Covering Bollywood and the Hindi Cinema

Here is a recent interview of Abhishek Bachchan courtesy India FM.

What do you think of the music of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom?
This is Shaad's second film with me and coming off a film like Bunty aur Babli it's a great task to try and create an album which captures the flavour of the film, the madness and the flamboyance of the film and to try and outdo the previous album. I am really and fully convinced that after a lot of hard work put in by Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy, Shaad and Gulzar sahib, they have actually managed to completely outdo Bunty aur Babli. Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is by far one of the best albums I have ever heard in my life. It is so full of energy and is a perfect representation of what the film is about. It captures the madness the splendor, the attitude, the romance and just magnifies it a hundred folds. It's flawless.

Which is your favourite track in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom?
It being an album that is so good, it's very tough to choose. I love the song picturised on Preity and me -Bolna Halke Halke which is a romantic track. I think it's a wonderful song. It is also one of the few songs that have lower and slower tempo in the film while the others are highly energetic. So it's a welcome change. I also like the song because it is a melodious track which is beautifully sung, written and wonderfully picturised. Also obviously I am partial to the title track -Jhoom Barabar Jhoom just for its sheer energy and splendor.

How was it like working with Shankar Ehsaan Loy?
It never ceases to amaze me how they manage to come up with such great and diverse music every time. What is wonderful is how they work as a team. Individually they are great musicians -Shankar is a wonderful singer, Loy is a great pianist and Ehsaan plays guitar wonderfully and they play many other instruments as well. The synergy that they share is commendable. They come up with such tunes and tracks so normally. And the greatest thing is that whenever they work with Shaad I feel there is a middle path between the two- Shaad and them. They have a very serious, distinctive quality and sound to their music. The trio seems to forget this fact whenever they are working with Shaad and they create a new sound all together. Personally I think it's great to reinvent one self time and again. One really can't say enough of them. They are just fantastic and I am just very happy that they agreed to do the film and have come up with such a great soundtrack because it makes our job as actors so much easier.

The look of JBJ has been highly appreciated.
I would prefer not to call it 'the look of the film' but the attitude of the film. When you have Shaad as the captain of the ship, you know there's going to be oodles of attitude and a very distinctive style. I think Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is the most precise representation of what Shaad is like in real life. I think he gave everybody a peek through the window in Bunty aur Babli about how mad and flamboyant he actually is and the genius that he is. And I think he truly has allowed everybody to look into his soul in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. It's Shaad Ali Sehgal all the way. It's totally his film and everything is owed to him in this film. He's responsible for every inch.

What was it like working with Aki Narula?
Aki has worked with us in Bunty aur Babli so it was wonderful to reunite with most of his team this time around. Aki as a designer is very colorful, he loves style and he loves to make things look larger than life. And this time he got a film in which he could really freak out and thus he's done a wonderful job. He was so much in tune with what Shaad wanted and they together have managed to come up with a look which was really needed for the film. The look is unique, very special and something which aided the performance of the actors a lot. So when you wear the right clothes with the right accessories, hair and make up, it helps you become the character completely. I always believe that looking the part is fifty percent of the job and in JBJ it is possible mainly because of Aki Narula. I really think JBJ has the finest costumes designed in Hindi film till date.

How does it feel to be working with a family member?
When you are in front of the camera you are an actor and you have to forget your personal relationships. If you think about your personal relationships, they are going to hamper your performances. For example you are standing in front of the camera with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and if you think 'oh my god that's my father in front of me', you are definitely going to get intimidated. So you have to try and be professional even though it's tough.

How was it like working with Bobby with whom you are working for the first time?
I have always wanted to work with Bobby ever since I started work. I have known him since I was a kid and finally we got an opportunity to work together. I am so happy because I really think this is the right movie and I am glad we never got the opportunity to work together before this and that this is are first movie together. He's just wonderful. He is one of the sweetest co-stars one can ask for. He is thoroughly professional, always ready to help out. He was all that I had thought him to be and much more on the sets and as an actor. I just feel so privileged to be a part of the film in which he is there as well and we get to share screen space.

What about Preity?
Preity is very natural in her performance. The best thing about Preity is that she looks after her co-stars when they are in front of the camera. She was constantly assuring that my make up's okay and if my hair was out of place, she would correct it and get the shot cut. It's wonderful to work with co-actors who take such good care of you because usually we actors are very selfish. We look at ourselves and are bothered only about our own performances. Preity looks at a film entirely and she has no problems with other actors. Being on the sets with such a huge star cast can be intimidating, but she is so cool about it and so helpful contradictory to the whole bubbly, young teenage kind of a girl image. She is really like a mother. She takes care of everyone, feeds everyone, makes sure everyone has eaten, suggests good restaurants and says things like- 'this is how we should do the shot', 'lets work it out like this' and 'rehearse together'. She just loves to rehearse and you will not come across many actors who would like to do that and put in the kind of work she does. She works very hard to achieve a natural performance that comes out of her. She is great fun and I am very happy that she is a part of the film. She adopted what we call the right attitude that Shaad wanted on the sets which I was a bit concerned because I had worked with Shaad in the past. So I was not too sure if the other actors would understand Shaad's style of working and the kind of atmosphere and the environment he likes on the sets. But Preity came right into the deep belt and she just blended in and she was one of the guys. It was great and yet another wonderful performance by her. I am so glad that the whole team came so well together.