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“I have not done anything great to deserve this. I”m an ordinary man like anyone of you”

Taking the Big B to Kolkata was quite an experience. Everywhere he went, mass hysteria followed. Insipte of the presence of younger stars, it was clear that Bachchan’’s charisma and popularity remains untouched. Despite his age, he was and still remains the most famous Indian alive. We catch him in one of his best moods, during his visit to Kolkata. The superstar became nostalgic as he went on a trip down memory lane. Here is the emperor of Indian cinema unplugged in his favourite city.

Filmfare Online: ”Aks” is too slick to be a film for the masses. Do you think that’’s why the masses thump it down?
AMITABH BACHCHAN: “It was meant to be slick. We tried to make something different. Irrespective of what our critics had to say, we are satisfied with our product.”

Filmfare Online: ”Aks” was your production, how come you though of producing again. And letting a rank newcomer direct it?
AMITABH: “I was very impressed by the way Rakesh wrote the script of the film. He gave me the script to read it when I was travelling. I read it in the plane to Delhi, and the first thing I did after landing is to call him and asked him what he was drinking while writing the script.”

Filmfare Online: So what he was drinking?
AMITABH: (Laughs) “He was not drinking anything when he wrote the script. But later I found out he was drinking when I call him.”

“I”m glad that I have been able to repay my debts. Believe with all this debt I was getting sleep less night. In the back of my mind I always has this guilt feeling. After clearing my debt, I”m in the clear.”

Filmfare Online: Did you ever think that an ad-filmmaker can succeed in making a film?
AMITABH BACHCHAN: “Yes, why not? If they can make ads, why can”t they make films? Both require the same skill. The only difference is that films are made on a larger canvas.”

Filmfare Online: Manoj Bajpai wasn”t doing too well recently; didn”t you feel it was a risk signing him?
AMITABH: “Manoj is an extremely talented actor and hits and flops are part and parcel of our profession. It has nothing to do with the actor’’s potential. Manoj has come up with a superb performance in the film.”

Filmfare Online:You are back with a bang. Was KBC the cause?
AMITABH: “Well, I repeat again, KBC did happen at the right time for me. I must admit that I was overwhelmed by the response the show has generated. It just goes to show how strong television as a medium is getting to be.”

” ”Aks” was meant to be slick. We tried to make something different. Irrespective of what our critics had to say, we are satisfied with our product.”

Filmfare Online: AB Corp – the new avatar of ABCL is also doing well. Are you in the clear?
AMITABH BACHCHAN: “I”m glad that I have been able to repay my debts. Believe me, with all that debt I was having sleepless nights. At the back of my mind I always has this guilty feeling. After clearing my debts, I”m in the clear. Only a small percent of the debt is remaining. We will clear it soon. AB Corp is alive again and rearing to go places

Filmfare Online: How to feel coming back to Kolkata? Do you still cherish the memories of this city?
AMITABH: “Nowhere else in the world do I get the kind of reaction I get in Kolkata. The city will remain very close to me. I”m overwhelmed by the kind of response I get here. I still remember vividly. After completing my studies in Delhi, I came to Kolkata looking for a job and the city welcomed me with open arms. The city is the same when I left 40 years ago to join movies. No other city reacts to me like this city does.”

Filmfare Online: Does the city react like this to you because you are superstar Amitabh Bachchan?
AMITABH: “I never believed in all this superstar and stuff. I have not done anything great to deserve this. I”m an ordinary man like any of you, but unfortunately I”m in a profession where you see things bigger than life. In our profession our image becomes larger than life. And it was the support of the people that made me what I am today.”

“Nowhere else in the world can I get the kind of reaction I get in Kolkata. The city will remain very close to me. I”m overwhelmed by the kind of response I get here.”

Filmfare Online: How do you react to your fans” plan of making a temple in your name?
AMITABH BACHCHAN: “When I was informed about their intentions I was shocked and at the same time embarrassed. I feel awkward to talk about it. But fans do all sorts of feats. For instance when I met with my accident and was struggling in hospital, there was this man from Baroda who came all the way walking backwards to Mumbai. He gave me parshad and went back the same way he came. This is an emotional outburst from fans and I accept it with all humility. But please don”t compare me with God.”

Filmfare Online: Just heard that you are donating the ”Aks” chair with which a song was picturised on you to your fans in Kolkata?
AMITABH: “That was fast. How did you find out? I”m still not aware about the details. They came and spoke to Rakesh about it.”

Filmfare Online: After the not-so-successful ”Aks”, will Rakesh Mehra still direct Jayaji, Abhishek and you in a film?
AMITABH: “Of course, the offer is still open. Rakesh is directing the three of us together. Rakesh is not alone responsible for the failure of the film. I was also involved in it; remember it was our production also. I”m not going to ditch him when it’’s time to face the brickbats.”

“I never believed all this superstar and stuff. I have not done anything great to deserve this. I”m an ordinary man like any of you, but unfortunately I”m in a profession where you see things bigger than life.”

Filmfare Online: What’’s the future plan of AB Corp now?
AMITABH: “After Rakesh Mehra, Mansoor Khan will be directing a film for us. It will be called ”Happy Deepawali”. The film will have Aamir Khan and Rani Mukherjee in the lead roles.”

Filmfare Online: Which are your forthcoming films?
AMITABH: “Right now I”m working in Karan Johar’’s ”Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham”, Vipul Shah’’s ”All the Best” (now renamed ”Aankhen”), Arjun Sajnani’’s ”Agnivarsha”, Sanjay Khan’’s ”Maryada Purshottam Ram”, and S Ramanathan’’s ”Zamanat”.