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Making an impact: Amitabh Bachchan.

Barely a few hours after landing in the city, Bachchan, the brand-ambassador of the Awards, walked into the ballroom of the Dusit Thani Hotel, in a pin-striped grey suit, pink silk tie, goatee beard and horn-rimmed glasses, to extol Indian cinema.

“Where in the world does a roof of integration exist, except in the darkened hall of cinema?” he stated, adding that Indian cinema, “has started a parallel culture around the world.”

He gave personal examples of how he encountered its wide ‘reach,’ in countries as far away as Paris and Moscow, which was why he was proud to be the representative of an event that “celebrated Indian films, outside India.”

Bachchan was also proud of the Green Foundation started last year by the Academy, and the green carpet that would replace the standard red one, at the awards.

“Our film industry has always been very conscious of the problems of society, and [we have] contributed in our own way,” said the actor, who has been a UNICEF Ambassador. In fact, he planted a champa tree at the UN headquarters in Bangkok, immediately after the press meet.

This year, the event will be held at the much more modest Siam Niramit auditorium in Bangkok, which has a giant revolving stage, but the seating capacity of only 2,000. This has upset the large movie-loving Indian community in the city. Apart from the awards function, which is expected to bring more than 400 movie stars from Mumbai (the films that have been nominated include everything from ‘Chak De India’ and ‘Om Shanti Om’ to ‘Guru,’ ‘Jab we Met,’ ‘Bhool Bhuliaya’ and ‘Life in a Metro’), other events include a Business Forum organised by FICCI which has a strong connection with the Indian film industry, a fashion show with designers such as Rohit Bal and Sabyasachi, and finally the world premiere of the much-awaited, ‘Sarkar Raaj.’

Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, with a ‘scoop’ cast of the elder and younger Bachchan, as well as new ‘bahu,’ Aishwarya Rai, the film is supposed to be based on the life of Bal Thackeray.

Ram Gopal Varma, who was present at the press conference, admitted that the film was inspired by the Shiv Sena leader, but informed that like his earlier movies, it was more a study of “character conflicts and power struggles.”

Regarding his flop re-make of ‘Sholay,’ Varma admitted he made a “terrible mistake.” But added that he had not given up, and was planning yet another re-make! “I guess I like the story of the spider and the king!” he laughed.

Varma also said he was working on the script for a possible Indo-Thai production, which he planned to make in India, with a Thai actor.

Ram Gopal Varma meeting the media. Sarkar Raaj, their film, will have its world premiere in the Thai capital.

Meanwhile, Amitabh Bachchan raved over his shooting experience in Thailand, during the making of ‘Ek Ajnabee,’ and said he was totally smitten by the warmth and hospitality of the Thai people. “There is no better description for Thailand, than the name of their airport, ‘Suvaranbhoomi or Golden Land’,” exclaimed the actor.

Bachchan had an exclusive meeting with the much-loved Thai Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn, an ardent Indophile, after the press meet. As for the premiere of ‘Sarkar Raaj,’ the senior Bachchan said he was proud to act with his son, and more proud to hear he was the better actor. “Any father will be proud to hear of his son’s talent.”

He admitted that ‘regional’ cinema needed to get more attention at the IIFA. “There are many good films being made in Kerala, Tamil Nadu [and ] Andhra Pradesh. In fact there are more Telugu films being made than Hindi ones,” he informed.

Bachchan said he did miss the “fluidity of the past, when we spent so much time allowing emotions to take over us, in our films, instead of the ‘speed’ that people want today. The eloquence of brevity is what the youngsters want today…” That was why the actor said he was proud that Indian cinema still ‘retained’ its music-dance sequences, which he felt were intrinsic to Indian films.

From the angry young man of action films, to the grand ambassador of Indian cinema, the iconic actor said he had come a long way. “It’s been an eventful journey, full of ups and downs, often lonely, full of pot-holes, but generally speaking, a very enjoyable one,” he stated.

To the question of how he managed to looked so fit and healthy, the actor confessed with a wry smile, “Only I know how much effort it takes to maintain this!”

And one looks forward to welcoming the media-loving Bachchan and his entourage, at the IIFA awards in Bangkok, in June.

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