he was constantly joking and behaving almost as though Black was his first film. At times I'd go up to him and tell him to go home and get some rest. I felt so protective of him. After watching him do the gruelling shots I wanted to press his feet and hands — just like Michelle in Black . I wonder at his age would I've even an iota of his energy! To have him on screen is to automatically enhance your own performance. Because acting is also about reacting.

Q: As Abhishek's co-star, was it tough for you to do a kissing sequence with Amitabh?
A: We were all quite nervous. I call Amitji uncle. And for my character to ask to be kissed by him was quite something. But that is such cathartic moment for my character. I wasn't thinking of myself; I was thinking of Michelle.

Q: What next?
A: Shaad Ali's Bunty Aur Babli which is completely antithetical to Black . Then there's Ketan Mehta's Mangal Pandey . I'm very confident about the work I'm doing but not complacent. In Shah Rukh Khan's production being directed by Amol Palekar I'm trying a new dialect. I have also got Karan Johar's next directorial venture.