‘THERE WAS A BIT OF FEAR’

Abhishek Bachchan, who went on a twoyearlong break, says taking a sabbatical was ‘the right thing to do’; adds a sense of complacency was starting to set in his work

Prashant Singh H e was last seen on the big screen over two years back in Housefull 3 (2016). After that, Abhishek Bachchan quietly went on a self-imposed sabbatical. But now, he is “raring to go”, starting with Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyaan. “For me, the difference [after the break] was more internal. I felt a lot more focused,” says Abhishek, as he opens up about his life, reason behind the break, his new film, and more.

Where have you been?

I have been around (smiles). I just took a bit of a break or sabbatical. But here I am, back with Manmarziyaan. I am really excited and happy with the way it has shaped up. I’m raring to go [as an actor] again.

Why the break, especially in the middle of your career? Did it help?

Yes, absolutely. It came very naturally to me. I thought it was time to take a break, reevaluate and reassess what I was doing and how I was doing it. It was something that I had been thinking about for a long time. Then, one day, I finally took the plunge and I am happy I did. I think somewhere, a sense of complacency was starting to set in my work and I didn’t want that because I didn’t like it.

Do you think such a break can give a push to your journey as well as longevity as an actor?

Absolutely! I don’t know about the longevity part but it’s about how you want to take your journey forward, how you see yourself working, and what kind of work you want to do. When you went for the break, did you not think about the cutthroat competition around and how such a break can have an adverse effect? I was feeling all these things while I was working. So, I was quite sure that this is

Getting an opportunity to make movies and being a part of them is a gift. You should never take that lightly and must be thankful for that all the time. ABHISHEK BACHCHAN, ACTOR

absolutely the right decision. When I actually stopped working, I had already made up my mind that this is what I need to do. Interestingly, when I started shooting for Manmarziyaan, I knew that decision was the right one because I could see and feel the positive influence of that break on my work. The kind of reactions we all got for the trailer proved to be a great validation that this was the right thing to do. Yes, there was a bit of trepidation and fear whether it’s the right thing to do. But the clear knowledge that this is something that I absolutely need to do, and the confidence that I would be able to carry on after a while and pick up things [from where I left off], was a lot stronger.

You have completed almost two decades in the industry (debuted with Refugee; 2000). How has the journey been?

Someone recently asked me, ‘oh, it’s been 18 years’ but I was like, ‘it doesn’t feel like that long’. It still feels like we are all newcomers. There’s the same exuberance, energy as well as enthusiasm. I just feel extremely happy and blessed. I think you have to realise that getting an opportunity to make movies and being a part of them is a gift. You should never take that lightly and must be thankful for that all the time.

In Manmarziyaan, you play a Sikh but not many know that

your grandmother was also a Sikh. It must be a great feeling.

Of course! My grandmother [Teji Bachchan] was a Sikhni and I am sure she would have loved to see me like this. I hope she is smiling down from the heavens, seeing her grandson [play a Sikh].