Amitabh Bachchan appeared as a cameo in Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film The Great Gatsby. The Indian megastar left such an impression on the director that he is still captivated by Big B’s charisma. During a promotion for his upcoming film Elvis, Baz stated that Amitabh Bachchan is “not only the Elvis of India, but also the Marlon Brando of India.”
Tom Hanks plays Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley’s manager, in Elvis. In an interview with NDTV, Baz compared Tom’s and Big B’s auras, saying, “Tom Hanks is easily the Amitabh Bachchan of America, and I mean it.” The director stated that he continues to speak about the Sholay star because “I miss him so much.”
Amitabh Bachchan and Tom Hanks, according to Baz Luhrmann, are very similar artists. “I think about him and Tom because they are so similar. Amitabh would bring not only his performance but also his energy, inspiration, and wisdom to the set. That was evident on the sets of The Great Gatsby. I remember a quiet conversation between him and Leonardo. I could tell Leonardo was listening to wisdom, and Tom did the same with Austin in Elvis. “It’s so touching and rare when an older actor passes the torch to the next generation,” he said.
Elvis, starring Austin Butler, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2022 and received a 12-minute standing ovation. Austin’s performance in the film has received a lot of praise. Based on 108 reviews, the film currently has an 81 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Elvis will be released in Indian theatres on June 24.