Abhishek Bachchan opens up on being pitted against Hrithik Roshan when 'Refugee' and 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' released in the same year: 'Can't compare artists, it's unfair

Time of India

2 days ago

Abhishek Bachchan
made his debut in 2000 with JP Dutta's 'Refugee' along with Kareena Kapoor Khan. In the same year,
Hrithik Roshan
's 'Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai' had also released. It was obvious that there were comparisons between the two actors, also because both of them belonged to the industry.
Not to mention, Abhishek also came with a greater responsibility breing Amitabh Bachchan's son.
In a recent interview with ETimes, when we asked Abhishek if he ever felt a sense of insecurity, here's what he said.
One also can't oversee the way 'Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai' looked in its entirety, as opposed to 'Refugee' which was rather simple in its core. Was Abhishek ever insecure as a debutant? Reacting to it, he said, "We would be pitted against each other right? I mean, we debuted in the same year.
But no, as a newcomer, I was never ever insecure. I never thought of it like that because I never looked upon anybody as my competition and I don't mean that arrogantly.
I mean it from a sense of, I can't do what you do and you can't do what I do because this is me physically. You can't compare artists somewhere I feel that goes against artistry. See, who you prefer is different. That's your choice. I'll give you an example from art."
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He added, "In Indian art, we have two wonderful Indian painters, some of my favourites include Subhash Awchat and Paresh Maity. I love both of their works. Who's the better painter? You can't say it. It's subjective. You can choose who appeals better to you but you can't say this guy is better than the other. You shouldn't say it for actors either. What I'm saying is, it's very unfair and wrong to say that about an artist. Oh, he's better.
You can say, 'Oh I prefer him. But you can't say, 'Oh he's better'."
Abhishek further recalled an instance with director
Ram Gopal Varma
which further taught him why actors can never be compared. He said, "You know Ramu told me something. We were shooting for 'Sarkar'. It happened funnily because there was an award function which I wanted to go to. I was nominated. I think I was nominated for Yuva and I wanted to go but I was shooting. Then, Ramu told me, 'I don't believe in awards and all'.
I said why? Because in those days awards were a really big thing. Sadly today it's just fallen off, and it's sad because today we don't have anything genuine that celebrates our work.
I said 'I want to go because I have a good chance to win.' He said, 'But why does that validate you?' I said, 'What do you mean?' He asked me, 'Who are the other people nominated for best supporting actor?' I said, 'so and so..'. He quipped, 'They've done other roles.
When you give a school exam everybody writes the same paper and you're judged on that. So, over here all of you do Lallan Singh from 'Yuva' and then we'll see who's better.' I said, 'Wow'. So, for me, I feel, we should say who we prefer as an actor. We can't ever say who's a better actor."
The 'Guru' actor further opened up on his bonding with childhood buddy Hrithik and said, "Hrithik is a great actor and a friend. I'm genuinely immensely happy for all that he's achieved and continues to achieve. But more than that, I love the person that he is. And so there's never been any animosity to any of my colleagues. I genuinely want them to do well. I want my colleagues, and my co-stars to be so good. Because that is a constant inspiration for me.
It makes you aspire to, 'Oh that person is doing such a good job. I should also work hard'."