Amitabh Bachchan is experimenting with roles, teaming up with actresses from all age groups and says that he is willing to explore new genres because he is not bound by any commercial constraints.

"At this stage of my life I think it's my duty to do as many kinds of roles as possible. When one is younger, the lead role comes with commercial constraints. When that weight has gone from one's head, one feels freer. Yes, I'm freed from the pressures of commercialism," Amitabh told IANS in an interview.

" 'Nishabd' is a total departure from whatever I've done so far. Then there's 'Cheeni Kam', which is a quirky satire," he added.

From Hema Malini to Ayesha Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore to Jiah Khan, Amitabh is working with a variety of co-stars. But right now he is full of praise for "Cheeni Kam" co-star Tabu.

"What an artiste! The beauty of her performances is that whatever she feels is shown on her face. That's an unbelievable quality in an artiste. We generally try to come as close to what's required from us. Not Tabu. She goes the whole hog. She feels every bit of her emotions. It's a hallmark of a true artiste."

Excerpts from the interview:

Ram Gopal Varma's aesthetics in "Nishabd" aren't to be denied.
Right. If you've seen the film, you'd know this isn't the Varma of "Sarkar". It's hard to believe he has come with something so sensitive. So far, he has made gangster films like "Sarkar" and "Satya".

Did you have apprehensions about doing the film?
None at all! I agreed in five minutes to do the film. At this stage of my life I think it's my duty to do as many kinds of roles as possible. When one is younger, the lead role comes with commercial constraints. When that weight has gone from one's head, one feels freer. Yes, I'm freed from the pressures of commercialism.

After "Eklavya", "Nishabd" is a total departure from whatever I've done. Then there's "Cheeni Kam" which is a quirky satire. The audience has matured. Of course, there's a big audience for popcorn movies like "Dhoom 2". But there's a growing audience wanting to think and introspect during a film. That's how a "Nishabd" is born.

Did "Nishabd" allow you to be more adventurous than any other role?
The plot presented a difficult situation. I'm just happy with the way Varma presented it. Varma has always given me the freedom to express myself openly, to interpret his brief in any way I want. Sometimes the shot is over but he doesn't stop the camera. And you just have to carry on acting.

Jiah Khan is the youngest co-star you've worked with...
Not quite. Ayesha Kapoor in "Black" was my youngest co-star. Jiah is very good. She's a wonderful artiste and colleague.

It's amazing what a variety of co-stars you have these days.
Oh yes, I'm truly thankful. And such a variety of roles! I've Tabu as my co-star in "Cheeni Kam". What an artiste! Whatever the emotions within her are reflected on her face. The beauty of her performances is that whatever she feels is shown on her face. That's an unbelievable quality in an artiste.

We generally try to come as close to what's required from us. Not Tabu. She goes the whole hog. She feels every bit of her emotions. It's a hallmark of a true artiste. The rest of us aren't that sincere. We sometimes fake the emotions. I don't know what the methodology of her performance is. I just have to see her face to know she's getting it right.

There was a sense of disappointment regarding "Eklavya"?
I don't share that disappointment. I look at "Eklavya" as a very smart film. Vidhu Vinod Chopra's intelligence and intellectual wherewithal come across in the film. The fact that it's doing so well overseas proves there's a certain intellectual quotient being applied to "Eklavya" overseas. It isn't so evident over here.

But I want to compliment Chopra for being ahead of his times. I love the fact he has taken a Shakespearean concept and placed it in Rajasthan. I love the fact that he has taken mythology that's thousands of years old and challenged it.

Don't we many a times want to challenge these age-old beliefs? As a moviegoer you've to be slightly smarter while watching a film like "Eklavya". I'm not disappointed with "Eklavya". But if the money-paying audience is unhappy with it, we'll have to respect that.