By News18
Abhishek Bachchan might belong to one of Bollywood’s most famous families, but his path in films hasn’t been easy—especially with the pressure of matching up to his father, Amitabh Bachchan. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Abhishek spoke openly about how his father’s straightforward feedback impacted his early acting career.
Before stepping into acting, Abhishek was in college but had to leave midway after Amitabh Bachchan’s business faced a financial crisis. Later, acting alongside his father brought its own set of nerves and expectations.
“The first time we shot together was for Sarkar. Ramu said that we’ll do some test shoots, and then I could go away and shoot Bunty Aur Babli. This was September 2004. First day, I was panicking and sweating. He says to me, ‘Shankar’, and all I had to do was turn around and say, ‘Ji?’ I was petrified, I was literally shaking. He has that effect.”
Even after the scene was done, the fear lingered. Abhishek didn’t want to ride home with his father, but Amitabh insisted. What followed was a ride filled with silence—until they reached their bungalow. He recalled, “He’s just sitting there, and then, in 48 frames, he turned to me. ‘Isi liye maine itne saal mehnat karke tumhe padhaya likhaya? Dialogue bolna aata nahi hai tumhe.’ I felt like I had murdered someone, the way he looked at me.”
Abhishek admitted the comment crushed him. Upset and angry, he called director Ram Gopal Varma soon after. “You dog! I told you this would happen,” he recalled saying.
Despite that rocky start, Sarkar turned out to be a box office success and even led to two sequels. But this wasn’t the only time Big B held back his praise.
Abhishek also reflected on the 2004 film Yuva, a performance widely appreciated by audiences, but not by his father. He recalled feeling proud of his work for the first time and being elated when Shammi Kapoor praised him publicly at the IIFA premiere in Singapore. Outside the screening, his mother was in tears, but Amitabh had little to say.
“It was Yuva’s premiere at the IIFA Awards in Singapore, and I watched the film, and I sensed that something special was happening. Outside, he told me we’d talk later.” But that conversation never came—until Amitabh revealed on Koffee with Karan that he didn’t like his son’s performance.”
Today, Amitabh often praises Abhishek on social media, but the actor admits it feels strange.
“It’s embarrassing. But I also realise he’s 83, and this is his way of showing love. It wasn’t always like this,” Abhishek said.