Amitabh: I just want to be alive

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan turns 64 today. But while the entire nation celebrates this special day, for Amitabh, October 11 is just another work day.

Subhash K Jha talks to the Big B about his birthday plans.

What are you doing for your birthday today?

Why? It's like any other day. It'll be work, work and work. I'll be shooting for Kaun Banega Crorepati. In the evening, I'll come home and spend time with my family, which I hardly get to do these days.

 Wish Amitabh Bachchan!

Your 60th birthday bash is still being talked about.

That was because Jaya (Bachchan) thought turning 60 was some kind of a benchmark. She said we've to celebrate it. I said, 'Bhaiyya main kuch nahin karne wala hoon. Aap jahan kahenge main chala jaoonga.'

My family, Amar Singhji and Anil Ambani had organised everything. Hamare Hindu calendar mein 60th year auspicious mana jata hai. I don't know how far it's true. But a man is supposed to grow wise at 60. The 64th birthday is just another day.

You've just shot for Eklavya with Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

Vinod Chopra is very passionate about his work. He's meticulous to the point that the birds must fly in the correct direction, cloud formation must be just so...

He manages everything. Sanjay Bhansali had worked with him for seven years, so now I know where Sanjay got his penchant for perfection. Vinod wanted to work with me ever since he came out of the Pune institute. We keep discussing scripts but it never worked out until now.

We had a great time. Vidya Balan is a great artiste. She has magic in her face amd incredible presence. When she appears onscreen, you don't want to watch anyone else. She's a breath of fresh air in the industry.

Yes. Eklavya is set in Rajasthan. There's intrigue and enigma in the film. Just before this, I shot with Apoorva Lakhiya for Ek Ajnabee in Bangkok. Apoorva has shot some great stuff. He has edited the material in a very novel fashion. There's a new style of presenting the scene. It's just about two hours long, and does not have actors singing onscreen.

Rajasthan provided the natural beauty that Vinod wanted. He has laboured for months to make each hair on my beard look correct. I went to Rajasthan for Reshma Aur Shera, Lal Badshah and Khuda Gawah. It felt good to return there.

Your co-star in Ek Ajnabee is a little girl.

Yes. Such unexpected partnering is possible because I'm 64. The leading men are constrained. They always have to be good looking, have to smash the villain and win the girl. I'm liberated from such constraints. I don't have to do these things any more. That's the most amazing gift I've received as an actor.

I'd want health and happiness for my family and myself, and the opportunity to do good work. Basically, I just want to be alive.

I have had a very fortunate year. Waqt celebrated a silver jubilee -- not too many films reach that stage of success. This year, there's been Sarkar, Black, Waqt and Bunty Aur Babli. They've all given me an opportunity to play something different. And both Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar featured my son.

Abhishek's success must be a source of happiness.

Yes! People saw him do various roles this year. I'm enjoying the attention he's getting and that his work is being appreciated. Audiences, girls in particular, have a smile when they watch him. I like that.

He started off with a huge inheritance of the Bachchan tag. Nothing worked for four-five years. Now, suddenly everything has started working, including small appearances in Hum Tum and Salaam Namaste. It's a very encouraging sign. He has some truly promisng films on hand with Karan Johar, Rohan Sippy and Ram Gopal Varma. And of course, there's Yashraj Films to give him opportunities.

I'm grateful and happy. I can only reciprocate by giving them my good wishes and hope that I live up to their expectations.  Fans are fans. They do all kinds of over-the-top things to express their adulation. I don't approve of building a temple, doing havan and writing letters in blood. It makes me uncomfortable. But I can't stop them. They get hurt when you stop them and I don't want to hurt their sentiments. But if you ask me, I don't want them to go to extreme lengths to show their love. I'm not worthy of it. Their love depends on how well I'm doing professionally. I guess I must be doing a few things right.

You're working with a whole gamut of directors.

When people ask me to work with them, I return their warmth. I do films, television, endorsements... There's still room for more work.

Next year, I have Ravi Chopra's Baabul, Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and Balkrishnan's first feature film with Tabu and me. He had been planning something with me for one-and-a-half years. Then in principle, I've said yes to Deepa Mehta's next, Komagata Maru.