Abhishek Bachchan on how he was stunned to see Amitabh as a 13-year-old in Paa

How did Paa happen?
The director Balki one day came to us with the script, which I have not read so far, and told us, ‘I want you to play father and son.’ And I was like, ‘What’s new in this?’ Then he added, ‘I want you to play the father and Amitji to play your son.’ It was an opportunity of a lifetime. All I had to do was be his best friend, which we are in real life. And I enjoyed playing Paa’s Paa.

What was your first reaction when you saw Amitabh Bachchan on the sets with his make-up on?
I didn’t recognise him! My dad and Vidya Balan were shooting near our home and Balki asked me to drop by. I was mingling with the people there and then I asked Balki, ‘Where’s dad?’ And dad called out, ‘Next to you.’ I was stunned at the way he looked and behaved. He had transformed into a 13-year-old.

You sport just one costume in the film.
I was happy since I did not have to change. Coming from a film like Dostana, where all I had to do was change costumes, this was cakewalk. But then Balki took his revenge in a song where he made me wear 17 different costumes.

You play a politician in the film. Did you derive inspiration from someone?
Yes, from two of my good friends, Milind Deora and Sachin Pilot, but only the physicality.

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