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Don't call me Dr Bachchan: Big B

None | ByDiganta Guha/ HT City, Kolkata
Jul 31, 2006 05:12 PM IST

"For me Dr Bachchan means Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan," Big B tells Diganta Guha.

An honorary doctorate from De Montford University, Leicester. Plenty of films in 2006. Amitabh Bachchan is rocking. HT City caught up with him on his forthcoming release Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (August 11) and the doctorate.

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What does the doctorate mean to you?
The doctorate is really an acknowledgement of the presence of the Indian Cinema universally. This is not some personal achievement for me. I am humbled and grateful for this recognition, but the credit really must go to the film fraternity of India of which I am a small part, and to the greatness of our wonderful country, India. For me Dr Bachchan means...Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan!!!! 

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Your forthcoming release is Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna with Karan Johar. The buzz is you play quite a colourful character in the film. Please elaborate. 
Yes, the character is colourful, but his heart and emotions are basic and very black and white. He has a love for life, is a widower, and shares a relationship with his son, which is more of a friend than anything else. He shares and does everything above board, and in many respects, surprisingly is the saner voice of dignity in the proceedings of the story.

Amitabh Bachchan speaks highly of Karan Johar as a director.

This is Karan's first take on extra-marital affair. How would you assess


Karan's growth as a filmmaker? 


Yes it is and his conception and growth as a maker, belies his age. The kind of maturity that he has exercised is exemplary. It will prove once and for all that behind all that comic book sweetness of bubble gum romantism there is a sombre and deeper thinking individual, capable beyond word, of great belief and thought and of understanding quite remarkably the sensitivities of modern human existence.

Abhishek and you play father and son in the film once again after Sarkar? Is the relationship on screen similar to what the two of you share in real life (you are the best of friends)? 
This is a veiled question and somewhat unfair if I might say so. Garbing it in the context of the story of the film, gives you an opportunity to discover a personal aspect, which, I daresay, most individuals would not want to part with. Having said that, I do believe your question comes from a certain voluntary disclosure on my part from some earlier confessions that I have made public. The honest answer, therefore would be, Yes to some extent. But you would only be able to appreciate this answer, once you see the film.

After Kajra re, you are doing another special song sequence with Abhishek in KANK. Do you enjoy doing these numbers? 
Yes..!! But its one helluva job keeping up with him..!!

An interesting aspect of your films this year is the unusual romantic
angles you have with your leading ladies in Nishabd  and Cheeni Kum. Is this a new way of satisfying your appetite as an actor? 
No it’s not..!! It’s a very concerted and determined effort to get
another job; an entity fast disappearing from my horizon..!!!

Farhan Akhtar is remaking Don. Do you think remakes stand a chance in our industry going by the fact that the originals are huge hits? 
Yes, why not..

Is there any film of yours which you would like to be remade and if so why?
I am not a filmmaker, so this is something that I cannot answer. I have
no objections however to being associated with a project which is a remake…

Tusshar may be in Farz, Fardeen in Qurbani, do you think it's a good idea for sons to be cast in roles originally played by their father? If Abhishek were offered a similar thing (as it seems to be the season for remakes) what would your reaction be? 
No problems at all…

Finally, what next for Dr Amitabh Bachchan? Are you doing Deepa Mehta's next film?
It’s, Mr Amitabh Bachchan.. !! If you want to get formal. And yes
Deepa Mehta and I have talked but nothing further.

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