Dad was great as Sexy Sam: Abhishek

Mumbai: Abhishek Bachchan's popularity is soaring with each release but the actor is unaffected because he says he would rather be known as a good actor like his father.

"I want to be known as a good actor. Once you're a capable actor, stardom happens automatically. Isn't that what happened in my dad's (Amitabh Bachchan) case?" he said.

Abhishek found his father's role as Sexy Sam in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK) to be awesome.

"I don't think anybody but dad could've done it. I think it was the toughest role of KANK. To handle a role that can be tagged risqué with such dignity and grace and to pull it off with such emotional resonance, is very commendable," Abhishek said.

Abhishek and his father have played father and son in two films.

"Yes, Ramu's (Ram Gopal Varma) Sarkar and now KANK. I'd say our relationship in real life is very similar to how we are in KANK. Karan has known me from when I was a child. He has spent loads of time with dad and me,” he said.

Abhishek doesn't feel Sexy Sam's role went too far.

"It's a character he's playing, we must remember that. Unfortunately, when it comes to dad, people tend to forget the man on the screen isn't Amitabh Bachchan but a character. It's hard to put aside his real-life persona even when gets completely into character as Sam,” he said.

"What I loved about the relationship between Sam and Rishi was the role reversal. It's the dad who seems to be the womaniser. And the son isn't angry or upset about it because the father has always been very open about his feelings,” he explained.

Abhishek is gearing up for his next release Guru. According to actress Vidya Balan, Mani Ratnam's Guru is Abhishek's show all the way.

"Rest assured when you work with a director of Mani's (Ratnam) calibre he's going to challenge you into discovering new areas of your personality,” he said.

Abhishek has just shot for Shaad Ali's Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom with actresses Preity Zinta and Lara Dutta.

"It's great fun. I'm absolutely relaxed as long as I get to work with friends. Fortunately, I've worked mostly with friends so far. Or directors who've become friends in the course of a film being made. That explains why I'm doing Shaad's next and Goldie Behl's second Drona," he said.