Saudi- 'Shamitabh' was Balki's b'day gift to Big B

(MENAFN- Arab News) MUMBAI: It now turns out that the script of director R. Balakrishnan alias Balki's upcoming film 'Shamitabh' which releases next Friday and features Amitabh Bachchan Dhanush and Akshara Haasan in lead roles was actually conceived by Balki as a birthday gift to Amitabh Bachchan.

Balki and Bachchan had earlier created magic in films such as 'Cheeni Kum' and 'Paa' and 'Shamitabh' the third film in their combination has already become one of the most expected films of the year. Composer Ilaiyaraaja has scored the music of the film which is Dhanush's second film as hero in Bollywood. Shruti Haasan's younger sister Akshara Haasan debuts in Hindi films as heroine with 'Shamitabh'.

'I was about to meet Amitabh a couple of years back on his birthday. Usually I would gift something which he likes; I'd ask Jaya Bachchan about Amitabh's preferred choice and would purchase the gift accordingly. That day Jaya was out of station and I couldn't ask her about what to procure; I knew Amitabh liked flowers but I couldn't procure them at that time.'

'I had to travel for about two hours to reach Amitabh's place and while driving my car I conceived a script which I narrated to him as a 'birthday gift' soon after reaching his residence. Amitabh loved the script which has now been made as 'Shamitabh'; this was my birthday gift to him' Balki said.