Exclusive! Shakti Kapoor: I had a big celebration at home after Shraddha signed her first film with Amitabh Bachchan

Shakti Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan, who have worked together in films like, ‘Rishta’, ‘Agneepath’, ‘Mahaan’, ‘Inquilab’, and many others, share familial relations with each other. Despite belonging to the same era, Shakti proudly calls himself one of Big B’s biggest fans. On the occasion of Mr Bachchan’s birthday today, Shakti Kapoor exclusively opened up to ETimes about his fondest memories with the megastar. Excerpts...

Do you remember the time you first met Amitabh Bachchan?
I met Amitabh Bachchan on the sets of ‘Satte Pe Satta’. From there we became close friends. Mr Bachchan doesn’t open up easily with everyone. People used to say that out of the seven brothers in the film only Big B and I looked like real brothers. From there on, we bonded. We both call each other ‘Sir ji’.

Despite being his co-star in several films you call yourself Big B’s biggest fan…
I have always been a huge fan of Amitabh Bachchan. I have learnt a lot of things from him which has helped me in my career, like punctuality and sincerity. On the sets of the film, Mr Bachchan is solely dedicated to the film. During those times, we didn’t get much time to prepare for the role. We used to do five films a day. Bachchan sahab taught me to how to give 100 percent to each and every character we are shooting for in a day.
I have learnt from him the importance of exercising and looking after your health. Though he too has gone through a lot of health issues in his life, he is the one fittest actor we have in Bollywood.

How is he as a co-star?
I have worked with him in a lot of films like, ‘Ek Rishta’, ‘Agneepath’, ‘Mahaan’, ‘Inquilab’ and others. It was an honour for me to work with an actor of that calibre. I believe that we have only a handful of actors in Bollywood who can be called the ‘complete actor’. For me, the biggest actor born in this country is Mr Bachchan.
Your daughter Shraddha Kapoor made her Bollywood debut with Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Teen Patti’.
It was very beautiful when my daughter Shraddha Kapoor made her debut with him in ‘Teen Patti’. I had a big celebration at home after she signed the film. Jaya Bachchan is from the film institute. We share a different bond. People from the institute have a different bond irrespective of whether they have worked together or not. I have always been close to Jaya ji and I still am. Our whole family is close to the Bachchan family. Abhishek is like my bachcha and I love him a lot.

What is that one quality in Amitabh Bachchan that makes him stand out from the others?
The biggest quality of Amitabh Bachchan would be his humility. Whenever you send him a message to wish him on his birthday or any other occasion, he responds with the kindest and sweetest of words. It just makes your day.
What are your fondest memories of working with him?
We worked together in ‘Mahaan’. We were shooting for some fight sequences in Delhi during winters. Mr Bachchan came to know that I am from Delhi so he asked me if I can get a home-cooked meal for him as he is bored of eating outside food. I promised him to get some the next day. I went home and told my mother that Amitabh Bachchan wanted to eat some home-cooked meals. As Big B is vegetarian, my mother cooked sarson ka saag, paneer ki sabji and makki ki roti for him. My brother got the tiffin on the set for us. During lunchtime, Mr Bachchan sat in a corner and started eating. In no time, he finished about 5-6 makki roti with saag and paneer ki sabji. After the meal, he thanked me by saying that he ate a home-cooked meal after a long time and he enjoyed it thoroughly.
I flew back to Mumbai that evening and later I got a call from the director asking me what I gave him to eat as he had fallen sick. The shooting got cancelled the next day because of his ill-health. I felt very guilty. I called him and apologised. Big B told me that it was not my food by the quantity he ate made him sick and that I had no reason to be guilty. I am so glad that he took it in a lighter sense and was able to laugh about it later. This is one incident that I will always remember.
The last time I met him was at his Diwali party last year. I was very happy at the party. It was also there that I met Rishi Kapoor for the last time. We met, hugged and talked our hearts out with each other. Chintu ji is very close to my heart. I didn’t know that it was the last time I would meet him.
One message you would like to give him on his birthday this year.
I love Amitabh Bachchan. I pray that his dynasty and he live long. He is a great actor and a great human being. I wish him a very happy birthday!