Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan has looked back on one of the busiest phases of his remarkable career, recalling how he often moved from one film set to another without a break. The legendary actor revealed that he regularly worked on several films simultaneously. He explained that the demanding schedule was driven by his fear that acting opportunities might disappear if he turned down projects.Sharing a heartfelt note on his personal blog, Amitabh opened up about how filmmaking has evolved over the decades. He observed that actors today devote significant time to preparing for their roles. During his early years, however, such extensive preparation was rarely possible because performers were constantly juggling multiple films.
Amitabh Bachchan praises today’s preparation process
Speaking about the difference between the past and present, Amitabh expressed admiration for the commitment shown by modern actors. He acknowledged the effort that performers now invest in understanding their characters before shooting begins.He wrote, “.. the prep was word or an explanation unknown to my generation and beyond .. now ‘its’ a common vocabulary, where one prepares for the work to be undertaken .. for me it was an unknown entity .. i see now the amount of labour and pain, creative artists put in to get into the character, in looks and style and comprehensive character analysis .. a most valid and thought full act, and my admiration to those that are able to give this aspect the more than required serious consideration and be in preparation for the work, undertaken ..”The actor added that he greatly respects the dedication shown by today’s performers. He believes the process has become far more detailed than it was during his generation.
Big B remembers balancing several films in one day
Amitabh also recalled how difficult it was to switch between completely different characters within hours. According to him, actors of his era often worked in as many as 10 to 15 films simultaneously, making elaborate preparation nearly impossible.He further wrote, “Good and impressive .. But in the good ol’ days when we all worked in 10 to 15 films at the same time – many two or three the same day, it would have been impossible to prep for one and then un-prep for the other… ON THE SAME DAY!!MOST OF THE TIME IT WAS THE DIRECTOR OR THE ACCLAIMED ASSISTANT THAT EXPLAINED THE SCENE, WHEN YOU REACHED THE STUDIO OR LOCATION…many ask how did you slip from one role to another in the course of a day for different films… (sic)”
Fear of losing work kept him going
Amitabh also explained why he willingly accepted such an exhausting routine. He admitted that uncertainty about the future motivated him to continue saying yes to every opportunity.His words read (English version), “If I hadn’t accepted all that work, I was always worried about whether I would get opportunities in the future. So I adapted myself to whatever each role demanded. Months later, when the films finally released, I would watch them with curiosity to see how I had performed. There are many more such memories… perhaps I’ll share them another time. Gratitude and love, pouring down like torrential rain.“The veteran actor said he would often discover the final impact of his performance only after a film reached theatres months later.More than five decades after making his debut, Amitabh Bachchan remains one of Indian cinema‘s most active stars. He was recently seen in Kalki 2898 AD and continues to host Kaun Banega Crorepati.
