Amitabh Bachchan, often referred to as the megastar of the century, has had an illustrious career in Bollywood, spanning several decades. Even at 82, he remains at the top of his game, admired for his energy, punctuality, and discipline. In an interview from the 1990s, Amitabh was asked about his children, Shweta and Abhishek, potentially joining the film industry.
He recalled advice from his mother, who believed that one artist in the family was sufficient. He shared,
“Hamare parivaar mein main pehla film kalakar hoon, aur jaisa ke meri mata ji hamesha kehti hain, jab unse poocha jata hai ke aapke bachhe aapke pati-ki tarah kyun nahin bane toh woh kehti hain ke ek ghar mein ek hi kavi kaafi hai. Usi tarah, main bhi yehi kehna chahunga ke ek parivaar mein ek film kalakar kaafi hai.”
“In our family, I am the first film artist, and as my mother always said, one poet in the family is enough. Similarly, I believe one film artist is enough for our family.”
Despite this sentiment, Amitabh mentioned that if Shweta and Abhishek did wish to pursue acting, they would need to face their own struggles, just as he did.
He emphasized the importance of starting from scratch and going through the same challenges he faced in his career.
Lekin agar meri beti aur beta film industry mein aana chahein, toh main chahunga ke woh bhi usi tarah apni shuruaat karein jis tarah maine ki thi. Jaise humne struggle kiya, waise hi woh bhi us dor se guzrein.”
While Shweta chose not to enter the film industry, she pursued a career as a columnist and author, though her debut novel, Paradise Towers, received mixed reviews, leading her to stop writing. On the other hand, Abhishek entered Bollywood with the 2000 film Refugee and went on to star in several successful films. However, he has often been compared to his legendary father, with many feeling he hasn’t quite lived up to Amitabh’s legacy.
What are your thoughts on Amitabh Bachchan’s reflections in this interview?
