Mumbai: Actor Abhishek Bachchan is effusive in his praise for co-star Aishwarya Rai's work in Umrao Jaan. The film is an out-and-out Aishwarya film and he is just a small player in it, he says.
“Umrao Jaan is about Aishwarya's character. It's her movie. I'm one of the small players in the film. She's a very capable artist and someone who can shoulder an entire film. She's done a fantastic job in Umrao Jaan. I've worked with her earlier also but this is truly her best work so far," Abhishek said.
But he adds that irrespective of the length of his role, Umrao Jaan was a challenge for him.
"The film was a special challenge because there was no ready reference-point for the era that we were working on. We had to rely totally on the research done by JP saab, which was very thorough. The language, body language, everything was entirely different from the way we conduct ourselves today,” Abhishek added.
Talking about his character in Mani Ratnam's Guru, Abhishek said, "Well he isn't a poet and nawab as in Umrao Jaan nor a cool cop as in Dhoom 2. It's about a character who dares to dream”.
Excerpts from an interview:
Subhash K Jha: Another era, another milieu with poetry, music, romance. What was it like to be a part of Umrao Jaan?
Abhishek Bachchan: I've never done anything like this before. Umrao Jaan is my first period film. I was suddenly transported into this world, which is completely poetic and lyrical and so very different from what I've been doing so far. I'm so lucky to be an actor. I get to go into places and eras that I have never gone.
Umrao Jaan was a challenge because there was no ready reference point for the era that we were working on. We had to rely totally on the research done by JP saab. The language, body language - everything was entirely different from the way we conduct ourselves today.
Subhash K Jha: What should the audience expect from Umrao Jaan?
Abhishek Bachchan: Well, it's the story of the courtesan Umrao Jaan played by Aishwarya Rai. So there's plenty of dancing. But it's also a very emotional and dramatic story. I see it as a cluster-breaker. In today's day and age, when whatever we see in cinema is contemporary it's nice to reclaim such a glorious era.
Subhash K Jha: Would you say Aishwarya supports your performance in Guru, as you support hers in Umrao Jaan?
Abhishek Bachchan: No, every character is equally important in every film. I cannot support her character. Umrao Jaan is about her character. It's Aishwarya's movie. I'm one of the small players in the film. I don't think Aishwarya requires any support from me.
She's a very capable artist and someone who can shoulder an entire film. She's done a fantastic job in Umrao Jaan. I've worked with her earlier but this is truly her best work so far.
Subhash K Jha: What about her dances?
Abhishek Bachchan: She's a wonderful dancer. I believe she is classically trained. What better opportunity for her to display her dancing skills than to play a courtesan?
PAGE_BREAK
Subhash K Jha: And what better experience than to sit and watch Aishwarya dancing?
Abhishek Bachchan: Well, I wasn't there all the time when she was dancing. A lot of my shots were taken separately. Unfortunately, my father was in the hospital when the first schedule of Umrao Jaan was held. They very sweetly waited for me in Jaipur. I did my work only when I arrived three weeks into the schedule. And no one can tell the difference. That's the magic of JP saab's cinema.
Subhash K Jha: Even Mani Ratnam's Guru takes you into another era?
Abhishek Bachchan: True. It isn't set in contemporary times. Guru starts in the 1950s. It's fascinating to live through a time when I wasn't around and a time that I haven't personally experienced. The dress code, the behaviour, everything is so fascinating.
Subhash K Jha: A tumble of three big releases before the year ends. Nervous?
Abhishek Bachchan: Every film is a responsibility. For me every film is a major release and to that extent every release is a challenge. The rest is up to God and the audience. These are very exciting times for our cinema. Diverse films are being made.
People have accepted Rang De Basanti, Fanaa, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Lage Raho Munnabhai during the same year. And the fact that I am an actor during such exciting times is a blessing.
Subhash K Jha: After Umrao Jaan, a culture shock for audiences in Dhoom 2?
Abhishek Bachchan: I don't think audiences go with pre-conceived notions into any movie. For them, every movie - Umrao Jaan or Dhoom 2 - is a different experience. Yes, there're huge expectations from audiences, as there ought to be. That's what pushes filmmakers to work harder.
Subhash K Jha: You don't seem to be caught in the image trap.
Abhishek Bachchan: Yes, I suppose Umrao Jaan is as different from Guru as they both are from Dhoom 2. Audiences will get bored if I keep doing the same thing repeatedly. They expect variety from all actors. One can't be bothered with the image. I feel if you adhere to an image, you aren't submitting to the film.
Subhash K Jha: Well your father was bound by the image of an 'angry young man'.
Abhishek Bachchan: I totally disagree with you. For every Deewaar, he did a Chupke Chupke as well. For every Kabhi Kabhie there was an Amar Akbar Anthony. I don't think there has ever been a more versatile actor than my father. People just chose to highlight one aspect of his work.
Subhash K Jha: How would you describe your role in Guru?
Abhishek Bachchan: Well, he isn't a poet and nawab as in Umrao Jaan, nor a cool cop as in Dhoom 2. Gurukant Desai is a unique character, an achiever who has the brains, luck and a diligence to achieve his dreams. It's about a character who dares to dream.
Guru is totally different from both Umrao Jaan and Dhoom 2. I know many actors who'd die for the opportunity to work with either JP saab or Mani Ratnam. I got to work with both during the same year. I'm thankful to be in their films.
Subhash K Jha: Compare Dutta and Ratnam.
Abhishek Bachchan: It's amazing how different the two directors are. JP saab is very spontaneous while Mani carefully plans every shoot. But both know exactly what they want. I owe a lot to these two directors. I've come out as enriched from Umrao Jaan and Guru as I did in my earlier films with them, namely Refugee and Yuva.
Comments
0 comment