Subhash K Jha / Mid-day

• While enacting an action scene for Alladin he was injured; was rushed to hospital for tests

Mumbai, Apr 23: Amitabh Bachchan injured himself while doing an action sequence for Sujoy Ghosh’s Alladin at Mehboob Studios on April 21 morning. This is the second instance on the film’s sets when Big B has had to seek medical aid.

Bachchan, who complained of unbearable back pain, was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital, where he underwent several tests and was given medication for his back injury.

Heavily drugged

At first, Bachchan tried to brush off the incident. He later admitted that he was in excruciating pain. “Yes, I hurt myself doing an action scene for Alladin. I had to go to the hospital for an MRI test. But I was not hospitalised. I was back on the sets heavily drugged to lessen the pain so that I could complete the crucial work.”

Says Ghosh, “Amitji was doing a kick in a fight scene when something gave way in his back. We don’t quite know what exactly happened. But Amitji was in severe pain. He had to be taken to the hospital for tests. But look at his ‘spirit’. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he plays a spirit in Alladin! But he was back on the sets right after the tests. Though I’m half his age, I don’t have his energy and grit.”

Raw stunts

This is the second time the Big B injured himself on the film’s sets. Ghosh admits, “Yes. Earlier, he hurt his wrist. That’s because Amitji is doing a full-on action role after ages. The special effects in Alladin have nothing to do with his power-packed scenes.

I wanted him to perform the stunts the same way he did in Zanjeer and Deewaar, films that I grew up watching. I wanted them to be live and raw. I didn’t want anything to come between me and my dream.”

Adds the director, “I do caution Amitji before every action scene. But he just goes for the kill each time. I don’t want anything to happen to him for my selfish reasons. I want to make at least 20 more films with him.”