One of the most popular Indian face : Amitabh

Amitabh Bachchan talks about the Legion of Honour that he recently received from the French government and his role as one of the most popular Indian faces

Did you ever think what life would be like 'when you're 64'?

Just because the Beatles sang a popular song about being 64, it isn't a benchmark. 64 is just an age. One looks at it as another year in one's life, nothing more, and nothing less.

You have got a wonderful birthday gift from the French government.

I'm quite surprised…and honoured. I'm not worthy of such recognition…It's most undeserving. It's my job to do whatever I'm asked. It's up to institutions to award and reward. However, whatever is given to me, I respect.

When and how will you receive the award?

Well, the representative from the French embassy has come to me and given me a letter from their Ambassador informing me that the President of France has asked him to convey that the Legion has been given to me. Now a time and venue for receiving the award is yet to be decided.

You're the second Indian after Satyajit Ray to get the Legion. Does that mean that you are seen as the torchbearer of Indian cinema abroad?

I think it's a sign of the acceptance of our escapist, commercial mainstream cinema abroad. Earlier, the mainstream cinema was ostracised and ridiculed, but now there's a huge amount of acceptance. That's quite obvious from the fact that I see an equal number of Indians and non-Indians whenever our films are screened at festivals and other events abroad. I was talking to someone who has recently returned from Australia. He confirmed that there was a huge turn-out of non-Indians for Indian films. It's a healthy trend.

You're now considered the most famous Indian in the world. Comment.

It's an unwarranted responsibility…

How do you react to the kind of success that has come your way?

I don't. I'm not a party to all the honours and recognitions that come my way. These are devised by institutions. I just go to work every morning like any ordinary man and come back to be with the family in the evening. What I do with my work is in my hands. What happens outside my orbit of work isn't in my hands. I am in control of my creativity-at least I hope I am. The rest are peripherals. I may be a victim of some of the things that happen to me from the outside, but I'm certainly not the architect.

Interview with : Subash K Jha