'Power house' actors don't always guarantee BO success: Big B

Even though there is a perception that superstars set the cash registers ringing at the box office, megastar Amitabh Bachchan feels talented actors do not always guarantee success of a film.

The 73-year-old actor, who will next be seen in "Te3n" also starring Vidya Balan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, said not good actors, but plot of the film makes it a success.

When asked how confident he is about the box office prospects of "Te3n", Bachchan told PTI, "Unfortunately, with all due respect, power house actors do not always guarantee box office success; the story and content of a film do. The film world is filled with many examples of such anomalies."

Having worked for over 45 years, the "Piku" star feels there is nothing he finds negative about the film industry.

"There is no 'worst' and the 'best' is that it (industry) gives me the opportunity to be in front of a camera, to fulfill the requirements for my bread and butter," he said.

In his career Bachchan has not only achieved immense success, but has been appreciated for the novelty he brings through his work even at this age.

"I am unable to understand the surprise or perceived surprise on the fact of my continuing to work at this advanced age. I would wish to continue working as long as my body responds to the necessary requirements in my profession," he said.

Surprisingly, the "Shahenshah" of the Hindi film industry doesn't celebrate success.
"Success for me in my work, in these days and times, is remote. When it does come, it humbles me and presents to me the possibility of another job," he said.

Produced by Sujoy Ghosh, "Te3n" is film of whodunit genre and the actor, who has worked in the similar kind of films in '70s and '80s, said with time the technical qualities of this genre of film making have improved.

"There is greater sophistication in the equipment that is used today, and also that film per se has been replaced by digital," he said.

"'Whodunits' as a word or expression itself denotes the reason why this genre of films are called that, because we wonder throughout the film... Who did it? Yes perhaps the content and concepts have become slightly more intelligent," he said.

With the influx of social media, the look, the stories or plot of the film are often out much before the release. But, the "Wazir" star feels though the suspense may be out, it doesn't harm the film as the audience still wants to watch how it is made.

"A romantic or an action film has the same co-ordinates. You know at the beginning of a romantic film that even though there shall be obstacles in the lives of two lovers wanting to come close or be together, in the end all shall be well and they shall succeed.

"The same goes for action films as well... For a suspense film, we know the ending after the first show, but we repeatedly go to see it, perhaps appreciating the factor 'how it was done'," Bachchan said.

"Alfred Hitchcock films would have all failed if we were to run with the premise that the suspense is known, but they did not fail," he added.

Directed by Ribhu Dasgupta, "Te3n" will hit theaters on June 10.