PTI
Mumbai, Jul 12: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has said that he was inclined to take up a gruelling world concert tour looking at the manner in which such events are professionally handled.
"After an exhaustive tour in 1983, I had sworn never to do a live show again. Apart from the gruelling schedule, conducting live shows is tough and hard. Besides, there is another nervousness and butterflies in the stomach," Bachchan said on Friday night at a press conference of the "Unforgettable" tour which starts from Toronto in Canada from July 18.
But, in recent times, the management qualities of the organisers are impressive and this is what prompted me to agree to the "Unforgettable" concert, the megastar added.
Bachchan also said that requests from fans across the world makes it impossible to resist from participation in live concerts. "This is the only time when we get to interact with fans world over," he added.
Bachchan recalled his first concert when he had got married in the U.K. "It was in Southhall where a concert was organised by British Indians hailing from Mumbai. Even before we reached the venue, the organisers told us to come late as there was no audience. When we reached, there were five persons in the audience. Two of them were Jaya's relatives," he added.
Bachchan said in 1981, Lata Mangeshkar was performing in New York and had invited me over to meet her audience. "I had just done 'Lawaris' and sung the song "Mere angane mein" which was very popular. "She requested me to sing the song for the audience which I did. But, that was a small impromptu stage," he recalled.
The Bollywood icon admitted that rehearsals were a tough task. "Hope my age allows me to do what I have been doing in the past on such shows," he added.
To a question on what new he would offer his audience on "Unforgettable" concert, Bachchan replied, "I have nothing new to offer. I have taking some young people with me to connect instantly with the youth."
When asked why there are only Ritesh Deshmukh and Preity Zinta as group members apart from himself, Abhishek and Aishwarya, Bachchan said, "earlier I used to go all alone on tours and that was enough. Even now too, the number of stars participating in the tour is good enough."
Bachchan said concerts have a certain format and "Unforgettable" will dwell on tributes to legends, different aspects, styling and genre of cinema over the years.
The actor said he would also be singing a few songs. To a question, he said he would share the concert experiences on his blog.
He said Jaya will also accompany the troupe. When asked whether she will also perform, Bachchan replied, "it will be a surprise."
Aishwarya who was down with German measles, made her first public appearance after recovery. She did not say much except that she was looking forward to performing with her father-in-law and husband.
"Interaction with fans will be the biggest high of the tour," she said.
Shiamak Davar, choreographer of the concert said Abhishek has been practicising very hard and even learnt Aishwarya's steps.
To which Abhishek said, he had learnt the steps to teach them to Ash at home because she was unwell. "I can perform 'Kajra re' in place of Ash. Dad watch out," he said jokingly.
He said "Unforgettable" was the first world concert for him and Ritesh Deshmukh and together they should share the stage with veterans like Ash, Preity and his father.