Two months after he got married to one of the most beautiful women in the world, life hasn’t changed much for Bachchan scion Abhishek. Back from his honeymoon, from Cannes and Yorkshire, and looking like the cat that got the cream, he smirked and told BT in his first interview since Aishwarya became his wife, “It’s too early to feel the change. Give me some time. It’s not like she is waiting for me when I get back home... Ash is working too, you know.”

He was shooting for Laaga Chunri Mein Daag at a suburban studio and took a short break to talk. “Things around me may have changed, but I am the same old Abhishek, a Boston student once, now an actor just married. It’s no big deal.” Happy to get back, he was nervous and excited about the reviews of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom - his first release post marriage and his fifth with his father. Bollywood fans are notorious for rejecting their hot and favourite idols once the latter get married, and if Abhishek anticipates such a change in his image, he was not showing it. “That’s people’s perception of me. Fair enough. But the circumstances around me should not matter as long as I do good work,” he said dismissively.

Being Bachchan’s son in Bollywood must not be easy, but Abhishek carries the family name comfortably on his broad shoulders. “Dad treated me like a friend since I was a kid, he never imposed anything on me or my sister, never raised his voice or his hand on us. He’s an indulgent father, and I am his moral support, we have shared good and bad times together,” he said fondly. “I learned everything from dad. My parents endured and sacrificed so much for me, so every day I strive to make them proud.”

And now there’s Ash... adding glitter to the gold of the Bachchan brand. He frowned, “God has blessed me with everything. As far as the Bachchan name goes, I have inherited it, and we don’t attach any monetary value to it.” But, yes, the father, son and daughter-in-law plan to cash in on their new popularity. A world show is slated for next year. And there’s Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar 2 coming up. Now he smiles, “I’m looking forward to working with my wife. She is a wonderful co-star. But whether she will get us a dabba of home-cooked food, and whether the sets will resemble our home, you’ve got to ask Ash.”

‘I give dad 100 out of 100!’

“I believe that my daddy is perfect,” said Abhishek Bachchan of father Amitabh, in a special message for Father’s Day today. Amitabh is in London, being honoured by BAFTA, and Abhishek in Mumbai, working on his next film. Yet, they will find time to bond. Like millions of fans across the world, Abhishek is swept up by the Big B mania as well. He believes that the phenomenon is only growing with time. He worships the Big B - as an actor, a co-star, a human being, a style icon, a show stealer, and most importantly as a father. “I give him 100 out of 100. His grace, dignity, humility are exemplary. I believe he is perfect. He is not just my idol, but my ideal as well. I wish I grow up like him. Even at this age, he exudes an enthusiasm, an energy and willingness to learn. And it’s great to see him not just passionately working at this age, but having fun too.”