Mumbai: On Saturday evening Amitabh Bachchan had a date with the media to promote Ram Gopal Varma's film, Sholay. No airs, no nakhras and no puffed-up egos, Bachchan dealt with them with all with respect. Occasionally, his characteristic humour cropped up. "Let's meet outside," he said to a reporter who kept pestering him with the same question repeatedly.

RGV's Sholay, backed by Adlabs, brought back a flood of memories for the original Jai. Why did Bachchan agree to essay the role of one of the most hated villain of all times? "I am an actor and my responsibility towards my audience is to entertain them. People are intelligent enough to differentiate between a hero and a villain. They know what I am in real life," explains Bachchan.

He says that Gabbar Singh has always been special for him. "I wanted to play that role, and I had told this secretly to director Ramesh Sippy. But he said that he already had another role for me," he reminisces. "I was recently talking to Sushant Singh (who plays Sambha in the remake) and he recollected that when his film 'Jungle' was released, people would abuse him. That is his success as an actor. You should be convincing. So as an actor, I have to shut one door and open another," Bachchan adds.

The Sholay shoot started three days ago and Bachchan has hurt his eye in the process. "I am required to wear a lens and it hurt me," he says.

Of course we all know Sholay is not the only Bachchan starrer to be remade. Farhan Akhtar's version of the cult Don will be out in two weeks. "I find nothing wrong with it. It's all about the maker's vision. I met Shah Rukh and Farhan and they said that they would show me the first copy. I am excited," says Bachchan.

In typical Big B fashion, he takes objection to being called a megastar. "I am not a big actor; I am merely an actor who's doing his job," he mutters. Almost as modestly, he reveals that there would be no grand revelry on his birthday October 11, which many of his fans never forget to celebrate. "I accept the good wishes humbly. It's because of my fans and well-wishers that I am what I am."