Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan launch Hi! Blitz Magazine, December 2009
Two of Bollywood's top actors are Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan. While you may recognize them as father and son because they share some physical similarities - both being over six feet tall, for example - when they appear in a film together they step into their designated on-screen roles effectively and effortlessly.
In a 10 August 2013 The Times of India interview, Amitabh spoke of his relationship with Abhishek:
"I look upon Abhishek as another father-son relationship where he is more a friend of mine than a son. I had decided even before he was born that if I had a son, he would be my friend. There is an old saying that when your son starts wearing your shoes, he is not your son, he is your friend.
"I just like the idea of not treating him like a son so that I can talk freely with him on any issue, crack jokes, just be one with his thinking and he to be one with mine. He is very obedient. The moment you start sharing personal points of view with another individual, there is a closeness that comes and I share everything with him and so does he. And we talk about issues and we come to conclusions."
With numerous films and awards to their credit, this dynamic duo continues to make hit films. Here are five award-winning films that feature these two stars together on the silver screen.
1. Bunty Aur Babli
Release date: 27 May 2005
Director: Shaad Ali
Music by: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Description: Crime comedy. While pursuing their dreams, Rakesh Trivedi (Abhishek Bachchan) and Vimmi Saluja (Rani Mukherjee) they find their hopes destroyed. To get back at someone who scammed them, they decide to scam him to get the money back. But they discover they enjoy grifting and they are good enough at it to earn a living. They adopt the names "Bunty and Babli" and become the most popular anonymous criminals of the nation. Little do they know that ACP Dashrath Singh (Amitabh Bachchan) is hot on their trail...
Why I love this film: It is entertaining to watch the evolution of Bunty and Babli as they turn from dreamers into scam artists then into responsible parents. When ACP Dashrath Singh enters the picture, you realize they are dealing with a formitable opponent who won't give up easily. While Bunty and Babli are happy-go-lucky, Singh is intense and focused. Enjoy the item number "Kajra Re" where Aishwarya Rai makes a special appearance to dance with the Bachchan duo - who became her real-life husband and father-in-law on 20 April 2007.
Recognition: Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Abhishek Bachchan); Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (Amitabh Bachchan)
2. Sarkar
English title: "Political Overlord"
Release date: 1 July 2005
Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Music by: Bapi-Tutul | Background score: Amar Mohile
Description: Dramatic crime thriller. Subhash Nagre (Amitabh Bachchan), who is known by his followers as Sarkar, lives in Mumbai. He dispenses the justice which the corrupt law and order system has failed to deliver. He has two grown sons - the foul-mouthed, philandering film producer Vishnu (Kay Kay Menon) and the intelligent and upright Shankar (Abhishek Bachchan) who has just finished his education in the United States. When Dubai-based don Rasheed (Zakir Hussain) tries to get support for his activities in Mumbai, Sarkar refuses. Thus begins a series of events which seek to usurp the power of Sarkar and take him down permanently.
Why I lover this film: The film opens with the statement "'Like countless directors all over the world, I have been deeply influenced by The Godfather. Sarkar is my tribute to it.' - Ram Gopal Varma." However, this film has a distinctly Bollywood flavor to it - sans the colorful item numbers - and deals with corruption from an Indian point of view. But it is definitely full of the same themes of honor, betrayal, and vengeance - and, of course, violence. A dark film, it keeps you on the edge of your seat through to the final scene.
Recognition: Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award (Amitabh Bachchan); Won, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award (Abhishek Bachchan); Won, Zee Cine Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Male (Abhishek Bachchan); Won, IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor (Abhishek Bachchan)
3. Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna
English title: "Never Say Goodbye"
Release date: 11 August 2006
Director: Karan Johar
Music by: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Description: Romantic Drama. Rishi Talwar (Abhishek Bachchan) is married to Maya (Rani Mukherjee) but she is unhappy in her marriage. Rishi senses this and does everything in his power to be attentive to his wife, whom he dearly loves, but she continues to be distant and unreceptive to him. Rishi's widower father, swinging Samarjit Talwar a.k.a. Sam (Amitabh Bachchan) sees their marriage slowly falling apart. Despite his best efforts to help them stay together, he realizes they might be better off leading separate lives.
Why I love this film: This is an ensemble cast film and Rishi's relationship his father Sam and his wife Maya is just a portion of the whole story. Rishi's patience with Maya is admirable and when he finally breaks, you understand his agony. The relationship between Rishi and Sam is delightful and the love that the characters have for each other is brilliantly played. They bring joy to a film that could otherwise be very emotionally draining. Sam has a fun and sometimes wicked sense of humor. When Rishi is with Sam he just goes along for the ride - and so do we.
Recognition: Won, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (Abhishek Bachchan); Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (Amitabh Bachchan); Won, Global Indian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor (Abhishek Bachchan); Nominated, Global Indian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor (Amitabh Bachchan); Nominated, IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor (Abhishek Bachchan); Nominated, Star Screen Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Amitabh Bachchan)
4. Sarkar Raj
English title: "Reign of the Overlord"
Release date: 6 June 2008
Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Music by: Bapi-Tutul | Background score: Amar Mohile
Description: Dramatic crime thriller. Anita Rajan (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) arrives in Mumbai with an ambitious proposal to set up a multi-million dollar power plant in rural parts of the state of Maharashtra. Subhash Nagre (Amitabh Bachchan) - a.k.a. "Sarkar" - initially rejects the idea because 40,000 people in rural villages will be displaced. However, Shankar Nagre (Abhishek Bachchan) - now as powerful as his father and standing alongside him - sees the potential is such as project and convinces Subhash to join him in support of the initiative. He begins talking to the villagers to get their buy-in to the initiative. However, soon corruption, conspiracy and betrayal lead to an understanding that there are more players using this initiative to fulfill their plans to destroy Shankar.
Why I love this film: Two years after the events depicted in Sarkar, we see Shankar ably stepping into the role of "Sarkar" while serving as a key advisor to his father. However, Shankar continues to live with the ghosts of the past. While he is an effective leader, he has become somewhat emotionless and distrustful of those around him. There are intense moments in the film where the storyline takes you places you hadn't foreseen and wouldn't have wanted to go, but ultimately, the tale is well-told and worth the journey.
Recognition: Nominated, Star Screen Award for Best Actor (Amitabh Bachchan); Nominated, Star Screen Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Abhishek Bachchan); Nominated, Stardust Award for Star of the Year, Male (Amitabh Bachchan); Nominated, Stardust Award for Star of the Year, Male (Abhishek Bachchan); Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Supporting Role (Abhishek Bachchan); Nominated, IIFA Award for Best Actor in Supporting Role (Abhishek Bachchan)
5. Paa
English title: "Father"
Release date: 4 December 2009
Director: R. Balki
Music by: Ilaiyaraaja
Description: Comedy drama. Amol Arte (Abhishek Bachchan) is young, progressive and a full-of-ideals politician. He meets Auro (Amitabh Bachchan), a boy with progeria - an extremely rare genetic defect that causes accelerated aging. As Amol spends time with the boy, Auro aludes to a mistake Amol made. When the boy is hospitalized, Amol soon learns what Auro means.
Why I love this film: The interaction between each of the characters in this story is authentic and meaningful while the story is both delightful and heart-wrenching. Ultimately, the film reminds you that the things that are most important are the small things - the time we spend together, the jokes we share, the wonder we experience with new ideas. Stick around for the end-title song, sung by Auro.
Recognition: Won, National Film Award for Best Actor (Amitabh Bachchan); Won, Star Screen Award for Best Actor (Amitabh Bachchan); Won, Star Screen Award for Jodi No. 1 (Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan); Won, Stardust Award for Star of the Year, Male (Amitabh Bachchan); Won, Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actor (Abhishek Bachchan); Won, Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Amitabh Bachchan); Won, IIFA Wards for Best Actor (Amitabh Bachchan); Nominated, IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor (Abhishek Bachchan)
If you liked this, please visit our other Friday Five posts.