Indian movie legend Amitabh Bachchan says taking on the character of a famous villain in a remake of the Bollywood classic “Sholay” or “Embers” was a learning experience.

Bachchan told the Hindustan Times newspaper that he thought the role was worth the risk most Indian movie critics thought he was taking.

“If Gabbar Singh is a risk, so be it,” said Bachchan in an interview published Wednesday. “For me it is a terrific challenge as an actor, a challenge for whatever creativity I possess.”

In the 1975 movie — one of India’s biggest hits — Bachchan played a small-time thief recruited by a former police officer to take on fierce bandit Gabbar Singh who loots villagers.

The remake, directed by well-known filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, has Bachchan playing a modern-day version of Singh named Babban — a violent mob leader — and his clash with the police.

“Actors need to be tested,” said Bachchan in the interview. “When I am in the mold of a character actor, playing Gabbar is another challenge.”

Bachchan has a massive fan following among South Asians. He has acted in more than 150 films in a career spanning more than three decades. He played an underworld kingpin in Varma’s hit movie “Sarkar” or “Boss” last year.

“Let the film release and let us leave the decision to the audience,” said Bachchan. “They may reject it, they may like it. Who can tell today?”