Director R Balki speaks during Hindustan Times scholarship awards ceremony in Mumbai. HT Photo by Prodip Guha
"He is once in a lifetime actor and the best way to respect and be friendly.. and love him would be to continue adoring him," Balki told PTI.
The ad filmmaker feels that such a multi-talented actor is a rarity.
"He is an icon. We are fortunate enough to be living in an era where people like him are there. And I don't think one will get to see another Amitabh Bachchan in the next 100 years. I don't think it can happen," Balki added.
"Besides his talent, hard work the personality and his acting skills is a difficult combination to get all together. It is a special moment in Bollywood in which we are living. He is the heritage monument of India," he said.
But there are certain things that Balki dislikes in the 69-year-old actor.
"The dislike part is he does not drink and smoke, so I can't smoke in front of him. I like everything about him - the way he conducts himself, his wit and humour, his genuinety, his intelligence and his commitment and love for acting," he said.
After working with him in several ads and three films, Balki feels its always an honour to work with an actor of his stature.
Balki directed Bachchan and Tabu in Cheeni Kum (2007) where a 34-year-old falls in love with a sixty-plus man. While Paa (2009) saw the senior playing the role of a child suffering from progeria.
Also, in wife Gauri Shinde's directorial debut film, English Vinglish, Bachchan is seen in a cameo role. Balki was the co-producer of this film.