This is a first for Amitabh Bachchan in his 39-year-old career — the full-fledged role of a ghost in the title role of Bhoothnath. Over to the Bachchan baritone...

In Bhoothnath’s promos, only your voice is heard. Are you an invisible man in the movie?

No, it’s just the first promo which captures an illusion. By the time the film comes out you will see much more of me.

You play a bhoot in the film. Do you believe in ghosts?

When you have never seen ghosts, how can you believe in them?

Can a bhoot look the way you do in the movie?

I became a bhoot exactly the way my director wanted. I have never seen a bhoot in my life. If I had seen one, he would be something like this.

Tell us about your look in the film...

It is all Vivek’s (the director, Sharma) doing. He has seen many ghosts in his life (laughs). He thought this is how my character should look. He made me look very ungainly and made me put on a lot of weight. I look terribly ugly with my nails grown et al. But that’s his vision of what a ghost should look like. He is a very imaginative guy.

How was it working in Vivek’s directorial debut?

It’s been a wonderful experience working with Vivek. After watching this film, you will find it hard to imagine that this is his first film. I would ask people to see his film with a lot of compassion. I wish him all the best.

It took you a while to agree to do the film..

Yes, it took a while. Firstly, I didn’t know Vivek. I knew Ravi Chopra and because I had faith in him, I trusted him for this film too (after Baghban). He said, ‘You have to do this great script that I have got’. So we met and I heard the script. I was very hesitant about it in the beginning because I didn’t know what this young director was going to do. But we had several sittings and he was very enthusiastic and had worked everything out. Yet, in the interim, I also told them that I don’t want to do this movie because I didn’t know what I was doing. Then Vivek went and shed some tears on Mr Ravi Chopra’s shoulder and I got emotionally moved and said, ‘I will do the film’.

Are you generally so cautious about the films you sign?

I think it’s a process. All of us go thorough it. When we come across a certain script, we want to live with it for a while. Sometimes, we give our own little interpretations and suggestions. Sometimes, it takes a while to make a decision. So it took a little while here; but now I am very happy to be a part of this film.

Isn’t your co-star Aman Siddique the same kid with whom you have done ad films?

He is an absolutely adorable little child. I have worked with him in many advertisements. And of course we have done Eklavya earlier, in which he played junior Saif Ali Khan. He is my co-star in the film, like my leading lady or leading man. I really enjoyed working with him. Once they see the film, people will realise he has a huge amount of talent.

Of late you have often worked with kids — Black, Ek Ajnabi and Cheeni Kum.

Working with kids is always a great joy. Sometimes it’s also very painful because they always upstage you. They are always better than you and you have to be on your toes all the time. Aman is a wonderful example of that. He is a born actor. You don’t need to tell him anything. He remembers his lines so well!

After Baghban, Babul and Bhoothnath, you are also doing Ravi Chopra’s next directorial venture. You obviously get along very well...

Kooky (Ravi) and I go back a long way... to 1975. Every film that we did together has been made in a spirit of camaraderie, happiness and joy. I hope people enjoy Bhoothnath. It’s a little different and it’s very special to me.

What is so special about the story?

I never said that you will see a film like this for the first time. After all, there are seven-eight stories in all. We have to make new films by changing them and twisting them a bit.

Finally, how was it working with Shah Rukh Khan?

Shah Rukh and I could work together for two-three days only because the story is such that he only comes in the climax of the movie. He is a wonderful actor. We have done many films together. It’s always been a pleasure working with him.