Amitabh Bachchan's career trajectory was changed by Javed Akhtar who is a legendary writer and has written several immaculate films over the years. The writer recently celebrated 50 years of his iconic film, Deewaar, on January 21, 2025. Javed wrote the script with his writing partner, Salim Khan. However, before making the face of Deewaar, Amitabh Bachchan had already starred in Salim-Javed’s Zanjeer. The film revived Big B's struggling career in one stroke.
Amitabh Bachchan recently spoke about his initial films in the entertainment industry, including Zanjeer on his show, Kaun Banega Crorepati. During the show, Big B recalled how women were enchanted by Rajesh Khanna, who was already a superstar when Amitabh was beginning his career in the film industry. For the unversed, Rajesh was also the first pick for Zanjeer. In the same conversation, Amitabh recalled the effect Rajesh had on his fans, he shared how women would take dirt from Rajesh Khanna's car tyers and put it on their foreheads as a blessing. Amitabh stated:
"Eventually, I found work, and Abbas saab gave me my first break. Zanjeer was written by Salim-Javed, and it was a turning point in my career. At the time, Rajesh Khanna was the biggest superstar in India. Kya aura tha, kya following thi…His presence was so powerful that when he arrived, women would take the dirt from his car’s tyres and apply it to their foreheads as a blessing. I was a nobody, but then Salim-Javed came to meet me and offered me the story. I didn’t expect to get the role, but I did, and that’s how I got Zanjeer."
During the episode, he candidly recalled how the failure of his films in the initial days had left him heartbroken. He also added that he had even considered quitting acting and becoming a taxi driver. However, his stars aligned, and the legendary writing duo Salim-Javed chose him for Zanjeer, which proved to turn his career trajectory. He was quoted saying:
"I worked in Kolkata, earning just 400-500 rupees a month. But when I arrived in Mumbai, I was determined to make it work. I thought if I didn’t find work in films, I would drive a taxi. I even got my driving license in preparation."
In the same conversation, Amitabh Bachchan shared how his film Bombay to Goa indirectly helped him secure Zanjeer. He revealed that Javed Akhtar once told him that the scene where he was sitting in a restaurant with Shatrughan Sinha in Bombay to Goa helped him secure Zanjeer. For the unversed, during the scene, Shatrughan was supposed to slap Amitabh, which would lead to a fighting sequence.
However, when the latter stood up, he was still chewing the sandwich he had been eating. That moment made Javed believe that Amitabh could handle his role in Zanjeer. Amitabh further shared a memorable anecdote from behind the scenes from the set of Zanjeer. He stated:
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"On my first day at work, I had to say a dialogue to Pran sir, a man of extraordinary talent. I was initially hesitant to say these lines to him, but he was extremely supportive and asked me to go ahead with it."
What are your thoughts on Amitabh Bachchan's revelation?
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