Abhishek Bachchan cannot stop raving about his father’s performance in Paa

When and how did you decide on doing Paa?
Balki came to us with the script, which I have not read so far, and told us that I want you to play father and son. And I was like: what’s so new in this? But then he added ‘I want you to play the father and Amitji, your son’. This 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 makeup on?
I didn’t recognise him. My dad and Vidya Balan were shooting near our home and Balki asked me to come and drop by. I was mingling around with people there and then I asked Balki, ‘Where’s dad?’ And dad called out saying, “Next to you”. I was completely 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 one was a 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 real-life people?
Yes, from two of my good friends Milind Deora and Sachin Pilot, but only the physicality.

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