Actor Abhishek Bachchan recently got candid in an interview with Nayandeep Rakshit, reflecting on a challenging phase early in his career when he nearly walked away from acting. The heartfelt conversation revealed how his father, Amitabh Bachchan, played a pivotal role in keeping him grounded and motivated.
Abhishek Bachchan recalls Amitabh Bachchan’s life-changing advice when he nearly decided to quit films: “You are nowhere near the finished product but…”
A Rocky Start: “No Matter What I Was Trying, It Wasn’t Working”
Abhishek didn’t shy away from discussing his tough times at the beginning of his acting career. “I have been in such situations,” he admitted. “At the start of my career, I was going through a very rocky time with my films. No matter what I was trying, I wasn’t able to achieve whatever I wanted to achieve and match the standards that I had set for myself.” The actor, who debuted with Refugee in 2000, revealed that a string of underwhelming performances left him questioning his place in the industry.
Feeling defeated, Abhishek contemplated quitting altogether. “I remember going to my father one night and saying that I have made a mistake and no matter what I am trying, it is not working. Maybe, this is the way of the world telling me that this is not for you,” he shared.
Amitabh Bachchan’s Words of Wisdom: “Keep Fighting”
It was during this low point that Amitabh Bachchan stepped in with advice that changed Abhishek’s perspective. Speaking not just as a father but as a seasoned actor, Amitabh offered reassurance and tough love. “He was amazing. He said, ‘I am telling you as an actor and not your father, you have a long way to go, you are nowhere near the finished product but you are improving with every film. Just keep working and you will get there,’” Abhishek recalled. As he turned to leave, Amitabh added a final, powerful note: “I did not bring you up to be a quitter, so keep fighting.”
Those words, Abhishek said, “meant a lot” and became the turning point that fueled his determination to persevere in Bollywood.
Embracing Failure: “You Have to Fail Forward”
Abhishek’s reflections went beyond his personal struggles, offering a broader philosophy on life and failure. “With time, you learn a lot and experience teaches you so much,” he said. “If you look at it, we all are fighting a losing battle. At the end of the day, none of us is getting out of this gig alive. You will fail, you just have to fail forward. Failure is an integral step to success. Without failure, there’s never going to be success.”
He likened life’s ups and downs to breathing: “It’s like life, you breathe in, you have to breathe out as well.” For Abhishek, accountability lies within oneself: “You are only answerable to your 8-year-old and 80-year-old selves,” he noted.
The Role of Loved Ones: “They Will Always Believe in You”
When asked about the support of loved ones, Abhishek highlighted how it’s a daily source of strength. “It happens every day. It starts with your parents. They are protective about you, so that instinct may sometimes get them to be a bit negative, but they will always support and believe in you,” he explained. Drawing from his own experience as a father to Aaradhya, he added, “As a parent, if my daughter comes up to me today and I wouldn’t be sure about something she wants to do, but if I see conviction in her belief, then that gives me conviction to say that she is going to be able to do it, because she is not going to give up.”
Abhishek’s resilience is now culminating in his latest project, Be Happy, which premieres today, March 14, 2025, on Amazon Prime Video. Directed by Remo D’Souza, the film features Abhishek alongside Nora Fatehi and Inayat Verma.
Also Read: Abhishek Bachchan applauds Nora Fatehi in Be Happy; says, “She is going to be one of the finest actresses in this industry”
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