He's tall, dark, handsome--and, at 63, Amitabh Bachchan is still a heartthrob to millions. Women swoon over his soulful brown eyes, his deep sexy voice, his polished accent. Voters in a BBC online poll have dubbed him "actor of the millennium"; the biggest box-office draw in the world, the one with the most recognizable face anywhere.
And while the Indian star may not be a household name in the United States, a Lincoln Center retrospective--titled "Amitabh Bachchan: The Biggest Film Star in the World"--was sold out when fans flocked to see the man they call the Big B live in the Big Apple last week. Those who watched some of his nearly 150 films for the first time were treated to an array of diverse performances--including the song-and-dance numbers so integral to Bollywood films--and a few romantic moments, which were especially intense given that kissing and nudity are forbidden in Indian cinema. NEWSWEEK's Vibhuti Patel spoke to Bachchan about Hollywood, Bollywood and politics. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: You're the biggest film star in the world? The BBC rates you bigger than Laurence Olivier and Marlon Brando.
Amitabh Bachchan: Internet polls are conducted for fun. Perhaps a lot of Asians, who are fond of the internet, voted and others did not. It's difficult to compare oneself to Olivier and Brando.
How do you feel about being offered this festival at Lincoln Center?
I'm surprised that such a serious body is showing an interest in our actors and our films. To find yourself and your work being highlighted where cinema and its craft originated is an honor. I'm grateful for such recognition here because this creates an awareness, gives us an exposure here as Americans see our work. I'm happy to be here to give some idea of what Indian films are about, how big they are. We make 1,000 films a year for 3.8 billion viewers.
Your recent films have been more serious, with less romantic interest.
Well, you couldn't expect me to romance a 21-year-old. I'm fortunate that there are filmmakers who want to make films like "Dev" (2004) and "Black" (2005), that people still consider me important enough to offer me good roles.
So, will you work more with art cinema than in Bollywood's "song-dance-action" formula films?
"Bollywood" is a demeaning term for a respectable industry. It was coined by a journalist but now it's in the Oxford Dictionary for eternity ... Despite differences in style, "art" films also tell a story and depend on the box office. If it's easier now to work in non-commercial cinema, it's because I'm not carrying the tag of being a leading man and all the commerce that goes with that tag.
You've been compared to Clint Eastwood. Do you plan to direct?
No, I don't know how to. I'm having a tough time being an actor.
How were the films selected for this festival?
When one has done 150 films, it's hard to select 12. My wife Jaya [also an actress] helped select films that were lesser known and films that covered the range of my career. We were constrained by the problem getting good prints. Producers are wary because of piracy and misuse of prints. For older films, the negatives are in such bad shape that it's impossible to make duplicates. Preservation and restoration are expensive in India.
Why have Indian films not caught on in America?
It's partly because of the language barrier--English is strong in India but our national language is Hindi--but mostly due to a lack of exposure. We lack the concerted, collective effort at marketing necessary to be successful here; Hollywood is a master at it. India's film industry is not corporate, we operate as individuals. And, we need to tap into theater networks here--Sony, Warner, Columbia have their own distribution systems--so our films can find a place to be shown. Things are changing, entertainment is now being taken seriously. With India's economy opening up, Indian food, clothes, films are being appreciated. Festivals like this one will spread the good word.
What changes have you seen in your 35 years in films?
Greater acceptability. It used to be infra dig for people from good homes to be associated with the film industry for fear of social norms being destroyed. Now, Hindi cinema is a parallel culture. Our film industry is the biggest in the world--bigger than Hollywood. By 2015, it's projected to be one of the three top industries in India, the third biggest revenue earner. Speed in communication has had a huge ripple effect. Television has brought a superior Western product into people's homes virtually free. The quality of our films has thus had to improve to get people back into the cinemas. But in our older films, the written word was important, now dialogue isn't as poetic. With the emphasis on speed, the lyrical quality's been sacrificed.
You served for a brief stint in India's parliament. Why did you leave politics?
After Indira Gandhi's assassination, I wanted to stand behind my friend, the young prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Later, I realized politics is a game I don't know; I felt out of place. As actors, we start off wanting people to love us for our creativity. Then, when we have them in the palms of our hands, to suddenly tell them to love us for our politics is unfair. One day, when I was campaigning for the party, a young man rushed up to my helicopter, shoved his fist through the window, put a note in my hand, and ran back. It said, "I'm a fan of yours but you're making life difficult for me as I'm with the opposition." It was a poignant description of the conflict my fans were going through and was instrumental in my decision to withdraw--I was causing anguish to the very people who made me what I am.
Would you consider working in the West? Hollywood?
If I'm offered a suitable role, sure. I admire Al Pacino, Robert de Niro--I'd love the opportunity to just walk into a frame holding their briefcase.