Now, 50 percent of work force on sets is female, notes Amitabh

At the launch of book "Once Upon A Time In India - A Century Of Indian Cinema", written by film critic-cum-author Bhawana Somaaya, Amitabh, asked by her about the changes that he observed in film industry, quipped: "During my time, there would be two women on set, the heroine and her mother."

The situation has now changed, he noted. 

"But now, 50 percent of the work force on a film set is female. I think that is a huge change. When young girls handle the film set whether it is production, camera, continuity department etc. you are just free as an artist to focus on your performance. Earlier, we used to handle our continuity. I like the fact how women are involved in the process of filmmaking. I hope more to come as director, writer and more that we have got in last few years."

During the interactive session with Somaaya, Amitabh also shared his childhood memories of watching films back in Allahabad and how it has changed over decades. "I was so excited to enter the first ever air-conditioned theatre in our Allahabad city!" he recalled. 

Actresses like Mita Vashisht, Pooja Bedi, and Divya Dutta among others were also present at the launch event at The Club.

As the book intended to capture the history of 100 years of Indian cinema, Somaaya said it was very difficult to find a publisher for her book "as everyone was interested in new trend ad controversies and anecdotes where I documented the history and milestones of Indian cinema".

"However, I am thankful to Penguin Books India Pvt Limited who respected my manuscript and packaged the book in a contemporary manner to address the new generation," she added.

The 232-page book is filled with history, illustrations, posters, and dialogues of various phases of Indian cinema.