Shahrukh is ‘Badshah’ of Bollywood: Amitabh

New Delhi--What better and bigger credit Shahrukh Khan would get and that too from superstar of the Millennium-Amitabh Bachchan. He may have had the maximum number of hits this year, but Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan feels Shahrukh Khan is the 'Badshah' of the Indian film industry.

"I am not the Badshah of the film industry. I am only a member. Shahrukh Khan is the Badshah," Bachchan said in a TV Interview of a private channel.

The actor, who celebrated his 63rd birthday recently, was replying to a question on whether he was not the Badshah of Bollywood.

"The entire world considers him the Badshah. His films are the most successful," he said about why he felt Shahrukh was the number one star.

When reminded that he had a greater number of hit films than Shahrukh, he said, "So what. Next year, his films will do better."

Bachchan, who is having a remarkable run as an actor at present and whose biggest releases this year include 'Banti aur Babli', 'Sarkar', 'Black' and 'Waqt', said he would go on acting until he was physically worn.

"I am basically a man who is looking for acting challenges, looking for work. And I will keep working till I get physically worn," he said when asked about the different kind of roles he was getting to play now in the latter half of his career.

[inline:1]Bachchan said he enjoyed working with the new generation of directors and producers as they had fresh ideas about filmmaking.

However, the Big B does not think he is like a politician who does not have a retirement date in his calendar. "Actors are bound by physicality, by their looks, ability to act and sustain a character. And, therefore, as the body ages, no roles are to be found for the actor and he fades away," he said.

On son Abhishek, with whom he starred in 'Bunty aur Babli' and 'Sarkar' this year, finally tasting success at the box office, Bachchan said it was a matter of pride for any father that his son was doing well for himself.

He, however, denied that he had asked his son to turn down an offer to play Rajiv Gandhi in a film, saying, "There is nothing wrong in playing Rajiv Gandhi. In fact, he (Abhishek) was not offered any such role."

The Bachchans and the Gandhis, once very close, had many years ago fallen apart.

Asked if he had any desire to work in Hollywood, Bachchan said he was happy being in Bollywood. "Why do you keep comparing Bollywood with Hollywood? Do you think Hollywood is better than Bollywood? Hollywood may have more money and better technology, but we make many more films and have many more viewers," he said.