What's more...a special 'BAFTA Interview' with Abhishek Bachchan launched the Festival on 5th of March. This special event celebrated the cinematic achievements of one of Bollywood's finest stars. Abhishek's wife, actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai also attended the event. On the same day, after the BAFTA event got over, Jaya Bachchan was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contribution to cinema spanning four decades.
An undoubted highlight was the 'Acting Masterclass with Abhishek Bachchan', providing a unique opportunity for cinema fans and actors alike to learn from India's leading superstar.
Finally, Naman adds, "At the Apollo Cinema on Saturday (6th March) morning, the event in question was an acting masterclass with Abhishek, conducted by me. The actor shared several insights into his craft and the processes he goes through. What struck the sold out audience and indeed Rez Kempton (star of ToF closing night film Life Goes On, who helped me put the questions together) was Abhishek's refreshing honesty in revealing his trade secrets. He was also overcome by emotion at certain points during the masterclass and stayed on after the event's conclusion to give some words of confidence to aspiring actors. He also allowed me to shamelessly plug my book Lights, Camera, Masala: Making Movies in Mumbai, but then, he would, he's on the cover!"
"Once the pandemonium subsided and normal service resumed, Abhishek and Francine had an extremely engaging tête-à -tête, marked chiefly by the star's remarkable candour. He even revealed how he almost quit the film industry when his first few films bombed, but clung on tenaciously thanks to sage advice from his father. The trademark Bachchan wit was also very much in evidence. Senior followed Junior when Jaya Bachchan was presented with Tongues on Fire's Lifetime Achievement Award. She was overcome by emotion and there wasn't a dry eye in the house when her family went up on stage to celebrate her moment", quotes Naman.
"The celebrations continued at the Park Lane Sheraton ballroom where the ToF team had put together a scintillating collection of Jaya Bachchan's clips. Lord Desai felicitated Jaya Bachchan on stage and some wonderful performances by British Asian artistes followed."
He adds, "This was followed by an on-stage interview at the BAFTA, a life in pictures as it were, with Abhishek Bachchan, conducted by the peerless Francine Stock. Given that previous such honourees include James Cameron, Meryl Streep, Guillermo del Toro and our own Deepa Mehta and Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek was indeed in exalted company. What caused more than a ripple of excitement when Abhishek walked into the BAFTA's packed-to-the-rafters Princess Anne Theatre was who accompanied him, couple of whom you may just have heard of - the aforementioned Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan."
Naman Ramachandran (author of one of the most creative books on Bollywood ever written 'Lights, Camera Masala' is also a film critic with a PhD in film) who is on the advisory board of Tongues On Fire gave us an exclusive sneak peek on the proceedings. He said, "Friday, 5th of March kicked off with a press conference with Dr. P, ToF Chair Lady Kishwar Desai and Abhishek Bachchan, moderated by yours truly. The big news there was Abhishek kindly agreeing to become a Patron of the festival, thus joining the august ranks of Meera Syal and Dr. Rachel Dwyer, amongst others"
