Ma and Ash gang up against me in Bengali: Abhishek Bachchan

One rarely sees Abhishek Bachchan open up about his family. However, he was in a candid mood when he spoke to us about the goings-on in the Bachchan household and the Bengali connection that exists between his mom and wife Aishwarya.

Do you guys discuss films at home?
The moment we are home, we are a part of the family and nothing else. We hardly discuss our projects at home. There’s a strict rule in the house we follow. We need to have at least one meal everyday together. Unless we’re out on work.

What’s a day in the Bachchan household like?
It’s extremely normal. Just like every other family. Once we are inside the house, the world of is totally shut out and that, I feel, is what makes our bond stronger.

Who does your mom side with when you have a fight with your wife?
Ma and Ash gang up against me and they keep rattling on in Bengali. (Laughs) Mom knows the language because she is Bengali and Aishwarya had worked with Rituda (the late Rituparno Ghosh) in Chokher Bali, so she also can speak the language quite well. So whenever they have to team up against me, they start talking in Bengali. (Smiles)

You don’t understand Bengali?
I understand it a bit. But I cannot speak much. My naani keeps complaining that I’m the only person in the family who does not know the language theek se. Even Pa can speak it well because he spent a lot of his formative years in Kolkata. I’m the only odd one out in the picture. (Smiles)

But you did a Bengali film (Antarmahal)…
I did and yet, never picked up the language. It was lovely working with Rituda in Antarmahal. In fact, we shot Piku in the same house, we shot Antarmahal in. Rituda was the only director who worked with everyone in our family.  

Are you open to working in another Bangla film?
Why not? Honestly, in recent years, they have been making some amazing films. I keep track and feel Bengali films have evolved so much in the last few years. I don’t know about acting in them because it has to be a really great script. But I will definitely like to produce some good Bengali films too.