Big B to forego fee for sharing screen with superstar Mohanlal

Mumbai: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan will act for free in a Malayalam movie, rumoured to be based on the 1999 Kandahar hijack episode, starring veteran actor Mohanlal.Describing Mohanlal as a "great exponent of his art and craft and one of the finest actors of the country," from Kerala and Malayalam cinema, Big B in his latest blogpost said, the superstar along with director Ravi had come over to finalise dates and schedules for the film, the title of which is yet to be announced.

"They (Mohanlal and Ravi) had come over to officially sign me on and make payments etc.. Ha..!! Payments Fees Remuneration For a guest appearance of three days? With Mohanlal who has always had my greatest admiration? No way !! I don`t charge money for such acts," Bachchan wrote. He said he shall just gloat in the honour that he shall derive by working in a Malayalam film and that too with the "exceptional Mohanlal"! "Respectfully declined their offer, gave them some home-made tea, shook hands, embraced and saw them off. It (film) will probably be shot in Ooty, the picturesque and quaint hill station in the beautiful Nilgiri Range of mountains down south," Bachchan said, adding he had wonderful memories of several other films shot there. "Shall be visiting Ooty after ages," he said. The decision to act in a Malayalam film was taken by Big B when he met Mohanlal at a felicitation function for Oscar-winning sound recordist Resul Pookutty in December last year. The subject of the film has not been revealed but according to some reports the story will revolve around the life of soldiers. It is also understtod that the film is inspired by hijacking of the Indian airlines IC 814 in Afghanistan in 1999, and Amitabh will be seen as the father of a passenger on the ill-fated plane while Mohanlal will play a commando. Both actors teamed up in `Ram Gopal Verma Ki Aag` with Mohanlal essaying the role of `Thakur` and Bachchan, playing his nemesis Gabbar Singh. PTI