‘It Was a Rare, Precious Character’

At the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Abhishek Bachchan won the Best Actor award for his life-defining performance in Shoojit Sircar’s I Want To Talk.

In the profoundly moving film, Abhishek plays the real-life character of Arjun Sen, who was given just days to live after a cancer diagnosis, but went on to survive multiple surgeries over the years.

Thrilled with the honour Abhishek says, “It was a rare, precious character, a character that inspired me not only as an actor but also as a human being. Very few actors get to play someone as resilient and unvanquished as Arjun Sen. I hope every actor gets to do work that is going to be career-defining with every film that they choose. That’s the attitude I believe we should bring to each film.”

On portraying the character’s pain and suffering, he adds, “We’re actors. This is what we do. We quietly listen to the direction, in this case by Shoojit Da (Sircar). I’ve just been a puppet in his hands. The entire credit goes to him. As actors, we look for new horizons and try to push our personal envelope, always striving to do something more challenging.”

When asked if this could mark a new chapter in his career, he reflects, “That I leave to the audience. They’re the final deciders of what is good or bad, and I humbly respect what they feel. But yes, I want to push myself, attempt something I haven’t done before, and hopefully surprise with every film.”