Amitabh Bachchan: Not debuting in 'The Great Gatsby'

Amitabh Bachchan has called his belated Hollywood debut in 'The Great Gatsby' "just a friendly gesture" but would not mind doing an encore if he comes across something interesting. "I don't look upon it as my Hollywood debut. It is just a friendly gesture and nothing more. It is just a small scene with Gatsby and his friend, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. Meyer Wolfsheim is looked upon as some kind of mentor to Gatsby in the story," Bachchan told in an interview over phone from Mumbai.

Asked whether he is open to doing more Hollywood films, Bachchan said, "I don't know... If something is offered and I need to consider, I will certainly consider it." The Baz Luhrmann directed film, a 3D adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel, is set in the roaring 1920s of America and stars DiCaprio, Maguire and Carey Mulligan in lead roles. Warner Bros is releasing the film in India on May 17, just two days after its screening at Cannes film festival. Bachchan's appearance in the Hollywood film comes after a successful four-decade-long career in India as he "never came upon a Hollywood role" before. The megastar is seen sporting sideburns and impressive whiskers in the movie, something that Luhrmann came up with. "The look was Luhrmann's idea. I have got nothing to do with it. I only told him that I can't remove my beard because I was in the middle of continuity and he incorporated that." Asked about re-teaming with the Australian director, he said, "That's something he will have to decide. I can't speak for him but it would be wonderful if he does and it would be fantastic if he were to ask me to work again." Bachchan is happy that India is making its presence felt globally with its cinematic culture. "I am delighted that India is being looked upon as a nation that is culturally important as far as cinema is concerned. A lot of talent is going across and working in Hollywood, there are many co-productions. "We hope that in future many films get shot here and also have Indian artistes in it. I find these are happy moments."