Author: Bhawana Somaaya
Publisher: Macmillan
Year: 1999
Language: English
Pages: 362
ISBN/UPC (if available): 0333933559
Description
A collector's proud possession, this work is a scintillating documentation of a legendary success.
Gifted with a tall lanky frame and baritone voice, his histrionic talent and virtue of perseverance complemented the rest - taking him to the heights he dared to dream. He went on to become not only Indian cinema's biggest phenomenon, but also the actor of the millennium in a BBC Internet Poll. A perfect chameleon who created the persona of an angry young man, and rebelled, humored, danced and romanced with equal elan, enthralling audiences for three decades.
In this absorbing book, the Author captures the roller-coaster ride of a superstar through incisive, introspective interviews. And the protagonist, Amitabh Bachchan, takes it all head-on - emotional choices, professional commitments and candid confrontation with controversies, allegations et al.
Surviving both the near-fatal accident on the sets and political cesspool in real life, his reflective personal accounts are beautifully blended with intimate analyses rendered by his actress-spouse Jaya Bhaduri, budding star-son Abhishek, leading ladies, directors, co-stars and colleagues.
COMMENTS:
There is relentless questioning and stubborn answering. The conversation lifts many masks.
- - Aamir Khan, Actor
Intimate and absorbing,. You discover Amitabh as a son, husband, father and friend.
- - Manisha Koirala, Actress
The book is as significant for what Amitabh does not say, as it is for what he does. The real nature of this very private man is discovered by reading in between the lines. It gives you a vision of how an actor is nowhere in control of his own destiny, as the events emerge larger than himself.
- - Shekhar Kapur, Director
Trespassing into a closed heart.
- - Mahesh Bhatt, Director
A big book about a big man with a big vision. Not a tall order coming from Bhawana Somayya.
- - Shobha De, Author & Columnist
Contents
The Legend
Prologue
CHAPTER I
Early Influences
CHAPTER II
Growing UP, Not Apart
Reminiscences - Hrishikesh Mukherjee
CHAPTER III
The Poet and His ProtTgT
CHAPTER IV
Scenes from A Marriage
CHAPTER V
My Father, My Hero
Reminiscences-Raakhee
CHAPTER VI
The Person and the Persona
CHAPTER VII
Coming to Terms
Reminiscences - Yash Chopra
CHAPTER VIII
Brothers in Arms
CHAPTER IX
An Actor Prepares
Reminiscences - Hema Malini
CHAPTER X
The Other Side of Stardom
CHAPTER XI
Lull before the Storm
CHAPTER XII
The Wright Men
Reminiscences-Prakash Mehra
CHAPTER XIII
Seven Days With the Superstar
CHAPTER XIV
Away from the Arclights
Reminiscences - Zeenat Aman
CHAPTER XV
Fighting the Demons
CHAPTER XVI
Expanding Horizons
Reminiscences-Ramesh Sippy
CHAPTER XVII
Remains of the Day
CHAPTER XVIII
The Agony and the Ecstasy
Reminiscences - Rekha
CHAPTER XIX
Turning Point
Reminiscences - Tinnu Anand
CHAPTER XX
Fact File : AB
Reminiscence3s - Neetu Singh
Reminiscences - S Ramanathan
CHAPTER XXI
The Complete Entertainer
EPILOGUE