Amitabh Bachchan is turning 70 on October 11
Mumbai:
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is turning 70 on October 11 and film director R Balki, who has deliveredhits like Cheeni Kum and national award winning Paa withBig B, describes the Bollywood legend as a once in a lifetimeactor.
Balki also feels that Indian cinema is living a specialmoment with the veteran actor."He is once in a lifetime actor and the best way torespect and be friendly.. and love him would be to continueadoring him," Balki told PTI.
The ad filmmaker feels that such a multi-talented actoris a rarity. "He is an icon. We are fortunate enough to be livingin an era where people like him are there. And I don't thinkone will get to see another Amitabh Bachchan in the next 100years. I don't think it can happen," Balki added.
"Besides his talent, hard work the personality and hisacting skills is a difficult combination to get all together.It is a special moment in Bollywood in which we are living. Heis the heritage monument of India," he said.But there are certain things that Balki dislikes in the69-year-old actor.
"The dislike part is he does not drink and smoke, so Ican't smoke in front of him. I like everything about him - theway he conducts himself, his wit and humour, his genuinety,hisintelligence and his commitment and love for acting," he said.After working with him in several ads and three films,Balki feels it's always an honour to work with an actor of hisstature.Balki directed Bachchan and Tabu in Cheeni Kum(2007)where a 34-year-old falls in love with a sixty-plus man. WhilePaa (2009) saw the senior playing the role of a childsuffering from progeria.
Also, in wife Gauri Shinde's directorial debut film,English Vinglish, Bachchan is seen in a cameo role. Balkiwas the co-producer of this film."I think it is an honour to work with him. As long as heis ok and doing films with me I am privileged. He is anabsolute amazing actor. I don't think so there are anyfilmmakers who don't want to work with him," Balki said.
"He does provide his inputs, suggestions. But he willnever force his point of view," he added.Balki is working on another project which will starBachchan.
"I would not do a film with him if it does not suit him.Fortunately, the ideas that we have worked upon till now werefor him.. There is another idea that I have for him and Ithink he will be best for that (film)," he said.
"He is the biggest motivating force in filmmaking. Themoment I have an idea I tell him and if he likes it he agrees.I did not have to convince him, he got convinced by thesubject of the films that we have worked on till date," headded.
Big B is one such actor who has a huge fan following notonly among the older generation but also the younger lot. And Balki is no different from anyone and he admits thathe is the biggest fan of the great actor.
"I am his huge fan and that is the biggest relation Ithink I can have with him. I think it would be presumptuous tocall him a friend, I would be over exaggerating, I think itwould be like disrespecting him," he said.
And now that Bachchan is turning a year older on October11, Balki feels the actor is still like a 40-year-old."He is bull shitting about his age... For me he is just40-year-old. He is lying. I think his energy is superb. Hedoes not look or behave like a 70-year-old man, he is socool," he said.
Balki also feels that Indian cinema is living a specialmoment with the veteran actor."He is once in a lifetime actor and the best way torespect and be friendly.. and love him would be to continueadoring him," Balki told PTI.
The ad filmmaker feels that such a multi-talented actoris a rarity. "He is an icon. We are fortunate enough to be livingin an era where people like him are there. And I don't thinkone will get to see another Amitabh Bachchan in the next 100years. I don't think it can happen," Balki added.
"Besides his talent, hard work the personality and hisacting skills is a difficult combination to get all together.It is a special moment in Bollywood in which we are living. Heis the heritage monument of India," he said.But there are certain things that Balki dislikes in the69-year-old actor.
"The dislike part is he does not drink and smoke, so Ican't smoke in front of him. I like everything about him - theway he conducts himself, his wit and humour, his genuinety,hisintelligence and his commitment and love for acting," he said.After working with him in several ads and three films,Balki feels it's always an honour to work with an actor of hisstature.Balki directed Bachchan and Tabu in Cheeni Kum(2007)where a 34-year-old falls in love with a sixty-plus man. WhilePaa (2009) saw the senior playing the role of a childsuffering from progeria.
Also, in wife Gauri Shinde's directorial debut film,English Vinglish, Bachchan is seen in a cameo role. Balkiwas the co-producer of this film."I think it is an honour to work with him. As long as heis ok and doing films with me I am privileged. He is anabsolute amazing actor. I don't think so there are anyfilmmakers who don't want to work with him," Balki said.
"He does provide his inputs, suggestions. But he willnever force his point of view," he added.Balki is working on another project which will starBachchan.
"I would not do a film with him if it does not suit him.Fortunately, the ideas that we have worked upon till now werefor him.. There is another idea that I have for him and Ithink he will be best for that (film)," he said.
"He is the biggest motivating force in filmmaking. Themoment I have an idea I tell him and if he likes it he agrees.I did not have to convince him, he got convinced by thesubject of the films that we have worked on till date," headded.
Big B is one such actor who has a huge fan following notonly among the older generation but also the younger lot. And Balki is no different from anyone and he admits thathe is the biggest fan of the great actor.
"I am his huge fan and that is the biggest relation Ithink I can have with him. I think it would be presumptuous tocall him a friend, I would be over exaggerating, I think itwould be like disrespecting him," he said.
And now that Bachchan is turning a year older on October11, Balki feels the actor is still like a 40-year-old."He is bull shitting about his age... For me he is just40-year-old. He is lying. I think his energy is superb. Hedoes not look or behave like a 70-year-old man, he is socool," he said.
