Jaya Bachchan says she only watched the film because Abhishek is in it
The blockbuster success of Happy New Year may have put a 300 crore smile on actor Abhishek Bachchan's face but it's likely been wiped off by this damning criticism from his mother, actress-politician Jaya Bachchan.
Mrs Bachchan described Happy New Year as a "nonsensical film" at the recently concluded Mumbai Literature Festival. The Rajya Sabha MP, speaking at a session titled 'the failure of literature in informing current cinema,' said, "I only watched it because Abhishek is in it. I told him he's a great actor if he can act stupid in front of the camera like that."
Jaya Bachchan, star of acclaimed films like Abhimaan, Mili and Sholay, also said, "I can't be part of what is being done in films these days and hence I don't do films anymore."
Abhishek's character, Nandu Bhide, is seen in various get-ups and also performs what he calls a 'snakes dance' in the film. With co-stars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood and Vivaan Shah, Abhishek plays a 'loser' who enters a dance championship in Dubai but really intends to rob a bank.
Happy New Year, directed by Farah Khan, has collected over Rs 300 crores worldwide since it released on October 24.
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