Big B rivalry cost Shatru films

In the middle of a workday afternoon, actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha is the picture of professionalism and dignity at a film studio in Hyderabad.
In between shots of his Ram Gopal Varma film, the man with the booming voice and towering presence confesses to being ���excited��� about his Telugu-Hindi bilingual where he essays the role of the late NTR. Shatru says he���s been ���deluged��� with offers from film producers in the last few years, but he only wants to be associated with ���meaningful films���.
Slipping into the larger-than-life role of NTR will however be tough he says.Initially the yesteryear actor had ���doubts��� about even doing the film which also meant he had to shave off his mouche. ���My daughter Sonakshi convinced me to do the film,��� he remembers with a laugh. Interestingly, Shatru had even met actor-turned-politician NTR a few times. ���I���ve met NTR a few times. He was a gentleman and we talked at length about a lot of things,��� he rewinds.
Much like the late Telugu thespian, Shatru is one of the few Bollywood stars who tasted success in both films and politics. ���In comparison to films, politics is a difficult terrain. Integrity, commitment and strong resilience against ups and downs made my stint in politics possible,��� he informs. In the same breath, the sitting MP cautions stars who want to jump into the political arena. ���Glamour is not enough for a star-turned-politician. People count on your commitment to the constituency. I am happy that after the late Sunil Dutt, I was one of the few actors to have achieved something as a politician (and became a cabinet minister). I admire Vajpayeeji and Advaniji. However, I joined politics inspired by the late Jayaprakash Narain,��� he says.
The doting dad���s three children are all set for their debut in Bollywood films. His face lights up at the mention of Luv, Kush and Sonakshi. ���We are a close-knit family. My children have been brought up with the right set of values. I didn���t really want Sonakshi to do films, but Salman���s (Khan) family assured her of a respectable role in her debut film Dabangg. Luv is making his acting debut in Raj Kanwar���s Sadiyan. My other son Kush is also getting ready to direct a film,��� he adds.
Quiz him about his reel rivalry with Amitabh Bachchan that spilled into his real life and Shotgun admits that the ���rivalry was unfortunate but it did exist. After Naseeb and Shaan, I had to return advances of films which also co-starred him. Our rivalry won���t end. There���s a dialogue in my new film that goes like, ���I���m not Sarkar, I���m Super Sarkar. People should feel free to draw their interpretations,��� he says with a booming laugh.
His starry admirers list comprises the likes of Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi and Mohan Babu. ���They admire me a lot and I wish them the best. Rajini confessed that he was inspired my me and is close to my family,��� he avers.
And there���s a warm twinkle in his eyes as he says, ���I love the spicy Andhra food and warm people. And I also find the women of Andhra beautiful.���
Check out Shatrughan Sinha���s pics