I take criticism as an incentive: Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan has had his share of detractors in his long cinematic career but the megastar says rather than shying away from criticism, he uses it to improve further. "It (criticism) is important for us, it helps in improving yourself... I don't look at criticism as it is rubbish and not read it. I sometimes use it as an incentive," Bachchan said in an interview. "So, when there is a critic, a write up or assessment of your work, it's wonderful to have another view point, you get a different perspective," he added.

The Piku star, who will be next seen in T3EN, said if a celebrity enjoys the love of public, he should also be ready to hear negative things as well. "If you keep hearing good things about yourself, you will be spoiled as a person. No one is perfect. We all have our faults, we all have our minuses and we don't have the capacity to notice all of that... If you are a public figure, then you are bound to face all this. You have to reconcile with it...When they (fans) praise you, you take that well and when they throw brickbats, you say don't hit. How can you do that? It's not possible. It's not right, it's not expected either," he added.

Bachchan, 73, says he tells his son, actor Abhishek, to learn from his own failures and bounce back. "I keep telling Abhishek, 'if your film doesn't work, you put up that criticism on the wall, get up in the morning and say you are going to work harder and prove'. There are times when things that are written are derogatory but that is the challenge that creative people have," he said.

When asked if he is subjected to criticism considering his stature in the film industry, Bachchan shot back, "No, it is not rare. It's very natural. Everyday you get criticised for what you do, what you wear, what you say, what you do in films, how you worked, where you are. That's the freedom people have."