Abhishek: 'I am here to act' Tough words from Bachchan Jr

Subhash K Jha

Last year, Abhishek Bachchan is said to have roughed up a couple of journalists in New Delhi while shooting for Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai.

The pressmen promptly took him to court for manhandling them. Last week, Delhi court cleared Abhishek of the charges filed against him.

A close family friend of the Bachchans reveals, "The two journalists and he came to a mutual settlement. Abhishek thought the case had been dropped. But it hadn't. Whether it was an oversight on the complainants' part or not, we do not know. But Abhishek was shocked to read about the court summons in a daily newspaper."

As the hearing drew to a close, the Delhi press descended on the star. A 10,000-strong crowd waited outside the courtroom. As he came out with his lawyer, a camera fell on his lawyer's hand, injuring him.

Bachchan today is a wiser man. "It is a nightmare best forgotten. I am glad it's over. I would rather put it behind me and move on. I am here to act. I am not here for all this."

Abhishek seems to have interesting projects lined up. Says he, "I have a home production with Rakesh Mehra [of Aks] starting July. It is a topical drama called Samjhauta Express." This was the script with which Mehra wanted to launch Abhishek's acting career, but was beaten by J P Dutta [Refugee]. Mehra's Samjhauta Express deals with the India-Pakistan conflict.

Continues Abhishek, "I also have a film with Vipul Shah which he is directing for AB Corp Ltd in August. Vipul directed Dad [Amitabh Bachchan] in Aankhen recently. Now he will direct both of us in this thriller [The Vipul Shah project is the only one featuring the two Bachchans]. I think Rakesh Mehra and Vipul Shah are the future of Indian cinema. I have great faith in both of them."

Abhishek will also star in a project helmed by Madhur Bhandarkar [of Chandni Bar]. "Madhur and I are all set to start an action drama in July for producer Vashu Bhagnani. I am also doing two films for Ram Gopal Varma, including a hi-tech horror film which he will produce, and another action film that AB Corp Ltd will produce ."

Abhishek's next release is the family film Om Jai Jagdish, with which Anupam Kher makes his directorial debut. "It releases June 28. The treatment of this family film is very fresh."

The actor admits he had a blast shooting with Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan who play his screen bothers in Om Jai Jagdish. Abhishek has two other releases lined up this year --- Rohan Sippy's Kuch Na Kaho which he describes as "a sweet love story", and the long-delayed Sharaarat, debutant director Gurudev Bhalla's long-delayed fable of frailty.