Amitabh Bachchan has now become a tale rather than a name: the story of a dark, lanky young man from Allahabad who went on to become the greatest Bollywood superstar of all times. In 2000, AB was chosen as the host for a new TV game show, 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'. The show became an enormous hit. Amitabh was voted as The Actor of the Millennium in a poll conducted by BBC, which featured such names as Lawrence Olivier and Marlon Brando. In the new millennium, Amitabh stunned his detractors with some superb performances in films such as 'Aks', 'Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham', 'Baghban', 'Khakee', 'Black', 'Nishabd', 'Dev', 'Last Lear' and 'Paa'.
Bachchan has played the cop umpteen times on the screen, but DCP Ananth Sreevasthava of 'Khakee' stands out. This was one thoroughly fleshed out character that really demanded Amitabh Bachchan to fulfill itself. Though majority of his fans and critics would rate the 'Black' portrayal as Amitabh's best of the decade, it is the 'Khakee' performance that actually takes the cup. The respectability and authority that Bachchan brings to this patriarchal cop has to be seen to be believed.
This has been one of Amitabh's best decades as an actor; he was seen in characters of various hues, depicting a stunning range of emotions.
Says the Big B: "Frankly I've never really subscribed to these adjectives tagging me as an 'icon', 'superstar', etc. I've always thought of myself as an actor doing his job to the best of his ability. The amount of things I have been through and the remarkable ways in which the body has reacted is just phenomenal. No wonder I became religious, because you don't know why something's happening to you and you don't know how you bounced back."
Having started his career with the average grosser, 'Refugee' (2000), Abhishek braved a dozen mega flops before making a mark on the commercial circuit with 'Dhoom' (2004). The Small B is a hot favourite with most of the critics if not the trade pundits. Post-'Dhoom', it has been a smooth ride for Abhi, both in terms of commercial success and critical acclaim.
Abhishek's performance in Ram Gopal Varma's 'Sarkar' is one for the textbook. He plays an obedient and understanding son to Amitabh Bachchan's title character Subhash Nagre (alias Sarkar). Abhishek's calm, composed yet powerful Shankar Nagre is pitted not only opposite Amitabh's Sarkar but also against KK Menon's Vishnu Nagre, the hot-headed and easily manipulated wastrel. Watch Abhishek as he conveys truckloads of thoughts, plans and emotions through small winks and half-smiles , stares and nods...
Says Abhi: "My dad and mom are too great for anyone to even try to be like them. So why should I even try? I'm not a style icon. I have to thank all the people who work from behind the scenes to create that illusion. Critics have a job to do. They do not criticise you without reason."
