DOLCY D’CRUZ
PANJIM: Robert De Niro and Amitabh Bachchan were among the leading personalities invited for the third edition of Think Fest that was inaugurated on Friday.
Amitabh Bachchan speaking about the beginning of his career and the first rejections he had to face in life said: “I auditioned for All India Radio but was rejected and then I auditioned for the role in a film in Kolkata and was rejected in the preliminary round. That’s when I decided to return to Bombay. I was always interested of being on stage, my first role was of a chicken in my primary school,” said Amitabh Bachchan.
When asked if he received a role due to a letter from Indira Gandhi, Amitabh said, “I personally feel, even a letter from God would not get you in films in those days.” He further added, “I am bad at picking scripts and look at it as an opportunity to get work. I am a director’s actor because I leave the decision making for one person only and I disagree only while reading the script. I see great talent in the young actors and there is a time when you step back and allow another person to go ahead. Someone younger and better than you will be placed at a higher pedestal.”
The first day of Think Fest saw speakers like Farhan Akhtar, Shekhar Kapur, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Tina Browna and Lousie Leakey among others. Robert De Niro will be speaking on the concluding day of Think Fest.
Also attending the fest is Tarun Tejpal, Editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine.
