Abhishek Bachchan on 25 Years in Bollywood, Evolving as an Actor, and Amitabh's Enduring Influence: Exclusive Interview

Bachchan acknowledges the necessity of reinvention to remain relevant to evolving audiences. "If you're not going to keep reinventing yourself you're going to become very boring to the public," he stated, emphasizing that the current youth audience may not even have been born when he started his career.

He further observes that many of his contemporaries from his early years are no longer active in the industry, highlighting the importance of continuous growth and adaptation.

When questioned about whether the movie 'Guru' serves as a benchmark in his career, Bachchan responded that while every film is different, he believes he could deliver an even stronger performance today, given the opportunity to revisit the role.

Bachchan shared a personal anecdote, revealing that he proposed to his wife after the premiere of 'Guru' in New York. He stresses the importance of personally connecting with his film projects, making it a personal rule of thumb.

Reflecting on an earlier interview where he expressed being "starving" for success, Bachchan admits that he remains hungry. He acknowledges that while one can order food, success requires hard work and overcoming failure. He also shared a quote from his personal journal, "The death of a true artist is the loss of innocence the birth of a great artist is after the same," highlighting the need to adapt and evolve in the pursuit of artistic goals.

When asked about losing his innocence, Bachchan clarifies that it was more about shedding idealism to proactively make things happen. He uses the analogy of hunting for prey to illustrate the necessity of effort and initiative in achieving one's goals.

Bachchan acknowledges the cynicism that can arise from public failures but emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. He recognizes that life has its ups and downs and accepts both aspects.

Regarding maintaining a childlike quality, as noted by Zeenat Aman, Bachchan attributes it to being genuine and avoiding putting on a facade. He embraces his natural personality, including his tendency to quickly move past conflicts.

Bachchan admits that all actors seek validation, viewing it as essential to their craft. He believes that actors perform for the audience's applause and that the desire to win over those who are not fans fuels his motivation.

Reflecting on his personal evolution over the past 25 years, Bachchan notes that he has become more comfortable in his own skin. He acknowledges his tendency to avoid public self-expression, preferring to communicate through his on-screen performances.

Bachchan explains that his limited social media presence is partly due to the prevalence of baiting and the decline of healthy discussions. He now uses social media more professionally.

He addresses misinformation and negativity, emphasizing that while it doesn't affect him directly, it can be upsetting for his family. He criticizes anonymous online trolling, recounting an incident where his friend challenged a troll to voice their comments in person.

Bachchan attributes his detachment from fame to his upbringing, where his father was simply "father" when at home. He recognizes the transient nature of fame, an understanding reinforced by his experiences in the film industry.

He believes his parents are proud of him as long as he gives his best effort. He emphasizes that his father, despite being a celebrated hero, is also a family man.

Reflecting on his role in 'Sarkar', Bachchan humbly acknowledges that the film's success was primarily due to his father's powerful performance, even with limited screen time.

When asked about his future aspirations, Bachchan concludes by stating that he prefers to keep certain dreams private, guarding them closely.