New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) Just two episodes after his debut TV show "National Bingo Night", Abhishek Bachchan has taken a fancy to anchoring and says it is more enjoyable than acting.

Slamming reports that the show is "boring", he says he is looking forward to a second season.

"If the rating is so high, it means something about the show is working. It can't just be my face. If it was just my face then other artists who have been on shows earlier would have got the same rating," Abhishek told IANS in an interview here.

"Anchoring is easier because in acting there are so many other things that come into play," he said. "Here you just have to be yourself," said Abhishek, who was here to promote the show.

"I wanted to do something on television that would have been interactive with my audience and 'Bingo' was like that. There are 200 (people in the) studio audience with whom I interact and then we have the whole home-viewing audience that sits and watches the show. I was really looking to something like that," he added.

The actor further lauded television as a means to reach more people.

"Today we actors just have another platform to do our work on. Television is part of a visual and entertainment medium. Actors have found an opportunity and another platform to connect with the audience," Abhishek told IANS.

So will we see more of Abhishek on the small screen?

"As of now I am only doing 'Bingo'. It's a 13-episode season after which if Colors (the channel that airs the show) renews it, we'll come back with season II," he said.

"Bingo" opened Jan 23 with a TRP of 5.1, the highest for a Bollywood-anchored non-fiction entertainment show since 2008, according to Television Audience Measurement (TAM).

It has beaten the opening ratings of the shows hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Shilpa Shetty and Rajeev Khandelwal.

Apart from the serial, Abhishek is busy with films like "Raavan", "Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey", "Crooked" and the Hindi adaptation of "The Italian Job".

When asked if all the four Bachchans - his father, mother, wife and himself - would be seen together in a movie or TV show, he told IANS: "Hopefully! As of now, we haven't been approached with anything together. But if we do and we all like it, I'm sure we'll do it."

"Whatever I am today is because of my parents and my family. Whatever I have learnt in life, whether it is personal or professional has been from my parents," he added.

The Bachchans are referred as the first family of Bollywood, but Abhishek doesn't pay heed to such titles.

"We're a family. We are happy about that. Being the first, second or third family doesn't matter to us. That changes every two years," he said.

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan

New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) If you think Abhishek Bachchan is following in father Amitabh's footsteps by doing TV show "Bingo", months after Big B hosted reality show "Bigg Boss", think again. The father-son duo actually signed the deals on the same day.

"We both signed on 'Bigg Boss' and 'Bingo' on the same day. At the start of last year when Colors (channel) spoke to us, we actually signed the contracts on the same day but they did not want 'Bigg Boss' and 'Bingo' to clash," Abhishek told reporters here.

"They first wanted to air 'Bigg Boss' and then 'Bingo'," added the 33-year-old who was in the capital to promote his TV debut "National Bingo Night".

Bachchan senior had struck gold with his TV debut as the host for the first two seasons of quiz show "Kaun Banega Crorepati". He followed it up as a pop philosopher for "Bigg Boss 3".

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan

New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) Abhishek Bachchan was left in awe of his father, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan's performance as a media baron in Ram Gopal Varma's "Rann", so much so that he says India doesn't deserve a talent like him.

"We don't deserve a talent like Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. Don't think we can make movies to fit his talent," Abhishek posted on his Twitter page.

Abhishek, who was in the capital Thursday for the premiere of "Rann", is also all praise for his friend Ritieish Deshmukh's performance in "Rann".

"Well done Riteish. His finest performance till date. Proved his versatility beautifully. Recognise people! Stop slotting him," he added.

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Amitab-Bachchan

Mumbai, Jan 20 (IANS) For Abhishek Bachchan, constant comparisons with dad Amitabh are an "honour" and not a problem. But as he gears up for his television debut with game show "National Bingo Night", he says he is not competing in any way with Bachchan senior, who hosted the popular "Kaun Banega Crorepati" TV show in 2000.

"If you are not going to compare me to him (Amitabh), whom are you going to compare me to? I have never had a problem being compared to him and, like I said, who doesn't want to be compared to Amitabh Bachchan? He is the best we have and the best that we ever will have. It's a matter of great honour for me," Abhishek told IANS in an interview.

The 33-year-old has faced comparisons with his father ever since his Bollywood debut with "Refugee" a decade ago. Now he says he doesn't want to be weighed on the same scale.

"He (Amitabh) has been on TV and he created history on the medium. Do I hope to be able to outdo that? No, because that's not possible. Nobody is going to be a better actor than him, nobody is going to be able to make a bigger mark than him on Indian cinema and on world cinema and the same goes for TV. Do I have aspirations of outdoing him? No, I don't compete with my father," he said.

Abhishek, who will be seen hosting the show on entertainment channel Colors starting Jan 23, says such comparisons don't bog him down.

"You can't allow comparisons to deter you. You still have to do what you believe in. I am his son, I love him very much and I am his biggest fan. I want him to be around forever and I want him to be the best. I don't think any son competes with his father. In fact, they are very happy to stand behind and support their father - just as I do, and I am proud of that," he said.

The actor, who has shown his acting skills in films like "Yuva", "Sarkar", "Guru", "Delhi-6" and "Paa", is excited about his newfound role as a TV show host. He says he made an instant decision to host "National Bingo Night", which will have celebrities as well as common people playing two fast-paced rounds of the popular game Bingo.

"When the concept was explained to me and when I saw the Australian version of the show, it was right there that I knew that it is something that I want to do. The fact that it was interactive and would give me an opportunity to interact with the common man was a major draw for me," said Abhishek.

The show will feature a line-up of celebrities like Farhan Akhtar, Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan, Arshad Warsi and Kirron Kher, but the star attraction will be his father Amitabh, who will grace the opening episode.

"I have called dad just to make sure the show's TRPs are good," Abhishek remarked.

After shooting for "National Bingo Night", the actor says he will be back to his film schedules.

"I think one new thing in a year is good enough. I don't believe in taking on too much. After 'Bingo', I'll get back to my films as there are lots lined up," he said.

Abhishek is currently shooting for Abhinay Deo's "Crooked". He will also be seen in films like Ashutosh Gowariker's "Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey" and Mani Ratnam's much-awaited "Ravana", in which he will feature alongside wife Aishwarya Rai.

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan

Mumbai, Jan 18 (IANS) As Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan gets ready to make his TV debut with "Idea National Bingo Nights", he will be seen playing the game with his father Amitabh Bachchan in the inaugural episode of the show to be aired on Colors channel.

Dressed in a formal black suit, Abhishek was at his wittiest best at a press conference here Monday. With his one liners and spontaneous answers, the audience was in splits and enjoying every moment of the session.

Explaining why his father is featuring in the first episode, Abhishek said that he wants him to do some 'aaram' (rest) through the show.

"As a son, I want my father to relax a bit, slow down his work and take care of his health. But he hardly takes my advice. So I called him on this show to take some 'aaram'," Abhishek told reporters.

Being produced by Fox Television Studios India Pvt Ltd, the show will have two fast-paced rounds of the popular guessing game 'Bingo'.

Talking about this show, Abhishek said: "The sheer simplicity of the idea and the fact that this show is highly interactive is what attracted me to it. Winning here is easy, you need not answer any difficult questions or perform any strenuous physical tasks. The idea is simple - leave behind all your worries, relax and enjoy."

Apart from Big B, Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Deepika Padukone, Farhan Akhtar, Pravesh Rana, Vindu Dara Singh, Arshad Warsi, Vidya Balan, Sonali Bendre, and Kirron Kher will be seen in subsequent episodes.

The show will go on air from Jan 23 at 9.00 p.m.

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Amitab-Bachchan

Popular filmmaker Karan Johar is so busy promoting his film "My Name Is Khan" that he didn't even notice actor Abhishek Bachchan waving out to him on the streets recently.

"Just passed Karan Johar on the road. And he didn't wave back! Ooooooh you in trouble now boy!" Abhishek posted on his Twitter page.

Though Johar has never directed Abhishek in any of his films, they have worked together in "Dostana", which was produced by Johar's Dharma Productions.

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan

Mumbai, Jan 10 (IANS) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek were honoured with the best jodi award for their chemistry in "Paa" at the STAR Screen Awards.

Amitabh played Abhishek's son who suffers from progeria, a disease that accelerates the ageing process. The father-son duo also entertained the audiences at the event Saturday by doing the Auro dance at the behest of their hosts Shah Rukh Khan and Shahid Kapoor.

After Shah Rukh's repeated request, Big B and Abhishek danced on the "Paa" number and Shahid and Shah Rukh too tried to match steps with them.

In all, "Paa" won five awards including best actor award for Amitabh, best actor female for Vidya Balan, best child actor for Pratik and best supporting actor female for Arundhati.

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Amitab-Bachchan

Mumbai, Nov 30 (IANS) When "Paa" came her way, Vidya Balan was excited about sharing screen space with superstar Amitabh Bachchan, but was equally looking forward to working with Abhishek again. The actress is all admiration for Bachchan junior, who she says is an "instinctive" actor and has "something so magical about his eyes".

"When 'Paa' came to me, working with Mr. Bachchan was a definite incentive. However, the fact remains that I was actually looking forward to working with Abhishek too. We have acted in 'Guru' earlier and I know for sure that he is a fantastic co-actor," Vidya told IANS.

Vidya is particularly impressed about Abhishek's 'no rehearsal' stand that results in an "intuitive" acting experience.

"Since Abhishek doesn't rehearse, you don't really know what he is going to do when the director calls for a shot," she said. "When a take is called, there is so much give and take that actors exchange. This is why when he starts delivering his dialogues; you react in a way that was probably never planned. It eventually helps you bring about something intuitive."

"...But then there is this intrinsic honesty to his act as well. He always tries to do something that enhances a scene. Also, there is something so magical about his eyes, which have a language of their own. This is something that I had said even during the time of 'Guru' and I am glad he has retained this quality even after all these years," Vidya added.

So was she game to playing Amitabh's mother or did she require much convincing?

"Frankly I wasn't too sure," confesses Vidya, who has earlier worked with Amitabh in Vidhu Vinod Chopra- directed 'Eklavya - The Royal Guard'. "I had no clue if (director) Balki would actually be offering me a role of Mr. Bachchan's mother. Since I had seen 'Cheeni Kum', the maximum that I would have expected out of 'Paa' was to play a lead opposite him."

Vidya was in for a surprise when Balki explained the film's idea to her.

"I didn't really know how to react. Here I was playing Abhishek Bachchan's love interest as well as his real father's reel mother - all in one film. I was like 'wow, now what's that'! It took me some time to absorb this, but eventually I did say yes," Vidya said.

"Paa", which also stars Paresh Rawal in a key role, is set to release Friday.

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Paa, Vidya-Balan

Bollywood's superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan are coming together again for a film ' Pa' which is directed by R Balakrishnan who made the film, Cheeni Kum.

Interestingly the film will have the Bachchans sharing screen space as father and son, but with a twist.

The duo will be seen in a reversed role with Abhishek Bachchan enacting the role of the father while Amitabh will play his son.

That certainly poses a lot of challenge too. And the director has even approached international make up artist to help with the drastic makeover which Bachchan Sr has to undergo. Vidya Balan is the leading lady in the film who will be paired opposite Abhishek.
--MP

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Amitab-Bachchan

Marking the dawn of a new era in Indian filmmaking that truly reflects its progressive nature in the new millennium, the wait is finally over as Drona - an Eros Pictures co-production and 2008’s biggest budget Indian epic - unleashes itself in cinemas across the UK and worldwide on 2nd October 2008.

Eros International stands at the forefront of pioneering content production in India and Drona heralds the first film of its kind, combining state-of-the-art special effects with an engaging magical adventure, which will indulge audiences with a rollercoaster ride of entertainment never experienced before in Indian cinema.

Drona sets a new benchmark for Indian cinema and will present to international audiences a fascinating Indian hybrid of Harry Potter and Indiana Jones. Directed by Goldie Behl and produced by Sunil Lulla and Shristi Arya, Drona features Indian film superstars, Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra as they have never before been seen on screen. With a dramatic departure from the personas they have portrayed in any of their previous films, Drona recreates the stars in a ‘look’ that cinemagoers will be seeing for the first time in Indian cinema. The film also sets a precedent with regard to breathtaking location filming, leading Indian cinema into new territories as far afield as Namibia, Czech Republic and Prague.

Drona also celebrates India’s foray into the celluloid realm of visual effects and the first collaboration between two respective heavyweights in the global film industry: Eros International – the leading integrated company within the India media and entertainment sector; and Charles Darby – the international pioneer of cinematic special effects, whose credits include ‘Titanic’, ‘The Matrix’, ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’, ‘The Fifth Element’ and ‘Minority Report’, who together formed EYEQUBE Studios, India's first company that is built from the ground-up for film effects supported by world-class training from renowned international experts in the field.

Commenting on the release of Drona, Sunil Lulla, President of Eros International, India says, "Eros International is immensely proud to release a film of Drona’s caliber to a worldwide audience and one that has given Eros the opportunity to further push the filmic boundaries of Indian cinema and explore new territories with our unparalleled collective imagination. Drona is one of the biggest budget films to emerge from India and unequivocally the technical best. With this film, we have once again taken the decision to plunge into ever deeper creative depths and to treat our audiences to innovative and original film content.”
Inspired by the rich tapestry of Indian mythology and translated to the modern day, Drona is a compelling tale of one man’s spectacular journey through the labyrinth of mystic myths and legendary legacies. The lead protagonist, ‘Drona’ (Abhishek Bachchan), takes a voyage that forces him to confront his fears and to become the hero he was destined to be. The forces of good and evil clash in this breathtaking fantasy adventure that will beckon audiences into a universe where mythic heroes challenge the powers of darkness.

The biggest magical adventure film ever to emerge from India, Drona releases in the UK and worldwide on 2nd October 2008.

Read more about Drona

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Drona, Eros

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Drona, Kay-Kay-Menon, Priyanka-Chopra

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Drona, Priyanka-Chopra

Mumbai, 22nd July 2008: Eros International, the leading company in the Indian media and entertainment sector has showcased the first look of the much awaited Eros International Presentation of a Rose Movies Production “DRONA” A Film by Goldie Behl across screens worldwide. Produced by Shrishti Arya and Sunil Lulla, the film stars Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Kay Kay Menon and Jaya Bachchan.

With thrilling visual effects and featuring Abhishek ‘Drona’ Bachchan in a never before seen avtaar, the trailer has evoked a fabulous response and has raised the excitement quotient among AB fans, audiences and industry alike. With more than 900 trailers going worldwide, Eros is looking at hitting a record number of screens with Drona’s first look.

Eros is highly focused on Drona, one if its blockbuster releases this year, an exciting and first time ever visual treat for audiences which will release across screens on the long holiday weekend, Thursday 2nd October on the occasion of Idd and Gandhi Jayanti. A real world meets fantasy, the action adventure film is sure to thrill audiences – youngsters and adults alike.

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Drona, Eros

Name of Movie: Dostaana
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Priyanka Chopra
Director: Tarun Mansukhani
Produced by: Karan Johar
Music by: Vishal-Shekar
Type of Movie: Romantic Comedy
Banner: Dharma Productions
Expected Release Date: Nov 14,2008
--MP

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, John-Abraham, Priyanka-Chopra

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Aishwarya-Rai, Amitab-Bachchan

The much awaited Bollywood flick 'Sarkar Raj' starring the trio from the Bachchan family is all set for release in June. Directed by Ram Gopal Varma the film is the sequel to the earlier hit film Sarkar.

The film themed on politics and power will star Amitabh Bachchan as Sarkar along with Abhishek and Aishwarya in powerful roles.

Apart from the Bachchan's Tanisha Mukherjee plays a key role in the film who plays Abhishek's wife in the film. Others include Ravi Kale, Govind Namdeo, Victor Banerjee, Supriya Pathak, Sayaji Shinde.The film is expected to reach theaters on June 6th.
--MP

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Aishwarya-Rai, Amitab-Bachchan

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Aishwarya-Rai, Amitab-Bachchan

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Aishwarya-Rai

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Drona, Priyanka-Chopra

New Delhi, Oct 12 (ANI): It was a day of reckoning for two major Bollywood flicks--"Laaga Chunari Mein Daag" and "Bhool Bhulaiya" -- that hit theatres across the country today.Pradeep Sarkar's "Laaga Chunari Mein Daag" is a story about the journey of a young woman from a small town to Mumbai, where she becomes a high society prostitute to support her family.

Starring Rani Mukherjee, Abhishek Bachchan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kunal Kapoor, Jaya Bachchan and Anupam Kher, the movie failed to make a mark with audiences.The film has been co-produced by film production company Yash Raj Films and Pradeep Sarkar."It was okay. Not as good as expected from a Yash Raj film. The standard has gone down," said P K Madan, a viewer.The film also explores topics like migration and a woman as the sole breadwinner of a family, a concept that many Indians are yet to feel comfortable accepting.

"Laaga Chunari Mein Daag" is the latest in what appears to be a movement within Bollywood, better known for its song-and-dance love stories, towards bold and mature themes. Analysts say audiences, who prefer films with content rather than a star cast, are pushing the trend.(ANI)

Labels: Abhishek-Bachchan, Anupam-Kher, Jaya-Bachchan, Konkona-Sen-Sharma, Kunal-Kapoor, Rani-Mukherjee, Reviews