Still many things I should be doing: Amitabh

Amitabh Bachchan, who turned 69 Tuesday and is the busiest entertainer in the country, says there are still many things that cross his mind which he feels he should be doing.

"There are many things that cross my mind which I feel I should also be doing. Someday perhaps I shall find time for them too," Amitabh told IANS in an interview.

Asked whether the excitement of becoming a grandfather has sunk in yet, he quipped: "Yes, long ago." Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan are expecting their first child soon.

The megastar also said he finds his life unworthy of biographical documentation by him.

"My life has been blessed and I am ever grateful to the Maker and my parents for giving me that. Beyond that I find it unworthy of biographical documentation."

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. This year your birthday is also special because there is a new member of the household on the way. Does the excitement of that new arrival add a special sparkle and sheen to yourbirthday this year?

A: Everyday is special, every birthday therefore is special - for those born and those yet to be born.

Q: Has the excitement of becoming a 'Dadajee' (paternal grandfather) sunk in yet?

A: Yes, long ago.

Q: At 69, you continue to be the busiest entertainer in this country with an engagement diary that challenges the 24 hours granted to a day. Are you able to do all the things that you would like to?

A: Not entirely! There are many things that cross my mind which I feel I should also be doing. Someday perhaps I shall find time for them too.

Q: Are there any unfulfilled desires? Anything that you'd like to do? What have been the most important events of the past one year?

A: I hope there are unfulfilled desires within me but to say what they shall be is difficult to put afinger on. I can tell you what is important for me today, not what has been important for me in this past year. That I shall not be able to remember. And that is how I would like it to be.

Q: The name Amitabh Bachchan means many things to many of us. What does it mean to you?

A: My name given to me by my parents.

Q: You are often asked why you don't write your autobiography. Now that you are putting your thoughts on your blog wouldn't you like to put the story of your life together?

A: My life has been blessed and I am ever grateful to the Maker and my parents for giving me that. Beyond that I find it unworthy of biographical documentation.

Q: You've been shooting regularly for Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). How has television influenced your entire perception of mass entertainment?

A: Television has been a huge revelation for me. Its reach, its value, the impact it creates, have all been a great learning exercise. I had been involved in its functioning long before it became so big in India. It is a most influential medium and has now become the mainstay of most entertainment in this country, out-beating cinema.

Its immediacy in today's time of rapid and instant communication is its greatest asset. It is tedious and exhausting but a most satisfying creative medium for me as I am sure it must be for many others that contribute to it.

Q: What are the films that you have signed or are about to sign?

A: I have not signed any new project, in the real sense of the word. But yes, there are many that are under discussion. It would not be ethical to talk about them until those formalities are executed.

Q: Finally, what are the things that you'd like to change in your own life and in our country thisbirthday?

A: Why a birthday to think of making changes? If one strongly feels about them any and every day day is good. My life is as I said, satisfactory beyond my hoped imagination, but for the country I would wish for it to progress much beyond its cliched label of a 'third world country'. I want it to be the 'first', not 'third'!!

Don't want to only do remakes: Hrithik Roshan

Hrithik Roshan is working in a remake for the first time, but the Bollywood heartthrob feels that would not continue with the genre post-‘Agneepath’. As far as comparison goes with the original, he is unperturbed.

"I don`t want to do remakes only. My premise is that I should not do remakes. Earlier, I didn`t even want to hear about it. Now at least I will hear it," Hrtihik told reporters in an interview.

Filmmaker Karan Johar decided to give a makeover to his dad Yash Johar`s 1990 production venture ‘Agneepath’, in which Amitabh Bachchan gave one of his best performances as Vijay Deenanath Chahuhan and won a national award.

Karan roped in Hrihik to play the protagonist and with ‘Agneepath’ ready to hit screens Jan 26, expectations are high and people are likely to compare Hrithik with Amitabh. But he is unruffled and believes that "if you do something in your own way, in your individual way, then it will stand out. People will not compare."

The 38-year-old`s performance was critically acclaimed in films like ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ and he even gave blockbusters like ‘Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai’, ‘Krrish’ and ‘Dhoom 2’.

Despite having such an impressive body of work, he says he can't "act".

He said: "My premise is that I can only act well if I am in that character. I have to know everything about my character. If I am not living it, then I can`t act. If you ask me to imitate or act, I can`t do it. Others can because they have that talent. I can`t act, so I am bad actor."

The new age Vijay Deenanath Chahuhan says shooting for the climax, which is full of blood and gore, was the most difficult part of the movie, helmed by first-time director Karan Malhotra, a former assistant of Karan Johar.

"The climax was shot in Diu and throughout I had to fight with Sanjay Dutt with a bare and bleeding body and the shoot went on for 22 days. It ended up being the toughest schedule of my life," said Hrithik.

If the "Agneepath" promos are creating curiosity, the new villian in B-town - Sanjay Dutt - has grabbed the limelight with his scary look.

Sanjay`s look has scared not just the audiences but Hrithik too.

"Once during the shoot Sanjay Dutt gave me such a harsh look that I was taken aback. I thought is this Sanjay Dutt? I was like what`s happening," he said.

"In the beginning audiences would feel that it`s impossible and Vijay is nothing. If it would have looked easy, then you would not enjoy the journey."

Hrithik was quite sceptical before signing the film, but the strong script convinced him to get on board.

"Karan Johar being a friend forced me and asked me to read the script. When I read the script I was shocked. As an actor it touched me. I was defenceless. I had no reason to say no," said the actor who has teamed up with Priyanka Chopra in the movie.

Historic Pakistani film premiered in India

Film buffs in the city on Thursday got a rare opportunity to watch the Indian premiere of the 1959 historic Pakistani movie 'Jago Hua Savera', which has dialogues and songs by legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Bollywood stars and their pricey entourage

With most films today being made on a budget that is several crores upwards, a majority of this budget is spent on the actors and the director. And the amount spent on the stars does not just constitute his acting fee but also goes in paying members of his extended staff, including make-up artists, hairstylists, spot-boys, drivers, bodyguards and even their chefs, trainers and business managers. Cashing in
Needless to say, the bigger a multi-starrer, higher the expense for the stars' staff. As a director, talking off the record, reveals, "Films like Golmaal Returns, Golmaal 3, All The Best, Housefull and Housefull 2, Desi Boyz, Race, Race 2 and Players to name some, cost at least Rs 2 crore for the stars' staff. You won't believe the kind of money they make per movie. They charge Rs 15,000 upwards per day."A production executive associated with a number of hits tells us that Rs 25,000 is the minimum amount paid per day to staff members. "But that's for the most economically priced actors. However, when it comes to stars, their staff costs the producers Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000 per day," he points out, declining to be named.
Personal favourites
He elaborates, "A hair-stylist and a make-up artist for a star gets paid from Rs 15,000 to 20,000 per day. If the star like Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Ranbir Kapoor wants someone like Aalim or Aamir Khan insists on Adhuna Babani, then his or her charges are about Rs 30,000 per day.
In many cases, these top stylists let their assistants take over after they've styled the stars. These assistants are paid from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000, depending on their experience.
For actresses, Pompi is sought after for hairstyling. Kareena Kapoor always insists on him. His fees are about Rs 18,000 per day. Katrina Kaif insists on Subhash for her make-up, He charges nothing less than Rs 18,000 per day."
Costume gala
Another lucrative department for the stars' staff is costumes. While most  designers charge a lump sum amount for the film, the middle and lower rung make the producer pay their assistants who represent them at the shooting.
"So while Manish Malhotra, Ana Singh, Surily Goel pay their assistants from the huge packet they pocket, some others make the filmmaker pay about Rs 10,000 per day to the costume assistant," reveals our production source.
Extra earnings
In fact, even a star's extended staff members like his spot-boy, driver, trainer and bodyguards draw handsome amounts. Another executive producer who has worked on many a multi-starrers explains, "While a spot-boy is paid Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000, drivers and bodyguards are paid about Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,500. If a star needs to get into shape for a film, then some make the producer pay for the trainer on outdoor. That costs Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per day." According to our sources, on outdoor shoots, the producer has to bear the cost for the travel and accommodation of the actor's staff.
They stay in the same hotel as the star. Some actors however pay some of their staff from their own pockets. "Like Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan pay for their own security personnel," points our source.
Even body doubles for stars get paid on a per day basis. Our sources quotes, "Shah Rukh has a body double for his action scenes. It's learnt he's paid Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per year."

Top slots
Our sources conclude that among the male stars, Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan command the highest fee for their staff while Kareena, Katrina and Bipasha Basu top the list of female actresses for the same.