Is it the gait? It must be the gait...Is it the genes? Or the ‘bonfire of female vanities’ in the eyes? Possibly a potent mix of all.

But success or no success; hits or none at all - Abhishek Bachchan’s ‘charisma cocktail’ could put any Long Island Ice Tea to shame.

I’ve seen some pretty successful heroes appear diminutive and ‘ashen’ faced around junior B’s confident swagger. But don’t get fooled for a minute. Beneath the flamboyance lies a pretty ‘humble’, ‘modest’ lad. And as insecure, probably, as you and me.

Flashback to three years ago: Abhishek seated at a large wooden desk in his classy ‘Jalsa’ home. I’d dropped by to interview Mrs. Jaya Bachchan; meeting the rugged Abhi was a bonus.

I’d casually asked if he was planning to follow in ‘dad’s footsteps’ and he’d touched the teakwood before mumbling, “I wish!”

Today, with success his cohort and sexed-up his retort, Abhishek hasn’t lost any of that humility. But he still touches wood when asked if he was following in his legendary father’s enormous strides.

“I’m following in his footstep… in the same way that I’m an actor; but I have a very very long way to go.
Every actor aspires to be like him, wants to achieve what he has. Every actor wants to conquer what he has conquered. But every actor also realizes very soon in their career that it’s not going to be possible, because of the extent to which he has progressed and the heights he has achieved. Nonetheless we all keep trying; I’m also one of those who will keep trying!”

He’s also very rooted when it came to valuing his current super-success - was it because it came to him slow and steady?

He fixes you with a look of smoldering coals before replying,“Success cannot be credited to any one particular person. The credit goes to the entire team. After all, filmmaking is a team effort. If there’s any one person who has the right to take the credit it’s the director. Keeping that in mind, I’m just somebody who’s been lucky to be on the correct ride at the right point of time.”

Still, I interrupted, he’d worked for some great directors, but the films hadn’t…

“It depends from film to film. No one can claim that a film will be a guaranteed success. You have to work hard, do your best; work as sincerely as possible and leave the rest to God and audiences. Sometimes they like you, sometimes they don’t - that still doesn’t mean you’ve done it all by yourself.”

His eyes were twinkling now. And why not? He was the ‘current hottie’.

He must’ve expected it to happen?

“Every actor expects it to happen to them. That’s what we work for. We’re striving to be good at what we do; and most importantly to achieve what we set out to achieve - to entertain. If you manage to do that in one film, it gives you the confidence to continue doing it.”

And did the spate of ‘brand endorsements’ further endorse his success?

“I don’t think so, endorsements have got nothing to do with your success. It’s just something you choose to or want to do alongside movies.”

Of course, choosing to be the ‘Aaah’ factor for the women was something that came with the territory? A tinge of blush coloured the poker face.

“They all need to wear glasses. It’s very embarrassing. Really, it’s very embarrassing. I’m not complaining about it though; as long as they look upon me favorably I have reason to be happy. Though I’d much rather they think of me as a good actor.”

Yeah right, and I’d rather be a pirate of the Caribbean... but the good ol’ machismo seemed to be back in vogue.

In fact, in a recent interview Daddy B had clearly slotted himself and junior as ‘retrosexual’.

Your take? He looked bemused.

“What is retrosexual? I don’t understand these terms but I would like to believe I am a man, I don’t know how old-fashioned I am. If Dad thinks so, I’m sure he knows what he’s talking about. You’re talking about the good old days right? When a man was a man and woman was a woman? When there weren’t different classifications and different genres of men? Frankly, I don’t understand metrosexual, retrosexual, petrosexual.”

But did ‘real men’ sing? Today, even when you croon a tune it becomes a chart-buster, King Midas?

“Maane ki nazar laga ke chodenge aap log! That was a joke, a mistake. It happens when you have close friends directing a film for you. The song ‘Right Here, Right Now’ was done in jest. I’m glad people liked it so much.”

On a more serious note, senior Bachchan had said that when he was working very hard trying to set up the family, he was unable to devote enough time at home; something he’s trying to make up for now.

Did that make you closer to your mom?

“I am close to both my parents, credit for which goes to my Mom. She never let my sister and me ever feel that dad wasn’t there. Dad always made a point to be there when we needed him. Be it birthday party, the school annual day, or Parents’ Day. He was always there when it mattered. But Mom was the one who never let us feel his absence on the few occasions when he was missing.”

There’s this story of your Dad, when you were studying in Boston, apparently standing in queue for you; quite uncomfortable; till he saw Roger Moore next to him in the next line?

“Yes, well… that was back in school. Indeed it was quite a sight - Mr. Roger Moore, Sophie Loren and Dad standing in line. With all of them looking at their kids’ respective report cards, nodding their heads in disdain, thinking, 'What have we produced?' It was quite entertaining actually!”

And on the topic of ‘report cards’, he’d worked with some real beauties.

Wasn’t he attracted to them at some point? Again the straight-faced reply, “I love all my co-stars. I’ve been very lucky with them; I’ve had wonderful co-stars who’ve taken great care of me. And today they’ve all turned into great friends of mine. I’ve had the fortune of working with people I know and am fond of. There’s no question of attraction, its like friends getting together and spending time with each other.”

Oh yeah?! What about off-screen?

This time he allowed himself a grin, “No I’m generally a very loving person, I like many people. I like to spread the love.”

Touche! But the probe wasn’t about to let up. What about all the talk about him and the lovely Aishwarya making this beautiful couple together.

Comment dude?

“The media makes enough comments on this on their own, so I don’t see why I should spoil their party. On a personal note I think it is very disrespectful to talk about women like that. I hold women in the highest of regard and I would not discuss anybody’s mother, sister or daughter in such a way, I just believe it’s not right. The media can go ahead and do what they wish, whatever makes you happy.”

Still, didn’t he want to tie the knot? Any plans? The eyes opened wide, “You mean getting married? No plans whatsoever for now. I’ve been very busy, I’m enjoying my work and I want to concentrate on just that right now.”