In a scene in Ghoomer, Abhishek Bachchan’s character says, ‘This life is not a game of logic, but magic.’ In his 23-year career, it’s the magic of movies that has kept the actor going despite failures. 

“You have to remind yourself every day that there is magic. It’s the hope that ruins you. You hear these stories that so-and-so actor came off a spate of unsuccessful films and that one film turned things around for him. Or that films were declared flops in the opening weekend, but took off Monday onwards. So, if your film doesn’t open well, you think, ‘Let’s wait for Monday.’ That hope is a dangerous thing,” says the actor.

Where exactly does the magic lie then? In the freedom to tell powerful stories, in the ability to become different characters. In his second innings, Bachchan has chosen wisely—from Manmarziyaan (2018) to Bob Biswas (2021) and now, Ghoomer, in which he plays an acerbic cricket coach. R Balki’s sports drama aligns with the kind of projects he wants to be part of. The actor is equally certain about the kind of films he doesn’t see himself doing.

“Now, more so as a parent, I won’t be comfortable doing a film I can’t show my daughter [Aaradhya]. I understand everybody’s artistic integrity and freedom. I am all for it, but this is a personal [stand]. I never want to do anything that I can’t sit with my family and watch.”

But even as he chases stories that resonate with him, Bachchan is clear that at the end of the day, commercial success is crucial. It’s important to keep the audience’s desires in mind.

“In India, heroes mean a lot [more] to us than just actors. So, there is a Bachchan-ism, or [the audience] wants Shah Rukh Khan to open his arms and do his signature pose. But then, the artiste within wants to break the mould and try something new. I firmly believe that in our industry, you can’t [say], ‘I am an actor, I want the freedom to do what I want to do.’ You are selling tickets. So, you’ve got to do what they want you to do. You will never find that balance. Also, if you find it, you get stagnated creatively because then you aren’t pushing the boundaries.”