Arjun Rampal awed by Amitabh Bachchan

Arjun Rampal has said that he is in awe of Amitabh Bachchan both as an actor and a human being.

Speaking to The Times of India, he described the veteran actor as a "true soldier".

"[He] has nothing but love for what he does," he added, "nothing but complete endurance, he has endured everything - the ups, the downs and everything, and still keeps coming out and recreating himself," the Ra.One actor said.

Rampal, who has worked with Bachchan in Aankhen and The Last Lear, said that he is impressed with the way the 69-year-old actor continues to reinvent himself with every role.

"He is one of those actors who never created a shelf life for himself," he said. "An actor who reinvents himself all the time and is still there and still doing some wonderful work even at his age. He is such a good brand ambassador of the Indian film industry to the world... a true soldier."

Rampal said the Paa star's self-discipline should be a source of inspiration for all actors.

"He is a man who wakes up at 6am and this is a discipline. This is something we should all learn. He is in the gym at 7am. At around 8-8.30am he has a stack of newspapers which go all around the world, and he reads every single newspaper. At 9.30am he is on the set, he switches his mobile phone off, and he is the character you want him to be."

"I was always intimidated by him, but he also taught me that your best friends when you are shooting a film should be your team members - your co-stars, directors, cameramen and light men."