Abhishek
who
turns
34
on
today
doesn't
feel
his
age
at
all.
"Am
I
really
34?
I
feel
I'm
23.
That's
the
age
that
I
came
into
movies.
I
feel
the
same
anxiety
and
excitement
facing
the
camera
this
birthday
for
Abhinay
Deo's
film
as
I
did
for
J.P
Dutta
saab
on
my
23rd
birthday." The
year
begins
with
the
shooting
of
Abhinay
Deo's
film
and
ends
with
Prabhu
Deva's
film,
a
first
for
Abhishek
since
it
would
be
his
first
full-fledged
action
flick.
"I've
done
action
films
like
Zameen,
Dhoom
and
Run.
But
nothing
like
what
Prabhu
has
planned
for
me," says
Abhishek
excitedly.
"Yeah
it's
a
wonderful
year.
And
I
better
make
sure
I
don't
let
my
family
myself
and
my
audience
down."
This
has
got
to
be
Abhishek
Bachchan's
busiest
year
ever.
He's
just
wrapped
up
Mani
Ratnam's
Raavan
and
is
in
the
process
of
wrapping
up
Ashutosh
Gowariker's
Khelein
Hum
Jee
Jaan
Se.
He's
now
shooting
for
Abhinay
Deo's
film
tentatively
titled
Crooked.
Abhishek
then
jumps
to
Tarun
Mansukhani's
Dostana
2,
followed
by
films
with
Rohan
Sippy's,
Abbas-Mustan,
Anees
Bazmee,
Neeraj
Pathak
and
Prabhu
Deva…all
to
be
released,
shot
or
completed
before
the
year
is
through.
Phew!
So
has
Abhishek
turned
into
a
certifiable
workaholic?
Even
on
his
birthday
on
Friday
Abhishek
was
shooting.
And
his
birthday
was
brought
in
on
the
sets
of
Crooked.
"What
to
do?
If
I
can't
be
with
my
immediately
family
for
my
birthday
I
can
at
least
be
with
my
extended
family
on
the
sets.
I'm
shooting
round-the-clock.
It's
not
a
time
when
I
can
afford
to
be
lackadaisical.
Not
when
I've
done
television
for
the
first
time
and
discovered
a
terrific
connectivity
with
the
audience.
The
response
to
my
TV
show
'Bingo' has
been
overwhelming"
His
television
debut
has
boosted
Abhishek's
confidence.
"I
want
to
dedicate
my
34th
year
to
consolidating
my
career
as
an
actor
and
building
my
rapport
with
the
audience.
I
know
I've
the
most
exciting
range
of
directors
and
assignments
this
year."
The
last
year
Abhishek
had
a
thinner
work-load.
He
was
shooting
Raavan
through
most
of
the
year.
"And
for
a
Mani
Ratnam
film
giving
up
the
experience
of
doing
a
variety
of
other
roles
is
definitely
worth
the
while.
2010
is
relatively
crowded
with
no
space.
And
I'm
enjoying
every
bit
of
it,"
says
Abhishek
emotionally.
Today
Abhishek
feels
he
is
more
equipped
to
face
the
camera
than
before.
I
remember
shooting
with
J.P.
Saab
for
my
debut
Refugee
when
I
was
23.
I
was
so
raw
and
inexperienced.
Today
I'm
in
a
position
to
contribute
actively
to
the
process
of
making
the
films
that
I
am
in.
And
I
do.
If
I
am
not
comfortable
enough
with
a
director
to
participate
in
the
process
of
creating
a
film
I'm
working
in
then
I
won't
work
with
him."
After
doing
a
serious
bone-cruncher
with
Salman
Khan,
Prabhu
Deva
is
all
set
to
direct
Abhishek
Bachchan
in
an
out-and-out
action
film.
The
film
will
have
the
kind
of
stunts
that
Abhishek
or
for
that
matter
any
other
Bollywood
actor,
has
never
done.
The
preparations
are
on.
But
Abhishek
isn't
talking
about
them.
"Every
year
I
try
to
make
sure
I'm
working
on
my
birthday.
I
don't
know
why.
But
to
me
shooting
on
my
birthday
is
very
comforting.
Of
course
I
love
spending
the
day
with
my
family.
And
as
soon
I
pack
up
on
Friday
evening,
I'm
rushing
home
to
be
with
my
parents
and
wife.
But
it
wouldn't
be
a
happy
birthday
for
me
if
I'm
not
working.
Every
year
since
I
started
my
career
in
1998,
I've
made
sure
that
I'm
shooting.
Only
last
year
I
missed
shooting
on
my
birthday
because
I
was
in
New
York
promoting
Delhi
6.
I
hope
to
continue
working
on
all
my
birthdays."
Story first published: Friday, February 5, 2010, 14:10 [IST]