Abhishek Bachchan Recalls Feeling ‘Shaky’ While Sharing Screen with Father Amitabh in Sarkar
Abhishek Bachchan recently opened up about what it was like working alongside his legendary father, Amitabh Bachchan, for the first time in Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar. The actor admitted he was “literally shaking” during their scenes together, fully aware that his father doesn’t hold back when it comes to giving honest feedback — especially on matters of work.
That lesson hit home when Amitabh didn’t hesitate to critique Abhishek’s performance in Sarkar. While audiences widely appreciated Abhishek’s portrayal, Big B was far from impressed — and made his thoughts clear. In fact, he later went on national television and openly expressed his disappointment with Abhishek’s performance in Yuva, directed by Mani Ratnam.
Despite the praise Abhishek received from viewers and critics alike, it was clear that earning his father’s approval would take more than just public applause.
- Abhishek Bachchan Opens Up on His Father’s Harsh Feedback and Changing Affection
In a candid chat with The Hollywood Reporter India, Abhishek Bachchan shared his complex journey of working alongside his father, Amitabh Bachchan, and how their relationship has evolved over the years. While Big B now often praises Abhishek on social media, Abhishek admitted feeling embarrassed by it, noting that his father—now 83—is expressing love in ways he never did before.
Abhishek recalled the turning point in 2004 during the Yuva premiere at IIFA in Singapore. For the first time, he felt proud of his performance. After the screening, a compliment from Shammi Kapoor left him elated, and his emotional mother stood outside in tears. But his father’s only words were, “We’ll talk later.” That conversation never came—until Amitabh said on Koffee with Karan that he didn’t like Abhishek’s performance.
Their first shoot together was for Sarkar, and Abhishek was extremely nervous. His only line was a simple “Ji?” but acting opposite his father had him visibly shaken. After the shoot, he ran to his trailer, avoiding interaction. But Amitabh insisted they go home together. During the silent car ride, Amitabh finally broke the silence with a brutal critique: “Is this why I worked so hard to educate you? You can’t even deliver a line properly.” Abhishek said he felt crushed and later vented to director Ram Gopal Varma for putting him in that position.
Despite the rocky start, Sarkar became a hit and spawned two sequels. Today, the father-son bond is far more expressive, and Abhishek was last seen in Housefull 5.