When Amitabh Bachchan Spoke About Abhishek, Shweta Joining Films: ‘Ek Parivaar Mein Ek Kalakar Kaafi…’

Amitabh Bachchan opened up about Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta joining films in an old interview.

Amitabh Bachchan, in an old interview, discusses the possibility of his children, Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan joining Bollywood.

Amitabh Bachchan, in a 1990 interview, spoke about whether his children, Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan, might want to join the film industry once they grew up. At the time, Abhishek was 14 years old and Shweta was 17. He mentioned that if they decided to become actors, neither he nor his wife, Jaya Bachchan, would have an issue with it. However, he also expressed that he would prefer there to be only one actor in the family, and that being himself.

Talking about Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta wanting to join films, Amitabh Bachchan recalled what his mother used to say when asked why her kids didn’t become poets like their father. He said, “Hamare parivaar mein main pehla film kalakar hoon, aur jaisa ke meri mata ji hamesha kehti hain, jab unse poocha jata hai ke aapke bachhe aapke pati ki tarah kyun nahin bane toh woh kehti hain ke ek ghar mein ek hi kavi kaafi hai. Usi tarah, main bhi yehi kehna chahunga ke ek parivaar mein ek film kalakar kaafi hai (I am the first filmmaker in my family, and as my mother always said, when asked why her children are not like their father, she replied that one poet in a house is enough. Similarly, I would say that one actor in a family is enough).

He however added that if they do want to become actors, he would want them to struggle. He said, “Lekin agar meri beti aur beta film industry mein aana chahein, toh main chahunga ke woh bhi usi tarah apni shuruaat karein jis tarah maine ki thi. Jaise humne struggle kiya, waise hi woh bhi us dor se guzrein (If my daughter and son want to enter the film industry, I would want them to start in the same way I did, experiencing the same struggles we went through).”

Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan Nanda later went on to carve out distinct careers for themselves. Abhishek made his entry into Bollywood with the 2000 film Refugee, alongside Kareena Kapoor. Although his first few films did not achieve big success, his career took a turn in 2004 with the action thriller Dhoom. He later received critical acclaim for performances in movies such as Yuva and Guru, establishing himself as a prominent actor in the industry.

Shweta, on the other hand, chose a different path and did not pursue a career in films. She built a reputation as an author and columnist, having written for various publications and published her novel Paradise Towers. Despite being part of a family known for its deep roots in Bollywood, Shweta has maintained a career outside of the film industry.