Felt like a 'nausikhiya': Amitabh Bachchan recalls how Farhan Akhtar made him feel during film shoot

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, who is set to turn 83 on October 11, recently shared a humorous and candid experience from his time working with director Farhan Akhtar. The revelation came during a special episode of the quiz-based reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) Season 17, where Amitabh was joined by lyricist Javed Akhtar and his son Farhan.

The episode featured light-hearted conversations, including Amitabh’s reflection on working with Farhan on the 2004 film Lakshya. While the film initially did not perform strongly at the box office, it has since earned a cult following. Amitabh recounted an incident that made him feel like a complete novice in front of the younger filmmaker.

Feeling Like a ‘Nausikhiya’
Amitabh shared that during the shoot of Lakshya, Farhan had approached him late at night in their room and asked if he was facing any difficulties. Recalling the moment, Amitabh said he felt like a student for the first time, with Farhan positioned as the master explaining how certain scenes should be performed. The veteran actor described it as an unusual but memorable experience, which left his father-figure, Javed Akhtar, in fits of laughter.

The story highlighted the dynamic between the generations of filmmakers, with Farhan taking a thoughtful, instructive approach despite Amitabh’s legendary status in the industry. The film starred Amitabh alongside Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta, and while not commercially successful at the time, its storytelling and performances have been appreciated over the years.

Banter Between Amitabh and Javed Akhtar
The KBC episode also saw Farhan stepping into the host’s role, playfully quizzing Amitabh and Javed. During the segment, he asked the two to name qualities they admired in each other. Javed praised Amitabh’s exceptional qualities in the industry, while a lighter moment unfolded when the question of who was more popular with women came up. Amitabh pointed to Javed, revealing the lyricist’s popularity, only to be interrupted by Javed’s playful warning not to disclose too much.

The episode underscored the long-standing relationship between Amitabh and Javed Akhtar. Early in his career, Amitabh’s rise as the “angry young man” was closely linked to scripts by Javed and Salim Khan, whose films like Zanjeer, Deewar, and Sholay established his iconic screen persona. Amitabh has often credited these collaborations for shaping his career and cementing his status in Hindi cinema.

The KBC episode is airing on Sony TV and available for streaming on SonyLIV.