‘I barely know how to act!’

When asked to give a message to the contestants,he smiled,“Though I’m the wrong half of my marriage for pageant advice,I’d just say that do what you love and be yourself. I’m a veteran at messing up and I know how it feels. But remember,everyone’s a winner.” That said,the crowning ceremony took place,and then began a chase down the back stairway,up to the fifth floor lounge area where the actor settled down for a charming tête-à-tête with us.

His histrionics in Raavan didn’t please one and all. What were his expectations from the film? He says, “In the industry,personal expectations don’t matter. We get the answer from the audience in the first show of the film. The entire team slogged to make a film that would entertain the audience. If the response is negative,we just have to move on with humility.” So,when he decides on a film, is it the script,the character or the entertainment factor that appeals to him? “A blend of all actually. I love the song-and-dance in our films. People call it melodramatic and illogical,but I love it!” he says. The actor always lends himself to the character. “But,Beera (Raavan) was so uneducated,crude and violent. He was a complete departure from me. But it’s good to do work where you can’t contribute individually to the character,” he quips. Abhishek found himself in the midst of a controversy over who really performed the ‘diving off the cliff’ stunt in Raavan. “I did the stunt,so did the professional diver who taught me and so did a five-year-old,” he remarks. “The diver’s shot was used as mine looked very amateurish!” he clears.

The Bachchans have lashed out at the media for invading their privacy. But,on the other hand,they have been connecting with fans on social networking sites like Twitter and narrowing the gap between them. “I think it’s very important to connect with our viewers. The direct access is great,but these sites shouldn’t be used to promote films. I don’t like the word ‘followers’ but I can’t help that it’s there. I reply to as many tweets as I can from my fans,” he says.

Though viewers would love to see the entire Bachchan clan in a film,Abhishek thinks it will be tough. “The film will have to satisfy the creative needs of each actor at home!” he reasons. In his next film,which is slated for a December release,he stars opposite Deepika Padukone. “It’s Ashutosh Gowariker’s period film Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se that is based on the Chittagong uprising of 1930. I’m playing Surjyo Sen who headed the uprising,” he reveals.

Does the ‘Bachchan’ tag overshadow the characters he plays,we ask curiously. “See,it happens with every actor all over the world. It’s not possible for an actor to completely disconnect with the person he is. How well you allow the audience to suspend that belief is the real catch. But,we break the myth ourselves right in the beginning as movies start with our names in the credits!” he says. The actor admits that he still has a lot to learn,especially from his father Amitabh Bachchan. “I am what I am because of my parents. Dad’s hunger to learn and his dedication to his work is unparalleled. On the sets,he’s like a child who is doing his first film!” he smiles.

Paa was a first for Abhishek in many ways. One,he played his father’s father,and two,he turned producer. Is direction too on his agenda? “No,no!” he exclaims,“It’s too hard. I barely know how to act!” Obviously,his fans will disagree with that remark. He smiles,acknowledging that he has quite a following in Pune too. “I used to come to Pune as a child. I love the Shrewsbury biscuits here. It’s fantastic to see Pune’s growth from a quaint town to a bustling metro. Aishwarya and I will come more often as she has family here,” he promises.