An honorary doctorate from De Montford University, Leicester. Plenty of films in 2006. Amitabh Bachchan is rocking. HT City caught up with him on his forthcoming release Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna...

Your forthcoming release is Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna with Karan Johar. The buzz is you play quite a colourful character in the film. Please elaborate.

Yes, the character is colourful, but his heart and emotions are basic and very black and white. He has a love for life, is a widower, and shares a relationship with his son, which is more of a friend than anything else. He shares and does everything above board, and in many respects, surprisingly is the saner voice of dignity in the proceedings of the story.

This is Karan's first take on extra-marital affair. How would you assess Karan's growth as a filmmaker?

Yes it is and his conception and growth as a maker, belies his age. The kind of maturity that he has exercised is exemplary. It will prove once and for all that behind all that comic book sweetness of bubble gum romantism there is a sombre and deeper thinking individual, capable beyond word, of great belief and thought and of understanding quite remarkably the sensitivities of modern human existence.

Abhishek and you play father and son in the film once again after Sarkar? Is the relationship on screen similar to what the two of you share in real life (you are the best of friends)?

This is a veiled question and somewhat unfair if I might say so. Garbing it in the context of the story of the film, gives you an opportunity to discover a personal aspect, which, I daresay, most individuals would not want to part with. Having said that, I do believe your question comes from a certain voluntary disclosure on my part from some earlier confessions that I have made public. The honest answer, therefore would be, Yes to some extent. But you would only be able to appreciate this answer, once you see the film.

After Kajra re, you are doing another special song sequence with Abhishek in KANK. Do you enjoy doing these numbers?

Yes..!! But its one helluva job keeping up with him..!!