in a fascinating interview, Amitabh Bachchan openly speaks with Subhash K Jha about the drama Aks, which released in 2001, that was directed Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra also featured Manoj Bajpayee.
Amitji, I remember there were mixed responses to Aks?
There were people who were very very impressed by the film, and saw the film repeatedly. Each time they discovered a new facet to the film. The more discerning audience needs to make an effort to understand the film. Aks was a pathbreaking effort. I think it was an answer to all those who have been asking me why don’t I do something different. Given a chance I’d love to do another film that’s equally pathbreaking.
Audiences seemed to be a little confused by the film?
What was so confusing about the film? The story was fairly straightforward. There’s a good man and a bad man. The bad soul enters the good man’s body. The bad man’s link with the world is the good man. The bad man dies at the end. What could be more simple than that? I don’t see anything complicated in that. Our whole Hindu philosophy of death and afterlife is based on this concept of the soul transference. We have a ceremony after the death of an individual called the ‘chautha’ for the happy passage of the soul into the next world. Many times when we are irritated by someone we say, “Tumhari aatma ko shanti nahin milegi”. So the ideas in Aks were ingrained in our philosophy and mythology.
Perhaps the audience wasn’t quite as ready to go into philosophy and mythology back then as they are now?
But why should that be so? Haven’t good and evil co-existed in our films from time immemorial? There’s a very prominent speech near the Ganga where the evil force says, “You’re trying to get rid of me. Don’t forget I’m a very important part of your life. If there’s no evil there can be no good. How can you recognize one without the other?” I think these are very important lines. It’s a shame that audiences didn’t give the film’s subtext a chance.
Some critics said that the motive of Aks was to glorify evil?
Most certainly not! They didn’t really bother to understand the film’s unique theory on poetic justice. We have shown good to have triumphed over evil in our cinema. But no film had gone beyond that to show that evil is never eradicated. For centuries, evil has lived on. So if Aks showed the perpetuity of evil why should people be uncomfortable with the idea?
Movie watchers have become used to rounded, morally unambiguous endings?
Then don’t lament the fact that mainstream Hindi cinema doesn’t try something different. Every time we’re laughed at for telling the same cliched story. Here when we go beyond convention some people raise their eyebrows. The Bhagavat Gita has been quoted repeatedly in Aks—“Na koi marta hai na koi maarta hai maine nahin kahan kitabon mein likha hai” How much more into our tradition could we have gone? If some people have decided not to like the film, then please don’t criticise us for doing inane cinema. When we’ve made a sensible film it isn’t making sense to some people. Why? There are some very novel scenes and situations in the film. I think this film requires a number of viewing before anyone is equipped to pass judgement on it. It’s the easiest thing in the world to dismiss a film over which we’ve slogged for three years . It’s a result of our sweat and blood. Aks can’t be dismissed so randomly.
There are stunning moments in the film which perhaps needed to be looked at more carefully by critics in Mumbai?
Yes, there were stunning moments in the film. The very concept of a man asking for his own ‘chita ki raakh’ is daringly progressive. Where have you seen it before? Then he scatters the ashes of his own cremation with his own hands. It’s a first for our cinema. Why are people missing the delicacy and sensitivity of such moments?
Some people are horrified to see Amitabh Bachchan raping his screen wife.
Horrified by what? Just think of what’s happening. It’s an alien presence forcing my character to behave in that way. Sometime in a marriage a husband has sex with his wife even when she doesn’t consent to sexual intercourse. What’s so horrifying about showing an ugly truth? Don’t just say something because it sounds clever. Analyze what you’re looking and then pass judgement on it.
Are you offended by the critical backlash?
That’s not my look-out. What have I got to do with it? It’s their job to do what they’re doing. Their opinion is not going to change my life. It’s a free society. My job is to act. The critic’s job is to write clever columns. Let them. A critic has the authority and know-how to dislike a film, and we can’t argue with that. I’ve no quibble with their opinion. If everyone liked every piece of music or painting then the world would become a very mundane place. I’m prepared to sit and debate the merits and demerits of the film with anyone . I think the subject, treatment, and performances were all novel in Aks. Every film means a lot to both the actor and his fans. Some films are lighthearted. Others require more concentration. If you aren’t willing to give me that concentration then stop accusing us of churning out the same things over and over again.
So you stand by Aks?
If I find another subject that’s as different and challenging I’ll go ahead and do it. Only I know the kind of excitement, joy and satisfaction I felt while I shot for Aks with Rakeysh Mehra. I don’t think any member of the audience can understand my feelings at being part of such a creative process. I’ve never attempted anything like this. I rate it very highly. I think it’s certainly one my best and most memorable films. I spent three years of my time with him because there was no other director. I was without films. I was jobless. Since Rakesh was also without work at that point, we spent so much time together. We were comfortable with each other.
Is it true that the beard was actually grown for your role in Aks?
Yes , Rakesh and I discussed my look for a very long time. Finally I decided I should grow a beard. He approved and we went ahead with it. Subsequently, the look became a part of KBC and couldn’t be removed.
