"I have not done anything great to deserve this. I'm an ordinary man like anyone of you"

Taking the Bachchan to Kolkata was quite an experience. Everywhere he went, mass hysteria followed. Insipte of the presence of younger stars, it was clear that Bachchan's charisma and popularity remains untouched. Despite his age, he was and still remains the most famous Indian alive. We catch him in one of his best moods, during his visit to Kolkata. The superstar became nostalgic as he went on a trip down memory lane. Here is the emperor of Indian cinema unplugged in his favourite city.

Filmfare Online: 'Aks' is too slick to be a film for the masses. Do you think that's why the masses thump it down?

"It was meant to be slick. We tried to make something different. Irrespective of what our critics had to say, we are satisfied with our product."

  Filmfare Online: 'Aks' was your production, how come you though of producing again. And letting a rank newcomer direct it?

"I was very impressed by the way Rakesh wrote the script of the film. He gave me the script to read it when I was travelling. I read it in the plane to Delhi, and the first thing I did after landing is to call him and asked him what he was drinking while writing the script."

  Filmfare Online: Did you ever think that an ad-filmmaker could succeed in making a film?

  "Yes, why not? If they can make ads, why can't they make films? Both require the same skill. The only difference is that films are made on a larger canvas."

Filmfare Online: Manoj Bajpai wasn't doing too well recently; didn't you feel it was a risk signing him?

"Manoj is an extremely talented actor and hits and flops are part and parcel of our profession. It has nothing to do with the actor's potential. Manoj has come up with a superb performance in the film."