Abhishek Bachchan: 'Sarkar' Scene with Amitabh Left Me 'Destroyed'

Abhishek Bachchan Recalls Being "Schooled" by Amitabh on 'Sarkar' Set

Imagine your first major movie scene, acting alongside Amitabh Bachchan, who also happens to be your father. That's the situation Abhishek Bachchan found himself in during the filming of Sarkar, a day he describes as unforgettable.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Abhishek Bachchan revealed his intense nervousness on the Sarkar set. His anxiety led to him stumbling through his lines. Following the scene, Amitabh summoned him to his car, where he received a stern, yet memorable, lecture on improving his performance.

Abhishek Bachchan reflected on the experience with a mix of humor and trepidation. "The first time we shot together was for Sarkar," he said. "Ramu [Ram Gopal Varma] said we’d do a few test shoots before I left to film Bunty Aur Babli. This was September 2004. On the very first day, I was panicking, drenched in sweat. He calls me, ‘Shankar,’ and all I had to do was turn around and say, ‘Ji?’ But I was petrified—I was literally shaking—He has that effect.”

After the shoot, Abhishek attempted to avoid his father by hiding in his vanity van, expecting him to leave first. However, Amitabh approached his van and told him to come along home.

"The entire ride was silent. He just kept staring straight ahead," Abhishek recounted. Upon arriving at their bungalow, the staff withdrew, leaving them alone in the car. "He just sat there," Abhishek continued, "and then, in this very slow, deliberate way, he turned to me. 'Isiliye maine itne saal mehnat karke tumhe padhaya likhaya? Dialogue bolna aata nahi hai tumhe?' (Is this why I worked so hard and educated you all these years? You can’t even deliver a line properly.) I felt like I had committed a crime. The way he looked at me—he just destroyed me."

Sarkar, released in 2005, is a political crime thriller directed by Ram Gopal Varma. Amitabh Bachchan starred in the lead role, with Abhishek Bachchan playing a supporting role. The film also featured Kay Kay Menon, Katrina Kaif, Tanishaa, Supriya Pathak, Kota Srinivasa Rao, and Anupam Kher.

Widely considered an adaptation of The Godfather, Sarkar spawned a trilogy, including Sarkar Raj (2008) and Sarkar 3 (2017). The film garnered significant acclaim both in India and internationally, premiering at the New York Asian Film Festival and later being archived in the American Academy of Motion Pictures library.