Amitabh Bachchan, in a thrownack interview, speaks with Subhash K Jha, about Kaizad Gustad’s 2003 “wacky” film Boom.
Kaizad Gustad’s Boom was your most controversial film? How do you feel about the film in hindsight?
It’s a really wacky work. Totally tongue-in-cheek. I had a great deal of fun shooting for Boom. We shot in a hotel the Burj al-Arab in Dubai which is the last word in opulence. I don’t know how Ayesha Shroff got permission to shoot in there. I don’t think there’s a more opulent hotel in the world. Oh my God, it’s unbelievable! And it was my character’s adda. We shot Boom in every possible corner of that hotel. We even shot Bo Derek coming out of the water just like in the film 10. My character loves that film because he likes to see Bo Derek coming out of the water. I had to run after her just like Dudley Moore in 10. The whole film is a spoof. My co-star is Padmalakshmi.
Is it it true you took the Boom producers to court?
Yes, I have. I had gone to court because I hadn’t been paid. It’s quite a substantial sum. I waited for a year. I sympathised with their financial problems. But my financial department felt I should be paid. Fortunately now they’ve come to me and agreed to pay my remuneration in two instalments, one before and one after release. So as far as I’m concerned there’s no reason to hold up the release. I’m dubbing for the film.
Your old colleague Zeenat Aman was also in Boom.
That’s right. She plays my secretary. It was great fun teaming up with her again. And then I’ve another old colleague Hema in Baaghban in my next release.
You had some very complimentary things to say about her.
Oh, yes. She’s looking unbelievable. When I said she looks like Esha’s younger sister I meant it.
In that case, you look like Abhishek’s elder brother.
(Laughs) No, I’m happy looking like his dad. But seriously Baaghban and Boom belong to two different planets. Boom is really way-out. Kaizad is his own man. He’s technically very proficient.
