Daijiworld News Network - Mumbai
with inputs from agencies
Exclusive pics by Rons Bantwal
Mumbai, Feb 19: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan says his forthcoming film Nishabd deals with the psychology of a 60-year-old man who falls in love with an 18-year-old girl.
Bachchan spoke about the film and his role in it at a press conference after its music release in Mumbai on Saturday.
“The film dwells with the genuine emotions of the man and the effect it has on his family when confronted with such a situation and how they deal with it. The audience understand the honest and genuine feelings of my character in the film rather than sex and sensuality,” Bachchan said.
He felt that with the audience rapidly maturing in their taste for good cinema, it was high time that filmmakers experimented with creative ideas rather than stick to “escapist cinema”.
Bachchan said he had no reservations about accepting the role.
“When I read the script, I knew here was nothing to fear… what is important is to look at the situation which the characters find themselves in. It is what creativity and filmmaking is all about,” he said.
“Creativity is about imagining what would happen if they find themselves in such a situation. The film is about dwelling into their minds. Human beings are complex and it is never that easy to comprehend why people do what they do. Relationships are never as simple as they appear to be,” he added.
To a question on whether relationship as shared by his character and newcomer Jiah Khan in the film is justified at the end of the movie, Amitabh said, “for that you will have to see the entire film.”
Superstar Amitabh Bachchan and debut-making actress Jiya Khan with director Ram Gopal Varma (L) and Praveen Nichal (R) of Adlab
“Nishabd is Ramu's most sensitive story about human relationships. Varma is a responsible director and I have faith in his capabilities,” said Amitabh.
Varma said he would not have attempted this film had Bachchan not agreed to do the role. “I used his larger than life image, performing talent and strength in the film. A body ages, feelings do not,” said the filmmaker.
When asked why he took the risk of making an unconventional film when his recent films have not done well, said: “A film is a film and cannot be perceived as a risk before its release.”
In Nishabd, Jiah plays a modern day Lolita. "Nishabd is loosely based on Lolita. The sexual implications are a lot more in Lolita than in Nishabd. My film is only about a girl falling in love with an older man," she explains.
‘Nishabd’ releases on March 2. Filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj has composed the music of the film. Bachchan has sung one track 'Rozana' composed by Vishal.
More on Jiah Khan from Daijiworld's archives: