Amitabh Bachchan talks about the year that was and the sudden death of his dear colleague Om Puri
Subhash K Jha (DNA; January 11, 2017)

Amitabh Bachchan’s Pink proved to be a landmark film, not just for taking a stand against the double-standards by which society judges a woman, the film also gave Big B yet another opportunity to showcase his acting chops. The actor speaks about his professional milestones and his personal life in a candid chat. Excerpts:

A colleague and co-star of yours Om Puri passed away suddenly. Your thoughts?
Life’s suddenness astounds us all. He was a friend, an affable, loving colleague, a dynamic talent... now lost... just like that... in a whisper that invaded our modern communication system. I went to his cremation. And at the crematorium, the flashes of the night cameras, blinding the path to the bereaved family, were in existence, too. Of their profession, that is their most important chore for the day. At that moment, my main concern was to hold my friend’s son in an embrace and transfer strength to him in his young world. Not much to be said to an 18-year old who has lost his father. ‘Be strong’, is all I could muster. What else could I say? What else can anyone say? They have lost personally and in relation, shall bear the end, with greater sorrow. I stood in silence, head to the ground, the other condoling visitors, stood, too.

2016 was the year you had Pink, Wazir and Te3n. How do you view the year and the acting opportunities it offered you?
All the films you mention were challenging and gave me opportunities to play different roles. It’s the norm now with me and my select offerings from prospective producers.

Looking back, do you see Pink as one of the most influential films of your career?
I would like to believe that every film I did had an influence — good or bad was for the audiences to decide. Pink was, topical and most impressive in its issue and left the nation with its most dynamic tagline: “No means NO”! Its critical and commercial success lent credence to what the story had set out to do, and I am proud to have been a small part of it.

I’ve seldom seen you more pleased with your film.
It was gratifying to be able to put across, in a most succinct manner, the turmoil and trauma that women in our country are subjected to and to have subtly brought to the foreground, thoughts and beliefs that were most probably discussed behind closed doors. While a film like Pink addresses the issue of sexual violation, an incident as shameful as the mass molestation during New Year’s Eve comes along to remind us of how dangerous the world has become for women.

What is the solution to the rapid rise in sexual attacks?
They should all take example from Pink and repeatedly view it. Pink is the answer.