The man regularly described as Bollywood’s greatest living legend regards the word “Bollywood” as a media gimmick that does not do justice to Indian cinema.
Amitabh Bachchan wants the country's film industry to be seen as a cultural institution in its own right, rather than as a pale imitation of Hollywood.
That same industry is set to showcase his talents once more when his latest film, the drama Wazir, debuts on UAE screens tomorrow.
“I think that India cinema has its own identity," he told Al Jazeera recently. "It’s very individual. I don’t see any reason why it should be compared to another name, from another part of the world.
But not even the man known as the Big B has the power to rename the industry over which he has reigned for so long – a fact that he himself acknowledges.
“That’s the way it goes. Some smart journalist came up with the name and now it’s in the Oxford dictionary. It’s going to be there for eternity now.”
Bachchan's career is as immense as the Indian entertainment industry itself. The superstar, who began his career by playing "angry young men" in the 1970s, now occupies the position of elder statesman. In Wazir he plays the role of a disabled chess grandmaster. Unlike his previous action thrillers such as Sholay and Coolie, Wazir does not feature any spectacular stunts from Bachchan. Instead, his character is an amputee who uses a wheelchair and undertakes impressive manoeuvres on the chessboard. However, (as any wheelchair user will tell you) getting around in a chair requires immense upper-body strength and Bachchan admitted that this role was physically challenging. After all, rather than using his legs and feet, he had to use "the two wheels of the chair".
This is Bachchan's second portrayal of a disabled person, having played in 2009 the role of a 12-year-old boy living with the rare genetic disorder called progeria, which causes premature ageing, in the film Paa.
It's easy to understand why Bachchan found it impossible to resist his roles in Paa and Wazir. After all, he long ago conquered the roles of action hero, romantic leading man and host of television game-show Kaun Benega Crorepati.
Yet for much of the western media, Bachchan only became known with his acclaimed but brief performance in Baz Lurhmann's 2013 film The Great Gatsby, in which he played Gatsby's mentor, the shady gangster Meyer Wolfsheim. A recent profile of Bachchan in the Australian media featured the headline "Megastar you've never heard of".
It's difficult to understand such parochial attitudes to such a hugely recognised superstar. On Twitter, @SrBachchan has 18.6 million followers. Along with Salman Khan, he tied for seventh place on the Forbes 2015 list of highest-paid male film stars, with estimated earnings of US$33.5m (Dh123m). His legendary status in India itself was long ago sealed, after an incident in 1982 in which he nearly died after suffering an injury on the set of Coolie. This brush with death was regarded as a national crisis, with fans filling the streets outside the hospital where he was being treated and the then-prime minister, Indira Gandhi, and her son Rajiv among the visitors to his bedside.
Bachchan’s own foray into politics during the 1980s, as a member of parliament for the Congress party, was brief and undistinguished.
However, he was able to return to the entertainment industry with his stature undiminished, and make the transition to television as it began to rival cinema in the affections of the Indian public. His role in The Great Gatsby led to speculation that he intended to take on more Hollywood roles. But Bachchan himself had denied having any such plans. After all, Bollywood – as he calls it only with reluctance – has already offered him the world.
Wazir is out in cinemas tomorrow.
artslife@thenational.ae
Company%20profile
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein
By Fiona Sampson
Profile
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
The%20pillars%20of%20the%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Strategy
%3Cp%3EEncourage%20innovation%20in%20the%20metaverse%20field%20and%20boost%20economic%20contribution%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20outstanding%20talents%20through%20education%20and%20training%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20applications%20and%20the%20way%20they%20are%20used%20in%20Dubai's%20government%20institutions%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAdopt%2C%20expand%20and%20promote%20secure%20platforms%20globally%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20the%20infrastructure%20and%20regulations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SCE%20Studio%20Cambridge%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%2C%20PlayStation%204%20and%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hoopla%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jacqueline%20Perrottet%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20required%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More on animal trafficking
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EFly%20with%20Etihad%20Airways%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20New%20York%E2%80%99s%20JFK.%20There's%2011%20flights%20a%20week%20and%20economy%20fares%20start%20at%20around%20Dh5%2C000.%3Cbr%3EStay%20at%20The%20Mark%20Hotel%20on%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20Upper%20East%20Side.%20Overnight%20stays%20start%20from%20%241395%20per%20night.%3Cbr%3EVisit%20NYC%20Go%2C%20the%20official%20destination%20resource%20for%20New%20York%20City%20for%20all%20the%20latest%20events%2C%20activites%20and%20openings.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020