We crave to do evil: Big B | No Big B in new Sholay

Actor Amitabh Bachchan played Jai, the brooding dacoit-hunter, in Sholay. Decades later, he has changed his role: in Ram Gopal Varma’s Aag he plays the villain. CNN-IBN’s Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand asked him what it is like being a villain.

Rajeev Masand: Was it awkward for you ever to accept this film, as the family which produced the original was against a remake?

Amitabh Bachchan: I am not sure about the family being against it or not because I am not aware of that side of the story. But yes, I did express a bit of surprise when Ram Gopal Varma came to me and told me about this idea.

My first question was whether we had the permission to do it or not—then there were some legal troubles which were eventually sorted out. It was surprising to learn that he wanted me to do the role of Babban Singh, but I looked upon it as a great challenge.

It’s very exciting to be a villain in this role—we all have this craving inside us to do some evil. When you play a villain you are not constrained and have the liberty to do just what you want. You can go over the top and in fact the more over the top you go it's better.

Rajeev Masand: You may have heard that an official remake of Sholay is being planned. What do you think it is about Sholay that it lives on for generations?

Amitabh Bachchan: I think you will have to further back than Sholay. You will have to go back to The Magnificent Seven, then further back to Seven Samurai because that is where it originated from. There is some essence, something about the film and the story which is likeable and which never ever dies.

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#Amitabh Bachchan #Sholay #Ram Gopal Varma