Prateik reminds me of his mother Smita, says Amitabh

For Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, working with actor Pratiek Babbar is an emotional experience. According to a source, this is what Big B had to say about Prateik - “Whenever I see him, I think about his mother (Smita Patil). The resemblance, the attitude, is very much like her. It’s going to be an emotional experience to work with Prateik, because Smita was a very dear friend."

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai: For Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, working with actor Pratiek Babbar is an emotional experience. According to a source, this is what Big B had to say about Prateik - “Whenever I see him, I think about his mother (Smita Patil). The resemblance, the attitude, is very much like her.” Amitabh Bachchan took time off from his busy schedule to talk about his next film ‘Aarakshan’. Being directed by Prakash Jha, Big B says he has been waiting for 13 years to work with the Jha. He said, “I never got an opportunity and was hoping that I would get to work in one of his wonderful films sometime.” The film stars Saif, Deepika and Prateik Babbar in pivotal roles and is based on the reservation quota system prevailing in the country. “The film is going to be a first of many sorts for me,” adds Big B who essays the role of a principal in the film. “This will be the first time I am working with Deepika Padukone,” he says adding, “I have worked with Saif in ‘Eklavya’ and I am looking forward to working with Prateik since I knew his mother well.” He said, “It’s going to be an emotional experience to work with Prateik, because Smita was a very dear friend. She had a strange premonition about me.” “I was shooting for ‘Coolie’ in Bangalore in 1982 and one night at about 1.00 am I got a call from Smita who was staying at the same hotel. She said ‘Amitji I am sorry to disturb you so late at night but are you okay?’ I said ‘I am fine’, but asked her the reason for the call. She said she had a bad dream and wanted to find out if I was okay. I told her not to worry. The next morning I had the accident. It was unbelievable,” he said. “After that, throughout my two-three months in ICU, she visited me regularly,” he added.