Amitabh method acts for role of 12-year-old

Amitabh Bachchan used method acting to get into the role of a 12-year-old boy suffering from an ageing disease.

According to reports from the crew of Paa, the Bollywood veteran would throw tantrums on set in order to stay immersed in the part.

In an interview with The Times of India, director R. Balakrishnan said: "Why 12-year-old? Mr Bachchan behaved like a 10-year-old on the sets. He just allowed the child within him to surface to become Auro.

"He threw so many tantrums just like an uncontrollable child that we had to literally discipline him at times.

"On the sets, he would also stomp his feet like a brat and just go on whining, 'I want... I want... I want!' until he got what he wanted. We were frightened by the level he had imbibed his character.”

Balakrishnan also explained why the opening credits of the film announce 'Introducing Amitabh Bachchan', though the actor has been in the industry for over 40 years.

"I truly believe this is Mr Bachchan’s first film, because he has never played a 12-year-old. And if there are any members of the audience who haven’t seen him before, they won’t recognise him at all in the film," he said.