DEMANDING ROLE: AMITABH BACHCHAN ON LATEST FILM
ACTING GREAT AMITABH BACHCHAN ON HIS DEMANDING ROLE IN NEW GULABO SITABO
IN HIS younger days, Amitabh Bachchan became the biggest commercial l Bollywood star in history, but in his s latter years, he has perhaps become the most versatile and delivered a range of roles never seen before by contemporaries.
The 77-year-old’s roles range from playing a 12-year-old with progeria in Paa (2009) to taking on the role of a 102-year-old in 102 Not Out
(2018). The legendary actor has transformed himself again for his new film Gulabo Sitabo
and looks unrecognisable in the Amazon Prime release. The comedy-drama sees him team up with ace director Shoojit Sircar again and their bond isis suchsuch ththat he immediately agreed to be partpart ofof Gulabo Gu Sitabo. “With Shoojit Sarkar, therethere isis nono narration as far as I am concerned.rned. HeHe justj comes over, shares a brief idea forfor aa fewfew minutesm and we are on! He decidescides forfor me; I just follow,” said Bachchan.
TheirTheir previous projects includeinclude super hit 2015 comedcomedy-drama Piku,
whichwhich won Bachchan a prestiprestigious National FilmFilm Award and not surpsurprisingly, he is full ofof ppraise for the filmmamaker. When asked whwhat sets Sircar apapart from his contemporaries and mmakes him a prominent storyteller, BachchanBac said: “His choice of subjectsjects andand his characters are grounded and fromfrom hishis observationob of everyday life. They areare realreal andan they are distinguishable to all thethe viewers.viewer The elements of that ‘slice of life’life’ thatthat hehe brings in, tell us how minutely hehe hashas obsobserved, lived and experienced thesethese lives.lives That is his genius.”
FolkFolk puppetspu local to Uttar Pradesh aboutabout ararguing rivals named Gulabo and SitaboSitabo ininspired the title of the film, along withwith thethe story of an elderly landlord and his tenant. It took Bachchan two to three hours to transform himself for a role he initially thought maybe too much of a challenge. “I thought how on earth am I going to do this role. I am still fretting its outcome,” he said smiling.
The actor doesn’t need to worry too much because the trailer has been met with a positive response. Early indications are that his role of Mirza will add to the many memorable characters he has played across his glittering 51-year career. “Each role is a challenge. Each night before the shoot is filled with anxiety and fear. Each day is a test of your capacity and capability. And when it’s over, each day is filled with the anticipation of audience reaction,” he said.
The actor stars opposite Ayushmann Khurrana in the film and although they didn’t spend a lot of time on set together, he is full of praise for his co-star, who is on an incredible run at the box office. Although he was the most senior member on set, the most memorable aspect of working on Gulabo Sitabo for Bachchan was watching and learning from his cast members and crew.
“The new generation is a prodigious talent that is filled with utmost confidence, and superior quality. Ayushmann Khurana is one of them and it has been a great joy to have been in his company.”
With more films on the way, India’s most beloved movie star isn’t done yet and will carry on entertaining audience for as long as possible.
Gulabo Sitabo is available on Amazon Prime
‘He decides for me; I just follow’