The one regret in Abhishek's life Bachchan Jr still awaits audience nod

Abhishek Bachchan probably has the toughest act to follow. His parents -- Jaya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan -- are such powerful artistes that his very surname is his undoing.

While his peers and friends have taken the well-packaged bubblegum love story route, he chose the sort of offbeat Refugee, J P Dutta's film, opposite first-timer Kareena Kapoor. His work won him acclaim and a limited amount of success. Subsequent releases like Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke, Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa, Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai and Haan... Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya, made no dent at the box-office.

In an industry which recognises box-office draw and star value, rumours were afloat -- Abhishek is no longer a star draw. He dropped out of Ram Gopal Varma's Bhoot, Karan Johar dropped Abhishek for his next film...

The actor, for his part, is practical. Rueful about the fact that he has yet to make a mark with the audiences, Shilpa Bharatan-Iyer finds the actor awaiting his next release, the Gurudev Bhalla-directed Shararat:

You set out with a lot of audience expectation. Do you think it was justified? Did it pressurise you in any way?

From the audience point of view, there would be that added excitement to watch the son of someone you have idolised for so long. Though I did not feel the pressure of being my parents' son, I did feel responsible. There is no point competing with someone you can never compete with.

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If I were to compete with my parents, it would, in a way, mean undermining their capabilities. See, my parents Jaya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan set standards the industry tries to match up to. Why should it be different for me?

For example, when you think of a drunk scene, they can only think of Dilipsaab [Kumar] or my father. Everyone just tries to ape him.

I am lucky I have had the opportunity of living with him and being his understudy almost all my life. That is my biggest advantage.

Your friend Hrithik Roshan chose the more predictable bubblegum romance route. You chose the more unconventional Refugee. Do you think you should have re-evaluated that decision?

Look, every actor makes his choices in accepting or rejecting roles. I choose a movie by the gut feeling when I hear the script. Though I do take my parents' advice before I accept or refuse a project, it is finally my decision. It has always been like that; they are very clear about this as well.

I am proud of every role I have done. There are absolutely no regrets on that score. The only regret is I have not been appreciated by the audience. Though I think I have been treated very kindly by the industry. I owe this to the goodwill my parents have generated.

How long do you give yourself to make good?

Actually, I gave myself the first film. I have often said that it is about time I started making good on my own. Any offers coming in now are purely because of my parents.

Your father had many flops before he married Jayaji. Do you think marriage might change your luck?

Regardless of whether or not my father was a hit at the box-office, he is regarded as one of the greatest actors on the Indian screen. I do not think someone's presence or absence in my life will really make a difference as far as the box-office goes. Only God and the audience can make the difference at the box-office.

It is rumoured that your friend Karan Johar dropped you from his next venture because you are not selling. Comment.

Well, that is how the industry is. You are chosen or dropped from a project based on you current saleability. Why should my friends be any different from the industry? When they belong to the industry, the norms apply to them too just as much as it does to anyone else. It is something you have to accept.

In Shararat, you play a character quite unlike you with a loud personality. What was it like to play him?

I had no clue how to play Rahul --- he is everything I am not. I just followed my director's [Gurudev Bhalla] instruction to the letter. It was pretty liberating to play Rahul because I could do anything and that would be okay.

Acting with all those great artistes like [A K] Hangalsaab, Amrishji [Puri] et al was a learning experience in itself.