The superstar of the century Amitabh Bachchan has turned 82 today. Even at this age, Big B is the most active among his contemporaries. Most of the stars of the 80s like Dharmendra, Jeetendra have lost their shine, but Amitabh Bachchan’s shine is still intact. On the occasion of Big B’s birthday, we spoke to director Vivek Sharma, Sunil Darshan, Mehul Kumar and makeup man Deepak Sawant. Let’s know what Vivek Sharma said on Big B’s birthday from him… Today’s generation should learn from Bachchan sahab
Vivek Sharma said- It is my good fortune that I am one of his close friends. Bachchan sahab keeps very few directors in his personal zone. Just in June, I met him in connection with a film. Soon we are going to start a film. Whoever comes to meet Bachchan sahab, he comes to drop them till the gate. Today’s artists should learn something from this gesture of Bachchan sahab. Bachchan sahab is such a big superstar, but he respects everyone on the set, from people in small to big positions. Doesn’t shoot on Sundays
During the shooting of Bhootnath, his secretary Sheetal Jain had said that Bachchan sahab doesn’t shoot on Sundays. Some of our locations were available only on Sundays. I requested Bachchan sahab by messaging him. He immediately got ready and shot for seven Sundays. This is against his rules, but he understands that no one’s work should stop because of him. I got scared when he spoke in the style of Vijay Dinanath Chauhan
Bachchan sahab is like Agneepath’s character Vijay Dinanath Chauhan in real life. First he talks about random things, so that the other person becomes comfortable. Suddenly he turns and speaks in Vijay Dinanath Chauhan’s style, tell me what’s the matter? Then I get a strange fear. Bachchan sahab doesn’t react during narration. It is not understood whether he likes the script or not. He has his own unique style. He likes detailing of everything a lot. He is very involved in everything. He also shows a lot of interest in music. Big B sang a song on Shahrukh Khan’s request. Shahrukh Khan gave the idea of getting Big B to sing a song in Bhootnath. Bachchan sahab was initially not ready to sing. He said that he would not be able to sing. Then he said that if you are saying then I will try, but if I don’t like it then replace my voice. However, he did playback singing very well. Very few people know that Bachchan sahab also plays the piano well. He has also built a small recording studio at home. Silence spreads on the set as soon as Amitabh Bachchan arrives. As soon as Bachchan sahab arrives for shooting, the whole unit becomes silent. Everyone used to talk in whispers for two-three days. However, later Bachchan sahab has a lot of fun on the set. He keeps pulling the assistant’s leg. He makes one person the victim and has fun with him the whole day. However, during shooting, he has a rule that when he shoots, no one should be allowed to cross the camera from behind. After eating parathas, he said- don’t tell anyone
Juhi Chawla is not used to working in the kitchen. There is a scene in Bhootnath in which Juhi ji makes parathas. She was not able to roll the parathas properly. We had ordered parathas from the hotel which Bachchan sahab ate. He said don’t tell anyone that I ate the parathas. Bachchan sahab likes samosas very much. He eats samosas with both hands. He himself tells us from which shop to bring them. Sunil Darshan shared his experiences related to Big B on his birthday.. Our relationship is only from ‘Saat Hindustani’
Sunil Darshan said- My relationship with Amit ji is from his first film ‘Saat Hindustani’. This film was distributed by my father Darshan Sabarwal. His first superhit film ‘Zanjeer’ was also distributed by my father. I never thought that I would get a chance to work with Amit ji. He was beyond our reach. One day he suddenly called and expressed his desire to work in the film. I thought someone was joking. At that time Amit ji had three films ready – Mohabbatein, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kaante. Apart from this, he also signed my film ‘Ek Rishta – The Bond of Love’. He was very nervous before the release of Zanjeer
I remember when I met Amit ji for the first time, I was 13 years old. This was in 1973. I met Amit ji for the first time with my father on Farida Jalal’s birthday. Zanjeer was going to release after two weeks. He was very nervous at that time. He was going through a bad phase in his career at that time. He was asking my father and other distributors that you all must have seen the film, how did you like it? Amitabh Bachchan does not want to give many takes.
Amit ji has a very beautiful way of working. I got to learn a lot by working with him. In those days, films were shot on negatives. It was very expensive. Amit ji said – son, take care that the negative does not get ruined. You can make me rehearse as much as you want, but take fewer takes. He cooperates with the producers a lot.
Once I had cast Rakhi ji opposite Amit ji. According to the agreement with her, she would not shoot between 9 and 10 pm. Rakhi ji gave the reason for this that she watches ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ between 9 and 10. Rakhi ji liked the show Kaun Banega Crorepati a lot. Amit ji suggested that do not disturb the shooting. You leave her at quarter to nine and call her at quarter to ten. Get a TV installed in her makeup van by installing cable. During this time she will eat and watch the show and her point will also be taken care of. Your work will also be done. Amit ji used to cooperate at this level. His record from the beginning has been that he cooperates a lot with the producers. He had lost faith in awards.
Once Bachchan sahab talked to me about award shows. He said that awards are important, but more important than this is how much the audience likes you. There is no assurance of physical awards. When Dilip Kumar sahab did not get an award for the film ‘Ganga Jamuna’, he lost faith in awards. Filmmaker Mehul Kumar, who has directed Amitabh Bachchan in films like ‘Mrityudaata’ and ‘Kohram’, shared some special stories on Bachchan sahab’s birthday.. Never thought that Big B will make a comeback with my film
Mehul Kumar said- Amit ji is so busy even at this age. He is the history of the film industry. As long as the sun and the moon exist, his name will remain. No one can forget him. He has no ego. Never thought that he will make a comeback with my film ‘Mrityudaata’. This film may not have been a hit, that is a different matter. This film was produced by Amit ji himself. Apart from this film, I also did ‘Kohram’ with him. Amit ji said- Do you have any hot script?
Amit ji met me during the music launch of ‘Rangeela’. He was not working at that time. He had started a production company at that time. He asked if I had any hot script. I did not take it seriously because such things happen in parties. The next morning Amit ji’s secretary Sheetal Jain called and asked when can he narrate the script? He does not sit in the vanity van during shooting. Amit ji does not like to stay in the vanity van. After giving his shot, he prefers to stay on the set. He watches the shot of the actor in front of him. Once Dilip sahab had told Big B – never leave the set. The actor in front of him is answering your dialogue in a close shot. You can see what his expressions are. Amit ji follows this advice of Dilip sahab. Deepak Sawant, who has been doing Amitabh Bachchan’s makeup for the last 50 years, also shared memories related to him… he works with the same energy even today. Deepak Sawant said – Bachchan sahab works with the same energy even today as he used to work 50 years ago. Before shooting, I read my dialogues many times, rehearse them. Bachchan sahab waited for me for 45 minutes
Generally, I reach the set two hours before Bachchan sahab reaches. I have never taken a leave till date. Only one day I could not reach on time due to rain. Actually, the shooting of Khuda Gawah was going on in Mehboob Studio. The shot was ready, but Bachchan sahab’s makeup could not be done because I was late. The producer said that there is a delay for the shot, get the makeup done by someone else. Bachchan sahab said- wait, Deepak will come 100%. I reached the set after about 45 minutes. Bachchan sahab got the makeup done only after I reached. Once Bachchan sahab scolded me
The day my mother died, that day too I went to do her makeup. Actually that day Amit ji had an important shoot. When Amit ji came to know that mother has died, he scolded me a lot. He said what is this way, mother has died and you have come to work? I told that Mummy always used to say that son, don’t leave work. Everything is possible only when there is work. Worked in four films without taking any fees. I have made films as a hobby. I never made films with the intention of earning money. When I made the first Marathi film, Bachchan sahab himself had expressed his wish to work with me. When I spoke about the Bhojpuri film Ganga, Bachchan sahab had first refused. At that time, KBC was being shot. I asked Bachchan sahab to read the script. He said that Deepak, your film is a hit. You will leave work and go away. I said that I will never leave your work in my life. After Ganga, I made Gangotri and Gangadevi. Bachchan sahab did not ask for money and neither did I have the courage to pay him fees. —————————————————————————————————– Also read this news related to Bollywood Rekha @70: Actor kissed me forcibly in debut film: Allegations of black magic on husband’s death Of course I love him. You can take all the love in the world and add something else to it, this is how I feel for that person. I see him at award functions and that is enough for me- Read full story
