He is the bluff master, a joker in a pack of cards that can change with each round. And currently, Abhishek Bachchan is leading a charmed life with great roles, big hits and signing mega contracts.

And the big deal is with Reliance Big Entertainment. The Bachchans through AB Corp will be involved with the production of television software for the company that is spear headed by Anil Ambani, a close friend of the family.

Revealed Junior, “Actors are in a field called commercial art. It is important to know what you and your art is worth. But I am not good with money. I find it difficult to quote my price. Take Mani Ratnam for instance. I have never spoken to him ever regarding remuneration. He is a father figure to me.”

Dressed comfortably in a white ganji and white six pocket trouser, it was a toned and muscled Abhishek Bachchan that greeted me. “Yes, it’s a great feeling to lose the excess bulge. I am on a diet of idli sambar for a few days.”

Engaged in a frothy romantic comedy for Karan Johar’s production, Dostana with John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek remarked, “I am glad I have never had to cringe and say God, what am I doing in this film, ever. I have never been motivated by money. I sign films that appeal to me and each film that I have done, I have been hugely fortunate, for they have only helped me learn my art more. Look at Sarkar Raj.”

And we did take a look at Sarkar Raj. Not just rave reviews, but Sarkar Raj is also raking in moolah like never before. Made on a modest budget of under 20 crores of rupees, today, this film has made more money than Jab We Met and Namastey London. A collection of 55 crores in the first week and 33 crores net in the second week, Sarkar Raj is a runaway success at the box office, just third after Jodha Akbar and Race.

But more than the cash registers constantly ringing, Abhishek Bachchan’s is ecstatic about Sarkar Raj. With a big smile on his face, he confessed, “As a Bachchan fan, it was great to see dad roll up his sleeves after my death in the film, come out of semi retirement and take up for what he believes in. That scene gave me goose bumps.”

And although his death in the film was very much part of the script, Junior concluded, “Sarkar and Sarkar Raj gave me a lot. Shankar Nagre died for what he believed in. He was not a martyr and his character has only enhanced more after his death.”

Junior is flying and we leave him at that. Success has many admirers and presently Abhishek Bachchan has many.