by Subhash K Jha

Amitabh Bachchan remains the single-most adventurous and influential mega-star of Indian cinema.

After going through a spectrum of roles with co-stars ranging from the 20-something Rani Mukherjee and the child Ayesha Kapoor in Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Black to Baby Rucha in his forthcoming Ek Ajnabee, AB is now all set to co-star with Tabu in a mature love story.

"It's a very powerful love story between a woman and an older man. Tabu and I will play the two roles," informs AB who's just returned from a long schedule of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Eklavya.

Tabu and AB were supposed to come together in a film about a father-in-law and daughter-in-law some years ago. The project never materialized.

Tabu is an actress whom AB admires greatly. "She's very powerful, truly top-of-the-line . And to be doing something as unconventional as this with her would be a great challenge."

The film is to be directed by adman R Balkrishnan. "I know him as Balki...that's what everyone calls him," AB says fondly. "He has directed me in a number of ads, including the whole Dabur campaign. He wanted to make a film with me for quite a while. When he narrated this idea to me I immediately agreed. At my age I've the freedom to experiment with my looks roles and the conventional image of the leading man."

Balkrishnan's film will be AB's next project after Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna. It will give the grossly neglected Tabu a chance to emerge from her self-imposed hibernation.