Junior B on confession mode

The Sarkar Raj doesn’t go unnoticed when it comes to endorsements.

And much like Pa, beta Bachchan too is slowly proving to be a Guru in terms of his brand worth. While the offerings on the platter might be many, Abhishek is hardly the kind to be swayed by quantity.

“I am VERY selective when it comes to endorsements,” stresses Bachchan Junior, adding, “When a brand approaches me, it’s important to know what the company stands for. ‘Would I use the product?’ I ask myself, as I like to take it deeper than just a brand.”
Perhaps it is this professionalism that compels directors and producers to rope in brand Bachchan for their projects. With a household of working professionals, it surely must be tough managing family time. Abhishek clarifies, “Because our profession keeps us apart, any opportunity to work together is enjoyable. Like for Raavan, Aishwarya and I got to spend some time together and Paa enabled me to spend cherished moments with dad.”

One wonders if getting to work with family might be a criterion for Abhishek’s zeroing in on projects and the actor firmly states, “That’s not a decisive factor at all. The cast is not in my hands. I’ve never chosen a film because my family member is in it.”

Point taken. Coming back to more on him and dad, Bachchan Jr confirms that he is the “Paa in the film” (Baalki’s Paa). “Dad is brilliant in the film,” he proudly confesses. But with him being Paa’s Pa, did he get to bully dad during the shoot? Abhishek breaks into a naughty smile as he reveals, “Oh yes, I got the opportunity, in front of the camera, though. As soon as Baalki said ‘cut’, I had to come out of it.” And giving a further peek into his witty self, the junior Bachchan continues, “I was asked a few minutes back when Aishwarya and I plan to have kids. I told the person, ‘Currently, we have only one kid in the family and that’s a lot’”.

With a lot of ink having been spent over Mani Ratnam’s prolonged Raavan shooting, talk naturally veers to his experience of shooting with the director. Acknowledging Mani Ratnam’s credibility, Abhishek adds, “Raavan has been demanding and challenging both physically and emotionally. But with a Mani Ratnam, you always know that the project is going to be something special.”

What’s also special is Abhishek’s venture with Ashutosh Gowariker. “I play Surya Sen in the film. We will be shooting for the same in Goa and not in Kolkata,” the actor reveals, while adding that he has already done extensive research on the character he plays.

Interestingly, Dostana 2 is also in Abhishek’s kitty apart from a few other ventures. “But I was very much against the making of Dostana 2. I felt that once you have made such a film, you should just let it be. But Tarun (Mansukhani) finally convinced me,” Abhishek owns up.

With a family of actors, which Fridays are the most nerve-racking? Is it the day of the week his films release or when a release of a family member is scheduled? “Fridays can make or break,” agrees Abhishek, adding that as an actor, one comprehends the effort that goes in. “Now that one of dad’s film is going to hit theatres, I want it to do well. Also, it’s by a friend and has Sanjay Dutt and Ritiesh, who are no less my brothers.”