In his words…
I had met Amitabh in the capital much before he became an actor. Those days, I used to visit Shobha (Kapoor), who was an airhostess, in Delhi. We used to hang out at Tabela, a discotheque at the Oberoi hotel there. Amitabh used to visit that place as well. Shobha had a friend, who knew him. I remember meeting him there with that friend. In Mumbai, we were both strugglers, working our way to get films. We worked together only on one film, Gehri Chaal (1973), which we shot in Madras. The memories are faint, but we had a good time working together. He’s remained a friend since.
As an actor, Amitabh is a class apart. His dedication is exceptional. There is no word like ‘chalega’ in his dictionary. He puts complete effort in anything and everything that he does. Also, one can’t work hard unless one is passionate about his/her work. Like we believe that my daughter Ekta (Kapoor) undergoes so much work-related stress but actually, for her it’s not ‘hardwork’ or ‘stress’, she’s only enjoying the process. It’s the same with him. I remember when I went to meet him at Breach Candy hospital, post his near-fatal accident on the set of Coolie (1982), he said, “I’ve forgotten how to walk.” He’d been lying in bed recuperating for so long that he was unable to walk. But his willpower helped him fight back.
Often, after achieving success, one tends to forget what made them successful, what got them so far. But Amitabh, on the other hand, grew more and more conscious and never lost a grip on himself. I’ve never seen him make producers wait, I’ve never seen him while away time or chatting away on the set. He respects his time and more importantly that of others. He has always led a disciplined life. In the early days, even when we all sat drinking together till 3 am, he’d reach the shoot dot at 7 am. Unlike others who wouldn’t be able to make it after a late night. Clearly, he never took his position or stardom for granted. That’s why he has kept growing. Even today, his stamina is unbelievable. He’s everywhere. In films, on television, on social media… and he sends such lovely handwritten letters to everyone. I guess it’s his mind from where he derives his strength. Despite his age and status, he’s full of fun. He’s got a tremendous sense of humour! His life is definitely an inspiration for all.
Also Read: Jeetendra: Amitabh Bachchan never took his stardom for granted – Exclusive
