Abhishek Bachchan Opens Up On Living With Aishwarya, Amitabh, Jaya Bachchan: 'I've Never Felt Lost'
Abhishek Bachchan, who recently completed 25 years in the film industry, is currently gearing up for the release of his next, Kaalidhar Laapata, premiering on ZEE5 on July 4, 2025. In an exclusive interview with Zoom, the actor opened up about his family life, approach to solitude, and how he maintains emotional balance while playing intense roles.
While many actors immerse themselves in isolation to get into character, Abhishek calls himself an exception. 'I have never felt lost or the need to get away from everything. I am a people person," he shared. 'I have my moments when I need my solitude. It is very important and essential for an actor. But not for a longer time. I need someone to talk to."
The Guru actor lives in a star-studded joint family that includes his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, father Amitabh Bachchan, mother Jaya Bachchan, and daughter Aaradhya Bachchan. When asked about the dynamics at home, he offered an amusing yet insightful take: 'It's funny. My household is very funny, and we are all actors. We all like to hang out together, and then suddenly everyone just goes back to their own personal spaces."
He continued, 'That comes naturally because for actors it is important to spend time with yourself and get to know yourself. Self-discovery is something that we rarely do. It's essential, but I would never want to be a loner."
Abhishek, who made his debut in 2000 opposite Kareena Kapoor in Refugee, has been experimenting with diverse roles and genres. With Kaalidhar Laapata, a gripping thriller, he aims to continue his streak of performance-driven roles. The trailer has already struck a chord with audiences, building anticipation for its digital release.
First Published:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Abhishek Bachchan admits no one used to notice him until 'Dhoom' success: "Hrithik Roshan hugged me and said, 'Your problems start now'
's filmography experienced a series of flops and setbacks following his debut in 2000 with 'Refugee'. It took him several more years to get back on track, eventually finding success with Dhoom, alongside . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The actor admitted that, despite being from the illustrious Bachchan family, no one paid attention to him or considered him important. Abhishek recalled receiving advice from Hrithik Roshan during that difficult period. Abhishek Bachchan opens up about facing failures in his career Kareena Trolls Katrina Kaif's 'Only Salmon' Diet, Reveals She Ate Parathas During Size Zero Tashan! In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Abhishek opened up about his struggles. 'Actors are very fragile people. We put on this exterior, but actually, on the inside, we're like scared children – you're constantly looking for validation. You're scared of going unrecognised when you go out somewhere,' he shared. Abhishek Bachchan was never acknowledged by others He also reflected on moments when he felt invisible. 'I've walked into rooms where nobody even turns to look at you… You walk into a hotel lobby and expect someone will ask for an autograph, and then nobody comes. You swallow that, and you keep going,' he said. Abhishek about Hrithik Roshan's striking words He recalled how things shifted dramatically after Dhoom's release in 2004. When he entered a hotel lobby post the film's success, the entire space came to a standstill. He cherished the moment, as it was unlike anything he had experienced before. Abhishek revealed that Hrithik was genuinely happy for him and embraced him during that moment. 'He hugged me and said something in my ear that completely threw me off, but it has kept me grounded ever since. He said, 'Till now, it was nothing. Your problems start now. Now you have something to lose',' he added. The 'Paa' actor admitted that the foundation of success is often built upon the experience of failure.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Indian OTT platforms continue to expand, but on smaller scale with low risk
Indian media and entertainment companies continue to rely on their streaming segments, but at a cautious pace—focusing on profitability and limiting financial risk. Major players with pan-India audiences, such as Zee Entertainment Enterprises' (ZEEL) ZEE5 and Balaji Telefilms-backed ALTT, have reduced operational costs over the years and rebranded their over-the-top (OTT) platforms. While the OTT industry broadly aims to cut costs, media analysts and executives note that this trend is more prominent among platforms launched by Indian companies, which cannot match the spending capacity of global giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The only notable exception is Reliance Industries-backed JioHotstar. 'OTT platforms have been present in India for the last 10 to 15 years… Even the most lenient investors would like to see some return right now,' said a media analyst, on the condition of anonymity. In FY25, ZEE5 recorded an EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) loss of Rs 550 crore, down from Rs 1,110 crore in FY24. This reduction was largely achieved through cost-cutting measures. In an investor presentation, ZEEL stated it aims to break even on ZEE5 from an EBITDA loss of Rs 548 crore (excluding network costs) in FY25, and is now positioned to become a leading and profitable OTT player, having completed its recent investment cycle. ALTT, meanwhile, has consciously scaled down operations, said Sanjay Dwivedi, group chief executive officer and chief financial officer, Balaji Telefilms. The company was burning Rs 145 crore annually to sustain the segment, which was unsustainable. 'As a result, we cut down on cost and reworked our strategy. We want to be Thums Up to Coke... Netflix and Prime Video will exist, and we will exist in a smaller way—we don't want to burn cash,' he said. According to Vivek Menon, managing partner at NV Capital, a media and entertainment fund, this shift is more visible among pan-India streaming platforms—particularly those buying content from Bollywood and the Tamil and Telugu markets, where content costs are higher. He added that OTT adoption only truly accelerated post-COVID, so the business is still in cash burn mode to build a subscriber base and requires a long, patient approach. 'It is a tough game right now for Indian players because the industry is still in the growth stage. The audience has enough free alternatives to consume content. Also, a streaming platform needs massive pockets to succeed,' the analyst said. Shemaroo Entertainment's Gujarati-focused platform ShemarooMe is 'on the road to profitability and viability,' according to Saurabh Srivastava, chief operating officer, digital business, Shemaroo Entertainment. Srivastava noted that the company saw high double-digit revenue growth in Q1 FY26, and will continue investing in its streaming platform. He said the industry is learning to rationalise operational costs and push for higher returns on investment. The subscriber base also grew by a high double-digit percentage year-on-year in Q1 FY26. Meanwhile, Hoichoi—a subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) platform focused on Bengali-language content—achieved cash breakeven in FY24. The platform currently hosts close to 200 original web series. 'As a production house creating Bengali films and TV for 30 years, transitioning to web content was a natural evolution,' said Vishnu Mohta, co-founder, Hoichoi. 'We focused deeply on one language—Bengali—and on serving that audience consistently. Over 60 per cent of our total expenses go into content creation. That's intentional. Unlike many platforms that spend heavily on marketing even when unit economics don't work, we've always aimed to keep marketing spends below 30 per cent of direct revenue.' He added that this approach—combined with strong intellectual property (IP) creation and organic subscriber growth—has kept the company profitable over the last few years and cash-flow positive for the past couple. Just as Balaji Telefilms expects its digital business to grow, Mohta noted that Hoichoi is considered a core business for its parent company. Media executives and analysts broadly agree that the OTT industry continues to grow, with each platform finding its niche. With several sub-segments still underserved, there is ample room for differentiated growth. 'Moving forward, it looks like most networks have a grasp on how the OTT model works and how one can monetise through subscriptions and advertising. The fact that ZEE5 is completely rebranding itself shows that investment in the sector will continue,' Menon said.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
This Tamil Actor Starred With Aishwarya Rai, Rajinikanth; Then Turned Taxi Driver After Flops
Last Updated: Mirza Abbas Ali's fall from superstardom to obscurity highlights the film industry's unpredictability and the resilience required to survive its highs and lows Popular South cinema actor Mirza Abbas Ali, once a superstar of the 90s, has faced significant highs and lows in his career. Known for his work alongside big stars like Aishwarya Rai and Rajinikanth, Abbas starred in many successful films during the early 90s. However, his career took a downturn, leading to financial struggles so severe that he couldn't afford rent. Abbas, who has acted in both South Indian cinema and Bollywood, made his Bollywood debut with ' Ansh: The Deadly Part '. Unfortunately, the film did not perform well, and Abbas even advised his fans against watching it, admitting it was not up to par. The early 2000s saw a string of flops for Abbas, which caused his career graph to plummet. Despite having worked with superstars like Aishwarya Rai and Rajinikanth, he quickly vanished from the acting scene. Quit Acting After Career Began To Decline Abbas became a well-known face in Tamil cinema with hits like 'Kadhal Desam', ' V.I.P. ', and ' Kandukondain Kandukondain '. Yet, as his career declined, he started taking on supporting roles before eventually disappearing from the industry altogether. He ultimately left films and moved abroad, settling in New Zealand, where he took up jobs as a mechanic and taxi driver to support his family. Struggled To Pay Rent In an old interview, Abbas recounted the hardships he faced, 'Initially, some of my films were successful, but then a series of flops left me without money to pay rent or even buy cigarettes. Out of self-respect, I initially resisted taking up other work, but eventually, I sought help from producer RB Chaudhary, who gave me a role in ' Pooveli '. However, I soon quit films as I no longer enjoyed it." Abbas's financial struggles were so dire that he had to use petrol station washrooms because he couldn't afford to use the facilities at construction sites. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he attempted to reconnect with fans through Zoom calls to offer some encouragement and support. 'I tried to motivate people by connecting with them over Zoom," he shared. First Published:
