Amitabh is an addiction: Ram Gopal Varma

By Sandeep Bhattacharjee Sep 25, 2006, 6:56 GMT

New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) Director Ram Gopal Varma, a self-confessed fan of Amitabh Bachchan, calls the superstar 'an addiction'.

'Amitabh is an addiction. Once you start working with him, you feel the urge to do it again and again,' Varma told IANS.

The duo has worked together in films like 'Sarkar' and 'Darna Zaroori Hai' in the past and Varma is now looking forward to 'Nishabd' and 'Sholay'.

About 'Nishabd', Varma said: 'It is the story of an old man falling in love with a younger girl. There is nothing abnormal with this phenomenon. It happens everywhere. But due to society and our rationality, we restrict ourselves from such feelings.

'My movie explores a similar kind of situation but with a twist. What happens when an old man falls in love with a younger girl and how his rationality is overpowered by his passion.'

The remake of 'Sholay' will see Amitabh as Gabbar Singh - a role originally played by Amjad Khan - and Mohit Ahlawat as Jai, earlier enacted by Amitabh.

Is Mohit being given too much of an opportunity by the director?

Varma defends: 'Every star is a newcomer at one point of time. It's the capability of a director to realise the potential in a new face.

'Moreover, just casting big stars doesn't make a good film. The script has to be good too. Casting big stars only helps the distribution of a film.'

© 2006 Indo-Asian News Service