Not the mane attraction

The Big B told IANS: 'This is completely untrue! I've no knowledge of any such requirement for Mira's film, nor have I spoken to anyone about it.When I heard about this I spoke to Mira and she rubbished it.

'She told me she hasn't even envisaged me as bald for 'Shantaram', let alone share it with the media which is so busy imagining me bald through morphed pictures on the net, etc. But sorry I'm not obliging.'

Based on Gregory David Roberts Shantaram, the film is being co-produced by Hollywood star Johnny Depp, who plays a key role in it.

The closest Amitabh has come to facial innovation is the trimmed beard to play the cop's role in Khakee and the hip ponytail for the chef's part in Cheeni Kum.

'That's as far as I go. My face is ugly enough. I can't do anything to improve it. Nothing can save it.'

The actor says he will start shooting for 'Shantaram' in January, but before that he will complete filming several films in India.

He's currently busy shooting for two back-to-back films - 'Bhootnath' and 'Alladdin' where he plays a ghost and a djinn respectively.

'I am shooting for 'Bhootnath' now, which will be complete by the middle of November. I start with Sujoy Ghosh's 'Alladdin' soon after, as also Shoojit Sarkar's tentatively titled 'Shoebite', a working title, and Leena Das' 'Teen Patti'. All these will be on till December.'

The Big B then starts work on Shantaram.

'From January 2008, I'll be working with Mira, Warner Bros and Johnny Depp on 'Shantaram'.'

After Shantaram, he has Pocketmaar with Ravi Chopra.

'(Offers from) Ram Gopal Varma, R. Balakrishnan, Deepa Mehta and a few others are (also) under consideration,' said the busy actor.