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'I don't know why Mrityudaata flopped'

Kavita Khanna in Washington

"You wanted an interview, right?" Big B says from the doorway of his dressing room. "Come on in!"

So in you go into the small rectangular room with lockers lining one wall, a table, no mirror, and a few green-and-yellow metal chairs. The perfect gentleman he is, Amitabh Bachchan clears towels off a chair, and waves you into it. "Wait," he says as you are about to sit down, "This one is a bit wet..." He gets you another chair and seats himself opposite, ready for questions.

Face pale with powder and his contact lens clearly visible in the harsh light, Bachchan looks every bit his age. He plays with themaulis (red threads) on his right wrist and remains the epitome of politeness, but always on guard -- weighing each sentence carefully before lending it voice. Excerpts from the interview:

Could you tell us about your upcoming projects?

Amitabh Bachchan in Major Saab

One is Major Saab with Ajay Devgan, Sonali Bendre, Nafisa Ali. It is an ABCL production, directed by Tinnu Anand. Eighty per cent of the film is ready and we should be releasing it later this year.

Then there is Bade Mian Chote Mian with Govinda, Lal Badshah with Manisha and Shilpa Shetty. I am also doing a guest appearance in Hindustan Ki Kasam. Then I am doing a film for S Ramanathan in the south; it hasn't been named yet. It's with Arshad Warsi, Vijayshanti and Karishma. And then there are our own (ABCL) productions... Inder Kumar's film with Madhuri and Aamir Khan and Mehul Kumar's Aye Watan Tere (which will be on as soon as I get back)...

Why do you think Mrityudaata flopped?

I don't know the reasons. It might have been something to do with the story... Or the way it was made. Or maybe, the performance.

How is ABCL doing? We have been hearing all sorts of rumours.

ABCL is doing fine. Ups and downs are normal in business.

Why did your chief executive officer Sanjiv Gupta resign?

Just structural changes that are taking place. Normal structural changes. The decision to leave was his own.

No plans to retire...?

Yes. But I have about four or five films in hand. I guess I'll complete them first.

Will your son be entering Bollywood?

I don't know. If he wishes to do so, he will have all co-operation from me. It's still a long way away, I think.

On this tour you haven't invited audience members on to stage. Why? Many of them would give their eyeteeth to be there with you...

(Very animatedly) Will they, really? I didn't know that was so popular. If they want me to do it, I'll do it!

(And he did do it. In the concert finale, when he performed Mere angane main from Laawaaris , the Big B had delighted wives of all descriptions joining him on stage.

Who says the man doesn't give the public what they want any more?)