Big B suggested 'TE3N' makers shoot in Kolkata

Director's Ribhu Dasgupta's thriller "TE3N" was earlier supposed to be shot in Goa, but when the permission to shoot there didn't materialise, the film's lead actor Amitabh Bachchan suggested shifting to Kolkata.

"We were to shoot the film in Goa, but there were some problems with permissions... They (makers) were back in my office saying, 'What do we do?' I said, 'Let's go to Kolkata'. They asked me if I'll go to Kolkata and I said, 'Why not?'" Amitabh said at the trailer launch event of the film here.

"We virtually settled in Kolkata and finished the film in one long schedule," he added.

Amitabh plays the character of John Biswas in the film, who is out to find his missing granddaughter amidst mysterious situations.

About his character in the film, Big B said: "He is an Anglo-Indian. One of the reasons we were shooting in Goa because we wanted the character to be Anglo-Goan, but when we shifted to Kolkata, we made him Anglo-Indian. There is a very large population of Anglo-Indians in Kolkata and I had interacted with them through my experiences of eight years".

Big B said that Kolkata has been "very close" to him.

"I've been very attracted to it, primarily because when you get your first job, you get that independence, start living on your own," Amitabh said.

"Everyone there had something fresh to say, something unique to do. There is this famous 'adda' where everyone gathers and talks about various subjects. It's such a wonderful feeling. So, for me to get back and visit old sites, just being in that environment has always been very exciting," he added.

He still remembers the restaurants, tram, theatres, buildings and how they have now changed over the years.

"But the people haven't changed, even today, ready to give that much love. And the kind of love you receive from there, I don't believe any other artist receives that in any other part of the world," Amitabh said.

"TE3N" also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vidya Balan. The film is set for a June 10 release.

--IANS

iv/ank/vm