Big name on the small screen

From tinseldom to television, it is yet another successful sojourn for Amitabh Bachchan. A candid appraisal by the Big B, of everything from acting and quizzing to Abhishek and the AB Corporation. V. GANGADHAR writes...

THE SUN, once again, is shining on superstar Amitabh Bachchan. His recent crop of forgettable films like `Lal Badshah', `Hindustan ki Kasam' and `Mrityudatha' are now distant memories. Bachchan's unexpected debut in television as the host of Star TV channel's quiz show, `Kaun Banega Crorepati' has been quite spectacular. All activities in most parts of India come to a halt between 9 and 10 p.m. four days a week when 'crorepati' is on. Why, even cinema halls thin attendance.

In your media interviews you always underplayed your role as the hero in your successful films, attributing the success to the director, screenplay writer, cameraman and so on. This is not a fair assessment, I believe.

No, I mean what I say. In show business everything is well packaged. My costumes were not my own, so was the dialogue I was given to speak. I just had to put on my costume and deliver the dialogue. But I would like to believe that I was doing my best and making the audiences happy.

You are talking like the hero in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 'Guddi' which exposed the false glamour of film stars.

Why not? That film had the right message.

Normally, top movie stars keep away from the small screen, preferring to do only ads. What were the factors which made you accept the `crorepati' offer?

When the offer came, I was hesitant, apprehensive. I studied the format of the show and then found it exciting and novel. TV again was part of our entertainment world, and as an artiste I thought I could give it a go. I am happy at the progress and popularity of the show. You see, the `crorepati' format is copyrighted to the original, foreign show. There cannot be any changes. The basic rules, logos, music and sets have to be the same.

For years, you were Inspector Vijay or some other fictitious character in the world of movies. Now, on four days a week, you are Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, with light make-up, mixing with real people in the `crorepati' show. What is the impact of this change?

Oh, very exciting. Every episode of the show is different. Interacting with a live audience gives me great joy. I am happy seeing some of them win a lot of money. I am overwhelmed by their adulation particularly when I talk to them personally just before the `Phone a friend' lifeline.

There is some media criticism about the great Amitabh Bachchan agreeing to compere a show where the major motivation is greed and easy money.

That is not a fair criticism. The show is designed in such a way that it is impartial to all contestants. It offes chances to people to make money in a fair, legal and decent manner. Where is the question of greed? It is not a gamble either because the contestants do not have to invest any money.

There is a feeling that you try, subtly, to guide the contestants, particularly when they are doubtful about the correctness of their answers. Further, in quiz shows, there is a time limit to answer.

I play strictly according to the rules of the game. The contestants have to be reminded that whenever they are in doubt, they could use the three `lifelines'. I agree that because there is no time limit to answer, we are able to handle only two or three candidates per session. But then these are the rules. As for the criticism that the questions are too easy and too much money is given away, don't forget there is a catch. Unlike other quiz shows, one mistake here, and you are out.

Can't the shows be made live? Recently we had this experience of a candidate winning the jackpot, featured all over the media, even before we saw him on the TV screen.

Live presentation is not possible because of various reasons. We tried to keep the identity of the `crorepati' a secret, but it got leaked out. There are so many people involved in the show, including the live audience and such a secret could not be guarded.

Since `crorepati' had created clones, competition is coming up. Are you geared for the competition? Anupam Kher is going to host the Zee quiz show which is offering prizes worth Rs. 10 crores. Would you rather have Kher host a rival show than, for instance, the glamorous Madhuri Dixit?

Oh, come on, this is a free world and anyone can come out with another quiz show. Anyone can try doing what we are doing. In the film world too there is competition. Films starring different stars can be released at the same time. That is also competition.

Why is it only celebrity film stars are sought to host these shows?

You have to ask the producers. The choice is left to them. But you will agree that film stars and celebrities have a large following. When a celebrity is roped in for a show, the initial draw is assured. I would not disagree with TV channels opting for film stars and other celebrities for hosting their shows.

Today, it is `quiz show' time. Where are the chat shows? They were so popular till recently.

I think the current focus on quiz shows is due to the success of `crorepati'. It is a cycle, I guess, but I am sure chat shows will come back. They have a tried and trusted place in TV. I have been approached with offers for chat shows.

How long will you continue with the show? There are rumours of offers from other TV producers for similar shows.

Initially, I was to do 136 episodes of `crorepati' for STAR TV but now I may go beyond that figure. Yes, there have been offers from other producers, but for the present I am firmly committed to STAR TV. As for the continued popularity of the show, I cannot say anything. You should ask the TV analysts.

Tell me something about the movies you are doing currently. Are the roles better than those you handled recently?

Well, I have six or seven movies on the floor currently. Yash Chopra's `Mohabbatien' is being released on the 27th. AB Corporation has plans for three films, one of them will feature me with my son Abhishek. Another film `Aks' is directed by Rakesh Mehra who has handled some of my ad campaigns. I am also in Karan Johar's `Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham' which has a large star cast. Two of my forthcoming movies will be directed by Sunil Darshan and Vipul Shah who has experience on the Gujarati stage. Oh, yes, there is also a David Dhawan film. I find it exciting to work with these young, innovative directors. The old order is changing.

Why did most of your recent films fail? Were you depressed by the failure?

One cannot achieve success with every film. Audiences can be unpredictable. The failure could be due to bad script, bad characterisation. All this is part of a learning process.

I think the late Sanjeev Kumar was more closely identified as the common man's hero. But you were identified in your movies as someone larger than life.

That is an interesting conclusion. In many of my earlier films, I did larger than life roles, I mean, performing impossible feats, fighting heavy odds and winning. That perhaps created the image. The audiences were perhaps taken in. Just like the kids, believing in the super hero concept and trying to take off from the balconies.

Do you agree that the Hindi film industry seldom exploited your comic potential? You were so good in comedies like `Chupke Chupke' and `Amar Akbar Antony'.

That is not true, I think I handled enough roles which had the comic spirit. Genuine comedy is rare in India. Hindi films are still in the slapstick, in the `nautanki' , `Ramlila' kind of loud and exaggerated comedy age. We need an educated society to appreciate subtle, sophisticated comedy.

Are we ready for films like Deepa Mehta's `Water' and `Fire' dealing with controversial themes? Some sections of our society are quite intolerant to such films.

People who exhibit strong likes and dislikes on such controversial themes are fewer than the more tolerant ones. But anyone can create mischief in India. If the intellectual elite wants to express its views on social issues, why can't it? Such films are different from commercial cinema but there should be place for both. They do co-exist in other parts of the world, don't they?

Your son did a good job in `Refugee' but his other films have not clicked. Critics complain that consciously or otherwise, he is trying to ape you.

I think that is an unfair conclusion. Abhishek does carry my name which attracts more media attention. Most Hindi films are of an escapist nature and there will be some kind of similarity in approach. It is tough for an actor working in such an environment to be completely original. Any newcomer will try to follow certain techniques adopted by senior actors. This happens with every generation. There have been actors who tried to follow the Dilip Kumar style, the Dev Anand style and so on, till they established their own identity. I think it is too early to pass judgement on Abhishek.

Jaya Bachchan has now made a name for herself on the stage. Is she a more natural performer?

Jaya always favoured a more realistic approach in her film career. She got some realistic, natural roles which offered her a base to establish her own identity. She did not have to play a police officer who would beat up 40 goondas single-handed!

Let us come to politics. I guess you are out of active politics.

Yes, certainly. It is due to my inability to cope with it.

Yet you have close friends in politics. I mean people like Amar Singh. You are also close to the Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray, who, clearly does not believe in our secular concept.

Amar's family and ours have been close for several years, even before I entered politics. Amar Singh is like my younger brother. My friendship with Balasaheb Thackeray is on a personal level, it has nothing to do with the Shiv Sena. He has been supportive of the film industry. I will be friendly with anyone who has the same attitude.

The Hindi film industry, all along, had a secular image. But today we see top stars becoming members of the BJP and other communal bodies. Is the secular image cracking up?

The Indian Constitution provides one with the freedom of being a member of any political group. Acting is a profession, but an actor can follow any political ideology. The Hindi film industry will and continue to be secular.

You have received intense admiration and love from the people. But at times, there has been hostility too, like the time AB Corporation organised the `Miss World' contest at Bangalore. How did the pendulum swing so much from one side to the other?

That is part of life, something celebrities have to live with. Celebrities make great copy in the media, particularly any thing negative about them. There are so many unknown factors about the 'Miss World' contest. Do you know, the day after the contest, one of the local organisations held a `Miss Lingerie' show which passed off without any criticism or trouble.

What is the future of AB Corporation?

AB Corporation was and still is a fine vision. It is based on a firm, hopeful concept. Perhaps, its focus on the entertainment industry was a little ahead of its time. There was a bit of mismanagement too because not many people in those days understood the concept of entertainment industry. We are now starting afresh, and I hope things will work out better.

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