Will Amitabh Bachchan go bald for ‘Shantaram’?
22nd Aug 2007 19.45 IST
By Aparajita Ghosh

Mira Nair is trying to do something that no filmmaker in Bollywood has managed so far.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra could not convince Amitabh Bachchan to grow a real beard for Eklavya and hence a false one was used. But Mira Nair might just convince the superstar to go bald for her movie Shantaram .

Based on a famous book of the same title by Gregory David Roberts, ‘Shantaram’ tells the story of an escaped Australian convict who travels through continents and ends up in Mumbai’s underworld.

While Hollywood star Johnny Depp will play the lead role, Amitabh Bachchan has already been signed to play the role of underworld don Kader Bhai.

Reports say Mira Nair is eager to have a bald looking don in the film and has asked Mr. Bachchan to shave his head before the film’s shooting begins.

It is still not confirmed whether Big B has agreed to go bald. If he does so, it will be the first time he would shave his head for a role. Also, it would be difficult for him to shoot for other Bollywood films in his new look.

The film’s shooting is likely to begin before this yearend. It will be shot in Australia, India and China.

Another actor who is set to go bald is Aamir Khan who will shave his pate for the Hindi remake of Ghajini .