Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan has recalled one of the busiest phases of his remarkable career, recalling how he often moved from one set to another without rest. The legendary actor revealed that he regularly worked on multiple films simultaneously. He explained that the schedule requirement was driven by his fear that acting opportunities would disappear if he turned down projects.Sharing a candid note on his personal blog, Amitabh explained how cinema has evolved over the decades. He noted that actors today spend a significant amount of time preparing for their roles. In its early years, however, such extensive preparation was rarely possible because performers were constantly juggling multiple films.
Amitabh Bachchan praises the preparation process today
Talking about the difference between the past and the present, Amitabh expressed admiration for the commitment shown by modern actors. He acknowledged the effort that actors now invest in understanding their characters before filming begins.He wrote: “.. preparation was an unknown word or explanation to my generation and beyond… now ‘it’ is a common vocabulary, where one prepares for the work to be undertaken… to me it was an unknown entity… now I see the amount of work and pain, the creative artists put into the character, the look and style. give this aspect the serious consideration more than required and be in preparation for the work done..”The actor added that he greatly respects the dedication shown by today’s performers. He believes the process has become much more detailed than it was during his generation.
Big B remembers balancing multiple films in a day
Amitabh also recalled how difficult it was to switch between completely different characters within a few hours. According to him, actors of his era often worked on as many as 10 or 15 films simultaneously, making elaborate preparation nearly impossible.He further wrote, “Good and impressive… But in the good old days when we were all working on 10-15 films at the same time, many two or three on the same day, it would have been impossible to prepare for one and then stop preparing for the other… ON THE SAME DAY!!MOST OF THE TIME IT WAS THE DIRECTOR OR HAPPY ASSISTANT WHO EXPLAINED THE SCENE, WHEN YOU ARRIVED AT THE STUDIO OR LOCATION….Many wonder how you switched from one role to another in the course of a day for different films.. (sic)”
The fear of losing his job kept him going
Amitabh also explained why he willingly accepted such a grueling routine. He admitted that uncertainty about the future motivated him to keep saying yes to every opportunity.His words read (English version): “If I hadn’t accepted all this work, I always worried about whether I would have opportunities in the future. So I adapted to what each role required. Months later, when the films were finally released, I would watch them curiously to see how he had performed. There are many more such memories…maybe I’ll share them another time. Gratitude and love, pouring down like torrential rain.“The veteran actor said he would often discover the ultimate impact of his performance only after a film hit theaters months later.More than five decades after making his debut, Amitabh Bachchan remains one of the Indian cinemathe most active stars. It was last seen in Kalki in 2898 AD and continues to host Kaun Banega Crorepati.