Amitabh Bachchan: I will try and work till my last breath

“It is my wish that I will try and work till my last breath,” Amitabh Bachchan reflected, on his 71st birthday on Friday, October 11.

The superstar had invited the press to his home, Janak, in the posh western suburb of Juhu in Mumbai.

Watch the video here.

His popularity is still raging high.

“Since morning I have been meeting people who love me. I thank all the people who have sent me their good wishes. My life is accomplished and peaceful because of the love of all my fans. My family and I thank the media for supporting us for the last 45 years,” he said.

He likes to celebrate his birthday with his family, he said, and this time they were all there. Son Abhishek was in New York, but had just landed in Mumbai and would be home soon.

Talking about the latest addition to the family, granddaughter Aaradhya, the fond grandpa said, “Aaradhya was singing the Happy Birthday song which her mother (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) taught her. She thought it was her birthday so she was singing it with her name in it!”

He said he had spent some time in his first home Prateeksha that morning, which is where his parents lived when they were alive. “Maa-Babuji are there and I can take their blessings.”

On meeting Salman Khan on the sets of Jai Ho: “I meet Salman often when we are shooting. It is nothing big. That day also he was shooting close by. I heard he was not feeling well so I asked him about his health.”

When he turned 70 last year, there was a huge party, but there’s no sign of one this year.

“I feel every year is important. Last year there was a huge celebration but it is not possible to have such a huge celebration every year,” he reasoned.

He spoke of the hot topic of the moment-cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar declaring his retirement.

“When I heard about Sachin’s retirement, I felt the heart of India has stopped working for a while. But it also felt that the heart of Indian cricket stopped forever.

“I don’t have words to praise him or express about him. He has been a phenomenal athlete, not just excelling himself in the game that he plays, but he has become a symbol of great excellence for the country.

“For him to retire from this is just unimaginable. We cannot imagine cricket will be the same without him.

“But we wish him all the very best. He has served the country for so many years and he has created so unbelievable a record that perhaps never ever will it be matched by any other individual.”

Amitabh Bachchan’s next film is Bhootnath Returns and then 102 Not Out.

“I will be doing 102 Not Out next. It is Umesh Shuklaji’s story. It is been produced by T-series. It will go on the floors next year. It will also have Paresh Rawal.”

Bhootnath Returns will be completed by January.

On a more serious note he said, “Today is also international day for the girl child. There is an organisation called Plan India which works for the betterment of the girl child. If you see today’s Kaun Banega Crorepati episode (which he hosts on television), you will see girls from the organisation come on the sets and give me gifts.

“I have always wanted to work for the good of these girls and to spread their viewpoints and understand them better.

“I feel women are the power of any country. They should be honoured and respected. In our small way we are trying to encourage them.”

After spending 45 years in the industry, the veteran actor has obviously seen many changes. But he accepts them gracefully.

“With time everything changes and you have to change accordingly. In our film industry technology has changed and people have changed, new actors have come. With time the old generation should move aside and give a chance to the new generation.

“I am very happy with the new generation. I always wish them well and bless them when I see their work. I think I am blessed because I get the opportunity to work with the new generation too. All my good wishes are with them.”

Time has moved on in his personal life too. “In my personal life as time is moving on I am turning old. My hair and beard have become white now.”

The spirit, though, seems to be as strong as ever.

On his birthday, Bachchan announced a trust that he set up in the name of his father, the distinguished poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, which will make a donation to the Urja Foundation which supplies solar power to villages.

“I want to announce that we will supply solar energy to 3,000 houses in Indian villages where electricity supply is not possible. We will start the work in November and through solar energy there will be light in their houses.”

The eco-friendly project will be free of cost to the villagers.

The initiative is supported by United Nations India Centre (UNIC) and Blue Dart. Each villager will receive two lights, one portable light, a battery charger and a mobile charger.

“I am happy that we announced this initiative through the trust that we started in Babuji’s name. We keep helping people through the trust,” Amitabh said.