Nagpur: When the film based on his life was finalized with Amitabh Bachchan playing the protagonist, Slum Soccer founder Vijay Barse knew that he would come face to face with the mega star sooner or later. “But the actual meeting was not what I had expected it to be,” Barse told TOI in a chat a day after meeting the star who is currently shooting for ‘Jhund’ in the city.Barse got a call from the director of the film Nagraj Manjule on Sunday to come to the sets put up at St John’s School at Mohan Nagar for a meeting with Bachchan. “It was a courtesy call and since my family was very keen on meeting Mr Bachchan we all went,” said Barse.“I could see him walking down from a distance and when we met I told him that finally the real-life Vijay and reel-life Vijay have come face to face. He laughed out loudly but made no comment,” adds Barse.The meeting was brief and left Barse asking for more. “I had thought we would sit and chat for a while and try to understand each other. He is an actor and I am the character he is playing. I want him to understand my mission and targets but all this could not be done,” he says.Saying that photo ops with the megastar was not what he wanted, Barse continues, “But he was very polite and told me that he was impressed with my work and so had decided to do the role. I told him that my mission will spread across the world through him and the film.”What upset Barse is that the entire film is being shot on a set. “I asked Manjule if he would shoot some scenes at Bokhara where the Slum Soccer academy is located and he said no. I want Mr Bachchan to meet my students and volunteers as this would make them happy. Manjule is using actors when he can easily utilize the actual people, or the academy for shooting,” he adds.Wanting to meet Bachchan again, Barse says, “I want the star to know how these slum kids have benefited from soccer and how they have evolved into confident young boys and girls while playing state, national and international matches.”Quite the man of the moment, Barse feels that had he got some more time with the actor he would have been able to convey his message. “Mr Bachchan is such a fine actor that had I interacted with him for some time he would have understood what I wanted to say.”

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