Abhishek Bachchan has often featured on the page of RadioSargam.com – in news stories, special features, reviews and more. However we’ve never truly featured a heart-to-heart with the talented actor…until now! Instead of asking him a load of boring pre-planned questions, we decided to give Abhishek the freedom to discuss anything and everything! In this exciting new column, he gives a fascinating insight into family life…

COLUMN: Abhishek Bachchan on his father

I’m often asked questions regarding my relationship with Mr Amitabh Bachchan. The answer has become customary. He’s primarily my father, which is his most important role in my life. He’s undoubtedly my hero too, but that’s his secondary role!

He’s always conducted himself like an ordinary parent at home, never allowing his work to accompany him home. This means our family has seldom reflected on his abilities in the same manner the entire world tries to interpret him. However I am Mr Bachchan’s greatest fan. I have watched all his films…over and over again! Of course I never enjoyed watching him getting beaten by anyone on screen. I think that’s natural because as a child you do not want your father being beaten by anyone. But it was pleasant to know that he would return home safely, out of harm’s way.

Its important to discuss the comparisons sometimes made between Mr Bachchan and myself. I don’t dream of parallels in front of the camera, otherwise I would never be able to perform accurately. Therefore I simply shut off and concentrate on work. Lets not forget Mr. Bachchan has reached the highest levels and remains the best. I know I am not the best, so why bother to even begin comparing?

My metamorphosis from an actor’s son to an actor has been very simple. There is a saying that a fish’s child need not know how to swim. I believe that somewhere down the line acting runs in my blood. I have grown up in this industry. Hence, it is not alien to me. I am quite used to the ways of this industry. I am very comfortable here. I would be at sea if I were doing something else. I have a marvellous support system, fantastic parents to counsel and prop me up.

If any choreographers wanted to portray me like dad, well maybe I might have danced like that in a few of my films. But there was no conscious effort from my side to do it like him. That would be demeaning his work. I am the son of my parents, so I am going to look like my parents. I hope to have some of their acting genes in me too.

I am not trying to play the brooding romantic that father used to play in his early days. At the moment, I do only whatever inspires me to act. That changes everyday. You get up in the morning and you want to play different emotions.

It’s nice that I am working with newcomers because we have all reached the exciting early stages of our careers. It is high time that fresh talent comes up in the industry. Let us see whether we can make a difference. I admit the Bachchan tag will continue to stick on forever. Certain people have even advised me to remove my surname and then just act as Abhishek. But I would never want to do that ever. Who doesn’t want to be related to Amitabh Bachchan and not flaunt it? Anyway, I am now scheduled to work with him. People have felt the jitters working along such a great actor…its not any different for me! Let’s see how I am able to work with him…

WRITTEN BY ABHISHEK BACHCHAN