I am nervous about Bingo: Abhishek Bachchan

After Amitabh Bachchan`s debut on Kaun Banega Crorepati, Abhishek has taken his first step to the small screen.

Chotta B follows Big B and how! After his father’s dhamakedar debut on Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000 that re-established Amitabh Bachchan as the Shahenshah of entertainment, Abhishek has taken his first step to the small screen with a game show called Bingo.

In an exclusive chat with Smita Mishra of Spicezee.com, Abhishek tells about how much he would like his father to take it easy now, and how nervous he is about his TV debut. Your dad is going to be the first contestant on your debut TV outing. Why do you want him to take ‘aaram’, when his fans just want him to go on! As a son I want my father to relax, I want him to take rest and most importantly like the rest of the nation, I want him to take care of his health. As a fan, however, I would like to see him make movies so that I can go and watch an Amitabh Bachchan film every Friday! But ideally, as a son I would like him to go slow, “thoda bahut aaram karle to achcha hai – that’s why I have called him on my show – to come, relax and enjoy!” Apart from starting out with a game show, is there any other commonality between your and Big B’s TV debut? Actually, KBC is not a game show, it is a quiz show. ‘National Bingo Nights’ is a game show complete with entertainment and fun package. We have altered the show to suit the Indian palate; hence there are lots of fun, interaction and dance segments added to it. So if you notice there is actually no commonality in the show formats that we have done on television. How did you say yes to a game show like Bingo? We have heard you were approached by many TV producers… I loved its very interactive format and that for the first time the home viewing audience get to play the game and win too. For the first time ever you will be seeing a show which is so interactive that it doesn`t just include the contestant and the studio audiences, but also audiences sitting at home! How could I not be a part of something so cool? What was the reaction of your family and did your father give you any specific advice? Yes – he told me to be myself, be honest and most importantly to be comfortable and just enjoy the game. As for my family, they were all very excited and supportive. Why are big screen superstars like yourself, your father or many of your colleagues opting for small screen space? I think both films and television are part of the same medium – they are both for entertainment and serve the same purpose. I was always very keen to come on television, because I think it is a fantastic way to interact with your audience… How is working for TV different from working for big screen? Well I think the biggest difference is that the audience for the first time gets to interact and meet the real ‘me’ – till now all they know about me is through my movies and that’s not really ‘me’, that is a character that I am playing. So it’s a bit nerve wracking to think that you as an individual and as a person are up for judgment – if they like you that means they like you as a ‘person’! Which one do you find more exciting and better? I have never looked at myself as being a film star; I have always remained an actor. And as an actor I am open to both the mediums - be it film or television. Since my show is a game show format, I will get to be myself on the show and have the opportunity to connect with the huge television viewing audience in India. After producing Paa, are you planning more productions? Yes, of course. Wait and watch… National Bingo Night telecast: On Colors at 9 PM form Jan23 2010