After the International Film Festival of India came to a close in Goa, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh claimed that the Congress had conspired to keep Amitabh Bachchan away from IFFI, thereby insulting the superstar.
On the day Amitabh was hospitalised (November 28), I spoke to the star.
"There's no reason to let this incident escalate into a controversy," he said. "What happened is very simple. Goa Chief Minister Pratap Singh Rane asked me to be there. I readily agreed. He then sent another letter informing me that my presence wasn't required. I said, fine. Main to ek rank hoon [I'm a beggar]. I'll do whatever I'm asked to. If I'm asked to be at a venue, I will. If I'm asked not to, I won't. As simple as that."
Speculation has been rife on the political motives behind Bachchan's eleventh-hour absence from the inauguration of IFFI.
Amitabh said he wanted to be in Goa during the festival for personal reasons. "Andre Timmins of Whizcraft, who organised the events at the festival, is a friend. He requested me to be there, and I can't say no to a friend. Besides, AB Corp's film Antarmahal was a part of the festival. Sanjay Bhansali's Black was in the panorama section. My forthcoming film Ek Ajnabee was being screened. Also, a retrospective of Hrishida's [Mukherjee] cinema was held. I had the honour of being in at least two or three films in Hrishida's retro. All put together, my presence at the festival was perfectly valid.
"A section of the press reported that Jaya [Amitabh's wife] and Abhishek [his son] are annoyed about what happened in Goa. Nothing happened. And why should they be annoyed? On the contrary, I'm going back to Goa on December 2 to join the festival for the French section. The French ambassador has invited me. Hopefully, he won't change his mind."
Unfortunately, Amitabh was hospitalised.
Amitabh also talked about his upcoming release, Ek Ajnabee. "At this age, I get to sport different looks, play different characters and work with different co-stars. My co-star in Ek Ajnabee is a remarkably talented girl named Rucha Vaidya. I play a senior citizen, so I can't have a young starlet opposite me. It was a little girl in Black and now again in Ek Ajnabee. Both Ayesha Kapoor in Black and Rucha are dedicated and marvelous. Director Apoorva Lakhia is a very close friend of Abhishek. He's a very competent director. I hope for his sake that Ek Ajnabee works. We completed the film in one 35-day schedule in Bangkok. That's remarkable. For an actor, it's a blessing to work with productions that are as well-organised as Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Eklavya, Apoorva's Ek Ajnabee and Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna."
About Johar's KANK, he said, "This is my second film with Karan. Most of my work is over. We have one more schedule in January. It's a mature subject. It was nice to have Abhishek with me again. We play father and son once more after Sarkar. Karan's is a very organised production unit. He never gets on the floors until he's absolutely sure. Now that his father is no more, I think Karan wanted to make doubly sure nothing was out of place. His mother was in New York with us throughout. We were very well looked after."
AB described KANK as a story of marital relationships. "I play adviser and friend to Abhishek. We have been seen earlier in Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar. Karan takes us into a different territory."
Amitabh has also signed Balakrishnan's love story, opposite Tabu. The film has an unusual name -- Cheeni Kam.
"Like chai mein cheeni kam [less sugar in the tea]," Amitabh explains. "This is Balkrishnan's first film."
