Ram Gopal Varma has acknowledged that featuring Amitabh Bachchan in intimate scenes with the late Jiah Khan in Nishabd was a misjudgment that did not align with the superstar’s long-established image. In a new interview, the filmmaker said that the film’s theme itself became difficult for audiences to accept because of who Bachchan is.
‘Audiences couldn’t take it,’ says Varma
Explaining the much-discussed scene where a 60-year-old man falls for his daughter’s teenage friend, RGV told Pinkvilla, “This is the scene from Nishabd where this estranged man falls in love with a very young girl. It was controversial for its time, especially because of Mr. Bachchan’s image. Obviously, they couldn’t take it.” He added that while the subject was bold, the controversy stemmed largely from the actor’s stature.
Calls Nishabd one of his most sensitive films
Despite the backlash, Ram Gopal Varma maintains that the film holds a special place in his filmography. “I would like to believe this is one of the most sensitive films I have made and probably one of the best performances of Mr. Bachchan,” he said, praising the actor’s nuanced portrayal.
Admits mistake in casting Amitabh Bachchan
In a rare admission, Varma said it was an error to cast Bachchan in a storyline involving a romance with an 18-year-old girl. “Yes, it was a mistake considering his image will not go in that kind of a storyline,” he confessed. Released in 2007 and inspired by American Beauty and Anokha Rishta, Nishabd starred Amitabh Bachchan, Jiah Khan, Aftab Shivdasani, Revathi and others. While critics lauded the performances, the film was panned for its controversial subject and ultimately failed at the box office. Go to Source
