Buoyed by the reception to his latest film, Pink, Amitabh Bachchan talks about the impact of the film
What went through your mind when Pink released?
Our life is such that if I get a lot of praise, I wonder ‘I hope nobody’s pulling our leg’. But when again and again we heard the same thing, I started believing that the film has done well. Getting this kind of appreciation is overwhelming.
What were your thoughts when you first read the script?
Shoojitji (Sircar, the film’s producer) brought the idea to me and the topic was so strong that in minutes I told him that we will work on this. That time I didn’t know what my role and the story be and who would be directing it.
You said that it was the right time to make a film on molestation of women.
Whenever we used to talk on this issue I used to feel awkward. Then, I participated in Kaun Banega Crorepati ... after listening to the story of many women who sat on the hot seat, I would feel so guilty and angry. United Nations asked me to be an ambassador for the girl child and while working on that, I saw many issues like this. So somewhere I felt like a film should be made on these issues.
Was this role tough to pull off?
I find it tough to do every role. I cannot sleep at nights wondering if I will be able to get it right in front of the camera the next day. I just did what I was told.
Will the message reach the people?
Based on the letters and the response that we have been getting I believe that we don’t need to say anymore. The public is smart and they have understood what we want to convey in this film. We have simply shown a mirror and said that if you see yourself in the reflection, change yourself. The public has understood. Somewhere a movement has begun. I hope that after watching Pink, people think about the issue.
Was it a conscious decision to write a public letter to your granddaughters?
While we were promoting the film everyone wanted to know what Pink was about. And we were unable to describe the content of the story. So, Shoojit came up with an idea of taking the essence of the film and put it in the form of a letter addressed to my granddaughters. The letter was emotional, it addressed all daughters and granddaughters; and I had an immediate reaction from my own daughter and granddaughter the moment that letter went out even though they were out of the country. ”