Abhishek Bachchan turned 39 Thursday and the actor has a particular policy for ringing in all his birthdays.
"For me the best way of celebrating is to work. A birthday is a birthday. I like to spend my birthday with my family if I can. But it wouldn't be a happy birthday for me if I'm not working," said Abhishek.
This has been the birthday routine for Abhishek since his debut in filmdom.
"Every year since I started my career in 1998, I've made sure that I'm shooting. I remember I was shooting with J.P. Dutta Saab on my birthday. The only year I missed shooting on my birthday was the year when I was in New York promoting 'Delhi-6'. I hope to continue working on all my birthdays," he said.
There will be his daughter to sing "Happy Birthday" this year.
"Aaradhya is the centre of our universe. She's a wonderful child. All credit to Aishwarya (wife) for being a terrific mother. Fatherhood has completely changed my outlook to life. Bringing a child into the world changes all your priorities. I am sure every parent would agree," said the doting father.
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His star parents - Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan remain imnportant to him.
"I'm close to both of my parents. But it's a different equation with each. My father is more of a friend. I share a more traditional mother-son relationship with my mother. It's very hard to differentiate between the two, but there's a difference between my relationship with the two," he said.
Abhishek is looking forward to working with his father again.
"I've enjoyed each and every moment with him on camera. I've learnt so much from just sharing camera space with him. I can't wait to work with him again. Who wouldn't?"
"Apart from a son wanting to work with his father who wouldn't want to work with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan? I'm just excited at the thought of standing in the same frame as him. I don't care if I don't have a single dialogue," he said.
The most memorable birthday for Abhishek was not his own, but his father's 60th birthday.
"It was a memorable occasion. My mother's book on my father was released, which, of course, was wonderful. But the occasion was momentous because we were celebrating a life that has achieved so much, " Abhishek said.
"Besides being his son, I'm his biggest fan. I refuse to believe anyone can be better than him. Here's Mr. Amitabh Bachchan who in my eyes is the greatest human being on earth, not to mention the biggest star and actor on the planet and one of our living icons."
"Just watching him at work is revealing. By watching him I've realised what a bad actor I am. When you see him do a shot you immediately know there's no way you can be as good as him. Just watch what he has done in 'Shamitabh'," said Abhishek, who was seen with Amitabh in films like "Paa" and "Sarkar".
Any regrets?
"I don't regret doing any of the films of I've done. I've always worked from my heart. That works for me," he said.
Abhishek is looking forward to working with Aishwarya again.
"Very soon, I hope. I really enjoy working with her. We get a lot of fan mail asking us to be together again on screen. We'd be more than glad to get together," he said.
The couple shared screen space in movies like "Guru" and "Dhoom: 2".