‘Ghoomar’ actor Abhishek Bachchan said – Papa might be feeling now that I am doing a good job

With ‘Ghoomar’ you are coming to the big screen after five years. What was special for you? Secondly, are you feeling any kind of pressure to perform it in theatres?
The most interesting thing that I found in this character was that there is no coach quality in the character. He is the exact opposite of what a coach should be, what he should do, and I found it most interesting that despite this he can become a coach and has become one. As far as pressure is concerned, the pressure remains only to make a good film, because other things are not in my control. It is in my control that I make a good film. I believe you just focus on that, the rest will take care of itself. I think it is a very inspirational film. When I saw the first cut, there was a feeling of hope in it, so R Balki (director) and I decided that brother whatever happens, we will bring it to the theater itself. This film deserves the big screen.

By the way, for some time, films in theaters are not able to attract the audience like before. What do you think is the reason for this?
Who told you that films are not working? A film came in January (Pathan), which broke all records. What does this mean, it means that if we make a good picture then everyone will come to see it. We need an introspection. We have to accept that today people have a choice. Don’t waste their time. If they find anything crazy about the film, they will think that let’s watch it on TV or watch it on OTT. But people want to go to theaters for a good film, so we as an industry have to think whether we are making good enough films to attract them to the theatres. If not, don’t blame the audience, look within yourself.

You have a dialogue in the film that life is a game of magic. What have been those magical moments in your life?
There have been many. Life must be full of magic. If you see, the kind of love we actors get, it is amazing. It is nothing less than magic, so it is very difficult to choose one among so many moments.

There is another dialogue that I know what the loser feels, I have to know what the winner feels. Even in real life people try to bring you down, criticize, but you have always emerged as a winner. What is your winning mantra?
Always be happy, that is the mantra. Well, to be honest, I have always looked at Criticism in a different way. I believe this and I am not saying this just to say that if someone is criticizing you, like critics are in films, review films, criticize your work, if they don’t like something then you Why do you think they are against you? This is wrong thinking, it should be changed. If someone’s job is to review a film and they don’t like your work, then they are writing that this is a problem, so they are telling you what you have to improve yourself. Actually they are helping me. If someone is telling you something negative about you, why do you think they are the wrong person? This is what you need to improve yourself. You pay attention to his words. I’ve always thought so. I don’t take criticism in a negative way.

For some time now, your father (Amitabh Bachchan) has been openly praising your work on social media. At the time of ‘tenth’, he had declared you his heir. How do you think this sudden change came about in him?
See, of course he is Amitabh Bachchan (the legend) but people forget that he is also my father. You can’t blame a father for how he feels for his child. Now why are they doing this all of a sudden, maybe now they must have felt that I am doing some good work, so they must have felt that yes it is worth it. Earlier it probably didn’t work that well (laughs). Don’t know, you’ll have to ask them. He has always been honest in giving me his feedback in the past as well. If he saw any of my films and he didn’t like my work, he used to tell me.
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There were also reports of your joining politics in the past. What is the truth in that?
Yes, I read that too. I was actually abroad then and I opened my Twitter and I read this, which is complete nonsense. It means that it was completely written news in the air.