His performance in Bol Bachchan did all the talking, and both critics and the audience are raving about him. The icing on the cake? Everyone associated with the film is laughing all the way to the bank. Here’s the man in news, and for all the right reasons. Abhishek Bachchan in conversation with Vajir Singh

Are you happy?

Yes, very happy.

Because of the compliments or the business of the film?

I have never understood business. I keep asking Ajay (Devgn) what is good and what is not. For an actor, there is nothing bigger than the fact that your film is doing well and the audience likes it. Andif you’re an industry kid, you want the industry to earn from the films you do.I wouldn’t want to be part of a film that doesn’t earn money for the industry. AndAjay tells me that not only do people lovethe film, it is also earning money, which is the whole purpose of making a film.

Money in the bank means more movies will be made, right?

Regardless of whether it’s the industry or the audience, there should be smiles all around. What’s the point of making a film which is so expensive that it cannot recover its investment?

Did you expect this film to be this successful?

We hoped it would be. No one can predict these things. But we hoped it would do well. I never dreamt it would be such a success.

Are you happy or surprised?   

I am happily surprised.

Now that the film has been declared a success, what do you have to say?

It’s too early to say. People are asking me what I plan to do next and I say,nothing. In fact, I am going to work even harder on my next release. You shouldnot rest on your laurels and take thingsfor granted.

There is also this thing about films working or not working from one Friday to the next?

You will win on some Fridays and lose on some Fridays. The greatest thing about this industry is that there will always be another Friday. You have to keep working harder.

You have seen many good Fridays and many bad Fridays. How do you deal with that?

It’s not your decision to make. It is the audience’ decision and you have to respect that. At the end of the day, whatthe audience decides is cast in stone.You have to listen to what they have tosay and move on.

Rohit Shetty is being compared to directors like Manmohan Desai and  Prakash Mehra, who are known to have made true entertainers. Since you have worked with Shetty twice and grown up watching your father working with Desai and Mehra, what is your take on Shetty?

I think Rohit’s focus on the audience is brilliant because he knows who he is making a film for. And when you knowthat and you don’t waiver in that conviction, you’re always going to get it right. He is so very sure about how he wants to make a film and who he wants to makethe film for, and I think that is an unbelievable quality to have. That coupled with his work ethics, which are outstanding. He is one of the hardest working people I have ever met. If you’re going to be grounded and humble and know who you’re making a film for, there’s only a small chance that you can go wrong.