He made him really ‘good’ and immensely likable by turning him ‘bad’ in ‘Yuva’, then the actor literally gained some ‘weight’ for his magnificent performance in his ‘Guru’.

And in ‘Ravan’ Abhishek dived from a 90-ft cliff into water, stood under a waterfall for two hours, braved snakes and leeches in Kerala's forests, Abhishek Bachchan decided to jump from scary heights despite a ‘no’ from director Mani Ratnam. Because Abhishek can go at any lengths for Mani Ratnam.

J.P. Dutta introduced him to the industry in ‘Refugee’ in 2000 but it was Mani Ratnam who introduced ‘Abhishek Bachchan’ the actor to the world when he cast him in ‘Yuva’. The grey shades made way for the actor in the industry who finally started getting recognized as an actor and not just a son of the legendary Amitabh Bachchan.

For Abhishek acting is in blood and being the son of the iconic Big B it was just a matter of time for him to get in the mode. But the point is who said to Abhishek that ‘your time starts now’. Later Mani Ratnam did the impossible; it was not easy at all to remove Abhishek from the towering shadows of his legendary father Amitabh Bachchan. He offered him ‘Guru’ a movie based on the life of India’s Business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani.

A tough, increasingly demanding role, there where doubts whether Abhishek can pull such a character and to top it all he has to play a significant part being old and with extra kilos. Abhishek took the challenge and carried the difficult role magnificently on his shoulders who where now getting groomed by the watchful eye of the master Mani Ratnam. Mani Ratnam and Abhishek Bachchan are perfect example of how an actor gets better and better under the guidance of an able director who understands the hidden potential.

Mani Ratnam is what Hrishida was to Amitabh Bachchan. Big B’s fortune changed after ‘Anand’, from this film Amitabh got the real recognition of a gifted talent, the same way Abhishek got his identity via Mani Ratnam in ‘Yuva’ which got strongly established in ‘Guru’.

Now the deadly combo is back and this time the bang is much louder and deadlier than expected. Abhishek plays a character inspired from Raavana from the Indian epic. The character has more shades and colours than a rainbow and it’s the most challenging role for any actor of any caliber.

Shares Abhishek, “This is the most challenging film I have ever done in my life. I haven't done such a physically and emotionally challenging film in my life. And it's not about going to tough locations or tough scenes. The film drains you and you feel so good when you go home at night because you feel that you have done something. Getting a movie like 'Raavan' is so rare. You don't get such a role today,"

Mani Ratnam loves shooting on real locations to extract the best from his actors, he concludes. Yes, we all agree with Abhishek

Listen to 'Raavan' songs on Raaga.com