Mumbai, Jan 18 (IANS) Amitabh Bachchan says he is the happiest father alive as son Abhishek, who just got engaged to Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai, wows audiences with an "incredible and phenomenal" performance in Mani Ratnam's latest "Guru".

"My father wrote in his biography: 'when a father loses to his son, it is his greatest victory'. I've lost to my son and I'm the happiest father alive," Amitabh told IANS.

"Abhishek is phenomenal (in 'Guru'). I have held myself back on many an occasion from commenting on my son's work, but this time I shall not. To hell with niceties and restraint. Abhishek is incredible!

"I have been choked with emotion ever since I emerged from the theatre and still am. This is a role of a lifetime for him and he has given a performance of a lifetime. It's a role any actor worth his salt would die for and it's a performance that any actor worth his salt will envy," the proud father added.

Here are excerpts from an interview:

You seem to be the happiest father in the world.

Aishwarya is my son's choice and our choice as well, and we are very happy with that. She's a simple, traditional and a home loving individual, warm and endearing. Her inner beauty is far greater than her much renowned outer beauty. Abhishek's choice shall be our choice and our happiness.

Their acclaim in "Guru" and the success of the film, both commercially and critically, just adds to my joy.

You've lent your voice to an album of Rabindranath Tagore songs in Hindi. Your attachment to Kolkata and Bengali culture goes a long way.

Yes, I've enjoyed doing it. Indrajit Dasgupta, who has sung the verses, met me with his wife. The unique quality of the concept, the sincerity of the people involved in it and yes, of course Tagore and Bengal, were the factors that made me accept this proposal. Kolkata and Bengali culture are universal phenomena and the attachments are, therefore, obvious.

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