J.P. Dutta introduced Abhishek in Refugee 17 years ago. The duo will team up for the self-exiled movie moghul’s comeback film, Paltan, which is a war saga.
Interestingly, the last film that J.P. directed before taking a lengthy 11-year sabbatical was Umrao Jaan, and it also starred Abhishek along with wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
A source close to Abhishek, says, “Ever since J.P. saab launched Abhishek in Refugee, Abhishek has considered his first director as a father-figure in his life. Although J.P. has not made a film in 11 years, Abhishek has always stayed close to him and his wife Bindiya and their two daughters. Abhishek made sure to attend all the key functions in the Dutta household over the years.”
Says J.P. Dutta, “I am proud of what Abhishek has achieved. I think his debut in Refugee was very impressive. After that, I watched Abhishek’s growth as an actor. What he did in Mani Ratnam’s Guru, I feel no one else could have done. In fact, Abhishek’s performance in all the three Mani Ratnam films he did (Yuva, Guru, Raavan) was exemplary. I am proud of him.”
It will be interesting to see what the teacher and the student come up with this time.
