by Subhash K Jha

After getting back to work with song recordings for Babul and dubbing for Eklavvya, Amitabh Bachchan is all set to return to the camera.

"Probably after 20 March with the shooting for my makeup man's Bhojpuri film. Then I'll shoot for Karan Johar's Kabhi Alavidaa Na Kehna. Then a couple of days set aside to shoot for ads. Then I go into Ravi Chopra's Babul."

The songs in Babul are still being polished. "I want to sing them as well as I can. But the basics are in place. The fine-tuning needs to be done."

A proposed trip to Mauritius for Zee Cine Awards has been cancelled.

"Abhishek was supposed to perform. And I'd have loved to watch him. My grandchildren, my daughter and Jaya were also supposed to join us in Mauritius. But Abhishek is down with a viral flu. And the doctors have forbidden me from travelling. So we aren't going. Sanjay Bhansali or Rani can collect my award."

Says the senior AB," I'm going to start meeting producers...I've said yes to Deepa Mehta's Komagata Maru in principle. I've had several meetings with Rakeysh Mehra. From the time I we did Aks together we've been discussing lots of ideas including Rang De Basanti...projects involving both Abhishek and me.

Pretty soon we'll be able to zero in on a project. We might be doing Bhairavi which is an extremely unique subject with unique possibilities. The more we talk about it the bigger it seems I was very happy to receive the critics' awards at Filmfare from Rakeysh and Vinod Chopra."

Pausing to reflect on his return to normal health AB continues, "I'm truly touched by the love and support of my colleagues. Everyone has been so kind and warm. I was so moved when people whom I've worked with came forward to greet me with so much affection at the Filmfare awards. I hope I never do anything to lose that affection".