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AMITABH BACHCHAN says that he does not like to be called the King of Bollywood, during a tete-a-tete with Jyothi Venkatesh of NRI Achievers, along the sidelines of the launch of the theatrical trailer of his forthcoming film “Bhoothnath Returns,” a film jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kishan Kumar and Renu Ravi Chopra under the banner of T-Series & BR Studios, at PVR Juhu in Mumbai recently … Here are some excerpts from the conversation they had:

What is your role in Bhoothnath Returns?

I revise my role of a friendly ghost, along with Boman who plays a politician, and the film’s child artist Parth Bhalerao who plays the role of Akhrot. The national award winning actress Usha Jadhav plays Akhrot’s mother in the film. “Bhootnath Returns” is an attempt by Renu and Ravi Chopra to take forward with Bhushan Kumar of T Series such a popular character as Bhoothnath with kids. This part is for all age groups and will get funnier with all of us playing really very hilarious characters. I am thankful to the producers to have approached me for the sequel again.

Can you elaborate on your role?

“Bhoothnath Returns” is an entertaining tale of good against evil, weak against powerful, and past against future. This small kid Parth is the only one who can see me in the film. In this film, he is the hero and I am the zero. I am being sent back to earth from Heaven after being taunted and severely admonished that I am a useless ghost if I cannot even scare even a small kid, and what transpires afterwards forms the crux of the story. The film has been directed by Nitesh Tiwari, who had earlier directed “Chillar Party” along with Vikas Bahl, whose next film “Queen” is all set for release shortly.

Your association with BR Films started long back!

Yes. My association with BR Films did start long back, even before I was signed on to play the lead in “Zameer” along with Sairaji and Shammiji. BR Films is a massive Institution thanks to people like BR ji, Yashji and Kookie (Ravi Chopra). During the two days I was here in Bombay when I had come to the Filmfare Madhuri Talent Contest, I went to a party by BR Choprasaab at his house at Napean Sea Road. It was a great honour for me to be there at his party. Though I was rejected by the Filmfare Madhuri guys after the preliminary stage, every time I was in Bombay, I used to make it a point to go and meet BR Chopra.

How do you react when you are hailed as the King of Bollywood?

I do not believe in the tag of Bollywood King and do not like to be foisted with it. If you want to learn acting, you have to be a good observer. I have been almost for 45 years in this industry, but I have still not learnt acting. I would say that even now I am learning acting every day by observing others on the sets. I remember as we used to feel that if we wear red clothes over our cape-chaddhi, we can also be supermen in real life.

What do you think about the new generation of actors today?

Frankly speaking, when we started our careers, none of us ever used to do such a good job as actors in our first films. I am amazed and impressed at the way the young actors are doing their jobs these days. The child star Parth with whom I am acting in “Bhootnath Returns” has done an amazing job in the Marathi film “Killa,” which was showcased at the recent Berlin International Film Festival.

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