Initially uncomfortable with Big B’s praise, Ghoomer actor Abhishek says parenthood has made him realise his megastar-father’s desire to celebrate him
Abhishek Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an acting legend. But beneath the glitz of superstardom, he is also like any other parent, proud of his children’s achievements. Who understands this better than his actor-son Abhishek Bachchan? Since the trailer of Ghoomer dropped online last week, senior Bachchan’s Twitter timeline is filled with posts praising Abhishek’s work in the R Balki-directed sports drama. “I see him become comfortable with talking about me publicly. He says, ‘What the hell! I’m your father!’ I tell him [to go easy on the praise], saying, ‘Don’t do this, people will jump on!’ But then, I feel that even though he is a great icon, he is also a father. I’m almost 47, but I will always be his boy. I understand that today because I have a daughter [Aaradhya]. If she does something, I want to show off to the world,” smiles Abhishek.
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In his second innings, he has been cherry-picking projects—from a romantic drama in Manmarziyaan (2018) to a thriller in Bob Biswas (2021). And senior Bachchan, like a doting dad, has cheered his eclectic choices, showering him with praise in an otherwise cut-throat line of work. Abhishek asserts that people should be mindful that artistes also have vulnerabilities. “Early on in my career, when things weren’t going [my way], I used to say to myself, ‘Can you imagine what your parents are going through?’ They see their child publicly getting lambasted, and are powerless to do anything. At times, I find it insensitive when people criticise [him for praising me] because they forget that he is also a parent. Can you imagine after so many years, he finally mustered the courage to say what he feels as a father!”
Even before his father’s applause came his way, Abhishek knew that the sports drama—which sees him as an eccentric coach helping Saiyami Kher’s differently-abled cricketer realise her dream—had potential. The actor says Balki comes up with ideas that are hard to ignore. “What piqued my interest in Ghoomer is that my character, Paddy, is the opposite of what a coach should be. He is ill-mannered, insensitive, and drunk, but by the end of the film, you realise he is a good coach. That conflict is so much fun to work with.”
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