Bachchan on life, love and family

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">MUMBAI: Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has entertained millions from all age groups. He faced crises only to emerge stronger. On the eve of his 60th birthday, Amitabh Bachchan talks to Times News Network about his life, love, family, and the engagement of his son Abhishek to Karisma Kapoor. Excerpts:<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How has your family reacted to the fact that you are to turn 60?</span><br />You know in Hindi there is a saying: <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Satha but Patha, </span>which means that at sixty a man turns truly wise.But then a man at sixty can also be referred to as wo sathia meaning he’s become old and cranky. You’ll have to ask my family which applies to me.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What is your day going to be like tomorrow?</span><br />Tonight my family and a few close friends are going to Tirupathi. We return to Mumbai by 7 a.m. In the afternoon, Jaya is going to release a book about me — <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">To Be Or Not To Be. </span>I would have thought this enough... but my family put its foot down, so there will be a celebration in the evening. I guess I’m just going to go with the flow.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Have you seen the book, or is it going to be a total surprise?</span> It’s a total surprise. It’s wonderful of Jaya to do this. I did cooperate by posing for photographs and giving them personal pictures, which I had never wanted to make public, but besides that I really have no clue.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What role has Jaya played in your life?</span><br />She has been my <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">aradhangini </span>- my better half, very strong-willed. She expresses herself in no uncertain terms. I on the other hand, am quite easy-going, with not very strong opinions, and am easily influenced. So it’s been good to have her presence in my life.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What about the next ten years? Will you go into direction? Politics?</span> Hopefully if I have good health I will continue to work. I do not think I am qualified for direction. And as for politics, though I regret that I did not finish my term as MP, and I feel I let my constituents down, that chapter is closed.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">On this occasion will you be thinking of your late friend, Rajiv Gandhi?</span> Definitely. Life would have been very different had Rajiv been around. I miss him, and will be thinking of him on my birthday.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What toll has turning 60 taken on your body?</span><br />Well, like any other person, it means a slowing down, you climb the stairs and you need to sit down a little, your body is not as agile as it used to be. But as you know, I’ve had several accidents, the most famous one in ‘82, which nearly killed me, after which, only 50 per cent of my vital organs were functioning. Then came the myasthenia gravis, which though it’s gone into remission, has taken its toll. I’m asthmatic, and also there have been other accidents like when a firecracker blew up in my hand some years ago. Then there have been the two surgeries on my stomach... But apart from this, turning sixty is wonderful.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Are you like your father at sixty?</span><br />Oh no, I can never dream of reaching those heights, At that age my father was the epitome of learning, a man of literature and letters. I am just an actor.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">You have been married for nearly thirty years now. Any tips for other married couples?</span> I think it’s a great advantage to have a partner in the same profession. You understand each other better. Giving each other a lot of space helps. I think my valet, producers, make-up man, and co-artists have collectively spent more time with me than Jaya over the years! Because she’s been in the same profession, she understands how necessary it is for an actor to have space. Sometimes you come home from a shoot and you can both be in the same house, different rooms, without talking the whole evening in companionable silence without misunderstandings. <br />A creative person needs silence and space in abundance to allow the process of acting to take shape and gain momentum, and I must say, Jaya has been very supportive in this.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What are your thoughts on the Karisma-Abhishek engagement?</span> Happiness. Joy. I am very delighted. I look forward to discussing details about the wedding plans. But I have never been one for formalities, though I will respect whatever the children want. As far as I am concerned, Karisma is already my <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">bahu, </span>she is the <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">bahu </span>of this house.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What do you wish for on this occasion, what is it that you pray for?</span><br />Definitely good health for my parents. They are in poor health now, and suffering. I pray that their suffering is removed. </div> </div>