Abhishek is not media shy

The word media seems to have become Abhishek Bachchan’s ‘favourite’ word as Shubha Shetty-Saha discovers during this interview

You must have pinned a lot on Dostana...
The story is different and novel. I have not done comedy for a long time. It’s special as Tarun (Mansukhani), who is a childhood friend, has directed it.

There is this gay angle to the film...
Not at all. This whole gay angle is being blown out of proportion, because the media had already decided what the film is about before even watching it…(huh?)

Would you play a gay character in a film?
Why not? If the script is good, and the director is sensible enough who would sensitively essay the character, I would do it. At the end of the day, we are actors and we would like to do roles which pose a challenge for us. I would do it any time.

Gay characters are more or less a taboo subject till now in Hindi movies…
(Flaring up) That’s not true. The media thinks it’s taboo. It’s very unfair to blame Hindi movies. The Hindi films never considered homosexuals as a taboo. Indian films have always dealt with daring subjects, for example Kabhi Kabhie which dealt with an illegitimate child. So there you are. (huh?)

Was Drona’s failure difficult to accept?
It was difficult, very difficult. A lot was invested not only financially but emotionally too. It is tough to accept at the end of the day, that you give your best to something and your audience thinks your best is not good enough. It is a tough pill to swallow. Drona was directed by a very dear friend (Goldie Behl) who had invested his entire life for the film. I feel bad for him. But you have to accept it and move on.

Do you think that it was not up to the mark?
If the film is not done well, the movie is bad. It’s as simple as that. I don’t believe it when people say our movie was ahead of its time. If it was so ahead, you should not have made it at that time. I was wrong. I realise that script is the most important thing. It should appeal to you at an emotional level. Rest of all is garnishing…

Is it true that you got Kareena Kapoor replaced in Dostana?
Not true at all. I don’t have the inclination or the power to allow people to do the film or not do the film. It is solely the producers’ decision. As far as I know Aishwarya was supposed to do the role. Karan later decided she shouldn’t do it and then Priyanka came in. Replacing and patching up are juvenile words used by the media. Something I don’t subscribe to. I really don’t understand what the big deal is. Do you really think I have the power to replace people?

You do, if you want to...
I don’t want to. That’s the point. I think Dostana is perfectly cast as it is now.

Do you forgive and forget?
I live and let live. I don’t have problems with anyone. I am pretty cool