Amitabh Bachchan turned 84 on Sunday, and the tributes poured in — not just from fans, but from filmmakers who’ve spent decades shaped by his presence. Imtiaz Ali, whose Main Wapas Aaunga is currently doing well at the box office, called Bachchan ‘the era’ itself. 'There can never be another Amitabh Bachchan,' he said, speaking at Whistling Woods International’s Celebrate Cinema ’26. 'I’ll always see myself as someone born in the Amitabh Bachchan era.' The 55-year-old director, known for Jab We Met, Rockstar, and Tamasha, admitted he once thought working with the legend was impossible. 'He’s just… I don’t know what to say,' he told PTI. That changed after an ad shoot. 'Then I realised, no, I can work with this gentleman. And I’d love to.' He didn’t name a project, but the hope is there. Ali also reflected on his 25th year in cinema, his daughter’s engagement, and the quiet weight of audience trust. 'I want to give a gift back,' he said. 'I’m here only by kindness.' Pressure? Not for him. 'It’s a privilege. Every day, I’m still in disbelief that I’m a film director.' So while the birthday celebrations unfold across India. From fan tributes to Kamal Haasan’s wishes, one filmmaker is quietly placing his next move: a collaboration, someday, with the man who defined stardom.