TLI Staff
New Delhi: Amitabh Bachchan turns 77 today and wishes from fans and well-wishers from across the industry are pouring in for the megastar. Few days back, the actor’s name was announced for the biggest award of Indian Cinema-Dadasaheb Phalke award.
In a rare 1983 interview with BBC, a year after his Coolie accident, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan got candid about their personal life. At that time, Jaya was on a break from cinema to raise her two kids Abhishek and Shweta who were 7 and 9 respectively, while Amitabh’s career was at peak and he had just returned after doing a concert in London.
Jaya Bachchan was asked if she was planning to make a comeback to cinema. The actress said she could not as she had to take care of three children, leaving the host puzzled. Amitabh then quickly added that Jaya was referring to him as one of the kids.
Amitabh also shared how he finds it difficult to take out time for 7-year-old Abhishek and 9-year-old Shweta because of his hectic schedule but makes it a point to work out his dates in a manner that he is able to spend time with the kids during their vacation. Jaya then added that the kids are more influenced by Amitabh than her, in their manner of talking and doing things.
Back then Amitabh Bachchan was an action star and his films often came under the scanner for showing maar-dhaad. The host asked the actor that considering the instances of piracy are on the rise, how will his action flicks influence the kids who are watching these films at home.
Amitabh then talked about how pirated cassettes are impacting the overseas market as people don’t go to cinema halls anymore, adding that this trend is fast catching up in India also as such videos are being played in buses and video parlours.
The actor however said that Bollywood is not responsible for inciting violence as it is not the phenomenon of 20th century but prevalent since time memorial, giving the example of Mahabharata.
Amitabh said this is a challenge that we would have to face as with scientific progression children will be exposed to technology thanks to increasing influence of radio and TV, and it is not possible to stop this natural progression. The actor said that as far as his films are concerned, they (him and filmmakers) had to look at the commercial viability as it’s their rozi and an entire industry earns out of it.
Amitabh in the BBC interview had also thanked his parents, legendary poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and mother Teji Bachchan to lend a fusion touch to his personality considering the former was a writer and grounded while the latter hailed from a sophisticated family and was convent educated. The actor said he considered himself fortunate to be blessed with such parents who gave a balanced approach to his life.