Abhishek Bachchan plays freedom fighter Surjya Sen in Ashutosh Gowariker's upcoming period flick, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey. In an interview, he talks about his experience working on the film. Excerpts:

After a long time, we see you without stubble in Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey.

Yes, I made a very big sacrifice for the film; I gave away my stubble. I feel very naked without it. I did it just to impress my director.

You are also seen in a dhoti in the film. Are you comfortable wearing it?

I love wearing a dhoti, it is very comfortable. In fact, I don't mind wearing it everyday. It feels rather strange that today we ask ‘Are you comfortable wearing an Indian attire?' Have we become that westernised? I prefer wearing Indian clothes to westerns.

How did you prepare for the role of Surjya Sen?

For almost two years, Ashu (director Ashutosh Gowariker) researched the Chittagong Uprising, Surjya Sen and the other characters who took part in the uprising. There is very little photographic documentation of Surjya Sen, and those available were from the period after he was arrested. When playing a real-life character you want the portrayal to be as real as possible. But here Ashu told us that we were not making a biopic on Surjya Sen and that the film was about the Chittagong Uprising. So Ashu was okay if we took a little liberty in our portrayal of the characters.

How aware were you of the film's subject matter?

When Ashutosh told me the story, I was embarrassed because I didn't know about Surjya da. Once I learnt the story, I felt that this story needed to be told. On an emotional level, I wanted whatever happened in the uprising to be told on a larger level.

It must be flattering when Ashutosh chose you, but you must be aware he never repeats his actors.

Every actor wants to work with Ashutosh. He is always so well-prepared that I have never seen him tell anyone who asks him a question ‘I'll get back to you on this' or ‘I'm not sure'. And it's not true that he never repeats actors — he made two films with Aamir, and besides the lead actors, there are so many others in a film. Ashu is one of the most loyal directors I have seen. He doesn't choose a star and think ‘I'm going to make a movie for you'. If he feels this actor suits the role in his film, he gets him on board. For his next film, if he thinks Aamir or Shah Rukh or Hrithik or Harman suits the role, he will give them.

Is there any kind of revolution you want to initiate today?

Today, we don't have a situation that warrants a revolution. Besides, if we stand united, we can achieve anything.

Surjya Sen was a Bengali; given your lineage, how comfortable are you with Bengali?

I'm comfortable with Bengali though I don't converse in it.