Thaindian News

By Radhika Bhirani
New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) Amitabh Bachchan has never been busier. The Bollywood megastar, who turns 67 Sunday, has three films lined up for release, is hosting a popular television reality show, is to walk the ramp for a top fashion event - and has no plans to retire in the near future.

He says he’ll be happy to follow in the footsteps of legendary actor Ashok Kumar, who played strong roles even at the age of 80.

“I would disagree that actors of my age don’t get important roles to play in movies. Look at Dada Muni (Ashok Kumar)…he was an example. He kept doing important roles even till he was 80 years old,” Amitabh told IANS.

“I can’t be playing the lover boy anymore. So I do all those roles that suit a 67-year-old,” said the film icon who has completed four decades in the Indian film industry.

At his age, Amitabh is one of the busiest actors in tinsel town. The megastar says he had finished shooting for his forthcoming films “Aladin”, “Teen Patti” and “Paa” before heading to Singapore for three months.

He is now preparing to sign more projects.

“I was away with a friend of mine (Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh) who had a medical condition and I was out of the country for three months. Since I knew I wanted to be with him and that it would take some period of time for him to heal, I deliberately finished all my pending work by June,” Amitabh said.

In all his forthcoming projects, Amitabh will be seen in different avatars.

In “Aladin”, he will sport overgrown locks for the role of a contemporary genie, “Paa” will see him playing a child suffering from progeria, which causes premature ageing, and “Teen Patti” features him as a mathematics genius.

While “Aladin” will hit screens Oct 30, “Paa” will release Dec 4 and “Teen Patti”, which also stars Hollywood legend Ben Kingsley, will open to audiences Feb 12 next year.

Till then, Amitabh is making his presence felt on the small screen after three years as the host of Colors’ reality show “Bigg Boss”, which has celebrities staying inside a specially designed house under constant camera surveillance and no contact with the outside world.

“‘Bigg Boss’ was the first thing I took up (after returning from Singapore). There are many people who want to make a film with me fortunately, so I will now talk to them,” he said.

The actor is also fairing well in the ad world as he emerged among the top five Indian celebrity brand endorsers in a recently conducted survey.

And he is also set to scorch the fashion runway at the HDIL India Couture Week on his birthday. He will display a creation by his favourite designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla.

(Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)