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I'm totally against extramarital affairs: Abhishek (INTERVIEW)
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Sep 2 (IANS) He has won plaudits for his role as Rani Mukerji's ideal husband in "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" (KANK) and earned the label of a bankable actor post its release -- but Abhishek Bachchan, a staunch Karan Johar loyalist, gives credit to his director for everything.

"I've no knowledge of marriage whatsoever. I just followed Karan's directions very obediently. The credit for whatever you consider to be my performance in KANK must go to Karan," Abhishek told IANS in an interview.

"I felt Karan should have given my character Rishi something negative to do. He's basically trying to be as perfect a husband and can be. Despite that, Rani's character moves away. So, I felt Karan needed to give my character some dark areas."
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The film, which endorses infidelity, has caused controversies, but Abhishek describes them as "healthy debates".

"There's debate on KANK, not controversy. The good thing about debate is, you get both negative and positive, but always healthy reactions to the film. Very few films get that."

Like his co-star Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek doesn't believe in extramarital affairs either.

"Extramarital affairs are neither inevitable nor justified. I'm totally against extramarital affairs. I'd personally never have an affair after marriage. But I won't be judgmental about those who do."

Excerpts:

Q: Has the response to KANK turned out to be what you thought it would?

A: Far greater, in fact. The box office figures are there to prove it. I've never been a part of such a success. I think the first week collection of KANK is larger than all my releases put together.

This is a league I'm just not acquainted with. It's wonderful to be part of such a venture. But it's entirely Karan's baby.

Q: Your smallish role has fetched you incredible praise.

A: First of all, I don't think I've a small role in KANK. I think I've a very important role to play in the film. Thank you, Karan!

Q: Everyone wants to know how you know so much about marriage?

A: I've no knowledge of a marriage whatsoever. I just followed Karan's directions very obediently. The credit for whatever you consider to be my performance in KANK must go to Karan.

Q: Tell me about the first-hand responses to your performance?

A: I don't know! I've been very busy working on "Dhoom 2". I haven't had a chance to interact with people too much. But I'm always thrilled when my work gets noticed.

But, like I said, I can't take any credit for it. I'm not trying to be modest. I'm not a modest person. I'm a realist. I know who's done what in KANK. The real hero of the film is Karan Johar.

Q: Do you think the controversies are good for KANK?

A: What controversies? There's debate on KANK, not controversy. The good thing about debate is, you get both negative and positive, but always healthy reactions to the film. Very few films get that.

Whether you agree with KANK or not, it's taken Karan to a new level. I think he has unfairly been labelled "a candyfloss maker". The mistaken belief that he makes frivolous films has fallen to the ground. I think Karan is a very important director in the history of Indian cinema. KANK is a sensitive work.

Q: Do you think Karan took a big risk in moving away from his comfort zone?

A: The best part is, Karan isn't judgmental, just observant on marriages and extramarital affairs. He isn't telling people to leave their spouses. He just asks a harsh but real question-what if you meet your soul mate after marriage?

Shah Rukh and Rani are the protagonists. But Preity and I are never shown as negative characters. In fact, I find the relationship between our characters quite fascinating.

Q: What about your relationship with Rani?

A: I felt Karan should have given my character Rishi something negative to do. He loves his wife immensely. He's basically trying to be as perfect a husband and can be. And that's how the audience has perceived my character. Despite that, Rani's character moves away.

So, I felt Karan needed to give my character some dark areas. Whereas Shah Rukh's character does have reason to stray because his wife has no time for him, my character's wife has no such alibi. Why does Rishi-Maya's relationship break up?

Q: Why?

A: That's exactly what I kept asking Karan. He told me, 'One could be in a seemingly perfect marriage. Still your spouse may not connect with you.' I thought that was a very intriguing thought, put forward beautifully in the film.

We never thought everyone would unanimously love the film. We hoped they'd discuss it. And Karan has pulled it off.

Q: Generally such discussions and debates are for arthouse films?

A: For me such categorisation makes no sense. To me a film is a film is a film....

Q: Do you think an Indian wife would move off from a marriage to the ideal husband, the way Rani does?

A: Of course! Such things do happen.

Q: Are extramarital affairs an inevitable part of contemporary society?

A: No, they're neither inevitable nor justified. I'm totally against extramarital affairs. I'd personally never have an affair after marriage. But I won't be judgmental about those who do.