Amitabh Bachchan To Play Slum Soccer Founder Vijay Barse In Sairat Director’s Film

After playing a Bal Thackeray doppelganger  in Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar series it is time for the indefatigable Amitabh Bachchan  to play yet another real-life character in the Sairat director Nagaraj Manjule’s new film. His first in Hindi.

In the film which is yet to get a title  the Big B plays Vijay Barse  who  more than  a decade ago, established  the Nagpur based NGO Slum Soccers which helps slum kids find their bearings through the game of football.

Though he  is more than happy to speak about his adulation for Mr Bachchan Nagraj Manjule  is reluctant to talk about the project he will start shooting with the mega-star in October. “Let’s just say, it is based on a real-life character. But the way I’ve written the part and the film, it moves very far away from the original source.”

Nagaraj has been writing his new Bachchan  film for  a good two years.  “And before that I was researching on the subject. I don’t mind spending time on my script. I spent  a good  8 years on the script of  Sairat.I wrote it with only Bachchan Saab in mind.I’ve been his fan from childhood.  I grew up copying his clothes speech and mannerisms from Majboor and Deewaar. I’d go  to school with my shirt tied like Bachchan Saab in Deewaar and get severely reprimanded by my teachers. But the  punishment had no effect on me. I’d still do it.”

Nagaraj, a self-confessed Bachchan bhakt, says when he met the Bachchan he was  somehow able to control his adulation.  “I don’t know how but I managed to remain calm restrained and  dignified. I actually wanted to jump out of my seat and dance around him. But I narrated my script in an even tone. I am happy I did that. I  didn’t want to come across as  just a fan. Of course I am a fan for lifetime . And someday when I  complete my film with him I’ll tell  him how much effort  it took me to not gush and rave  when  I met him  for the  first time.”

Nagaraj wants to focus on making a good film. “I don’t feel burdened  by the responsibility of living up to Sairat. But  yes, I want  the audience to say I made a good film again. I don’t want people  to say, “Yeh Nagarajne kya banaya hai?’