Actor Kiran Kumar on working with Amitabh Bachchan, 'Its like working with a virus...'
In the glitzy and glamorous world of Bollywood, many actors come and go every day. But there are only a few rare gems whose spark remains untouched, and nobody can come close to their legacy. One such example of this is an actor who is known as the Shahenshah of Bollywood. From his towering figure, discipline, humility, and magnetic charisma, nobody could come close to the magic and influence he has both on and off screen.
Yes, we are talking about the legendary superstar, Amitabh Bachchan. Also famously known by the name 'Big B'. Over the years, many stars have worked with him and reflected on the moments they shared with Amitabh. Recently, in a podcast, Kiran Kumar opened up about the unique experience of acting with Bachchan. He shared his unforgettable experience of working alongside Big B in the 1992 film Khuda Gawah. What did Kiran Kumar say about working with Amitabh Bachchan?
He reveals the undeniable impact Big B has on his co-star: 'Working with Amitabh Bachchan is like working with a virus. He is such a great actor, and his passion is so great that he gets into your bloodstream. Once you work with Amitabh Bachchan, it's very difficult to get out of his aura, especially the way he treats you.'
Besides appreciating Amitabh for his sheer talent, Kiran Kumar also spoke about Amitabh's sharp presence of mind and off-screen personality. 'Some actors won't give a reaction if a villain is beating them in films, but not Amitabh Bachchan. Amit Ji would give a reaction at every punch that I would give him. He would get back 2 feet with every blow. He is such a wonderful actor, and he is so well informed about everything. You can discuss anything under the sun with him. But one thing that I have learnt about Amit Ji is that you talk to him only when he wants to talk to you,' he said. Actor Kanwaljit Singh on working with Big B
Previously, actor Kanwaljit Singh also shared his memories of working with Big B during the filming of Satte Pe Satta. He revealed he used to feel very nervous around Amitabh's presence. Satte Pe Satta 'Main bada ghabrata tha inse, 'Satte Pe Satta' ke time pe (I used to be very nervous around him during Satte Pe Satta). After the shoot, they would come to our hotel. They were staying at the Oberoi, while we were staying somewhere else. We used to play snooker. I was so nervous that whenever I took a good shot, I would look at him and say, 'Sorry.' Seeing this, he would say, 'Why, man? That was a good shot.' So I said, 'Alright.' Later, when my son, who is a painter, had an exhibition, I went to him. He especially told his secretary, 'Find a date for Kuku… I want to go.' And he came for the opening. Yeah, that's very sweet of him.' Kanwaljit once revealed.
Even after years of being in the industry, Amitabh Bachchan still has the same mark on people, not just as an impeccable actor, but also as a person.
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Time of India
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- Time of India
Did you know Amitabh Bachchan was replaced by Vinod Khanna in Shaque after 16 flops? Aruna Raje reveals producer didn't want him
Before becoming Shahenshah, Amitabh Bachchan faced numerous setbacks. He was dropped from films like Shaque and Duniya Ka Mela due to his initial box office failures. Director Aruna Raje Patil revealed that Vinod Khanna replaced Bachchan in Shaque. Raza Murad mentioned Sanjay Khan replaced Bachchan in Duniya Ka Mela. Zanjeer became a turning point after Jaya Bhaduri suggested his name. Long before he became the legendary 'Shahenshah' of Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan faced a string of disappointments that nearly ended his acting journey before it began. With 16 flops behind him, the future superstar was once deemed too risky by producers—so much so that he was replaced in multiple films, including the 1976 thriller Shaque. Why Bachchan was dropped from Shaque In a recent interaction, acclaimed director-editor Aruna Raje Patil revealed that Amitabh was originally considered for the lead in Shaque, but was ultimately replaced by Vinod Khanna due to his struggling box office run at the time. Filmmaker Aruna Raje Patil recently reflected on a pivotal casting change during the making of her 1976 film Shaque. Initially, Amitabh Bachchan was set to star opposite Waheeda Rehman . However, due to his then-unfavourable box office track record—marked by 16 consecutive flops—the film's producer, NB Kamat, was unwilling to move forward with him in the lead role. Faced with the possibility of the film being shelved, the team decided to look for a more bankable star. They eventually approached Vinod Khanna, who was already enjoying commercial success at the time. The actor quickly agreed to take on the role, leading to the replacement of Bachchan just before his breakthrough with Zanjeer in 1973. Another film replacement In a past interview with The Filmy Charcha, veteran actor Raza Murad recalled another instance highlighting Amitabh Bachchan's early struggles in the film industry. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo He shared that Bachchan was dropped from the film Duniya Ka Mela and replaced by Sanjay Khan due to a series of box office failures. At the time, with 16 flops behind him, distributors reportedly lacked confidence in Bachchan's ability to draw audiences, believing his presence would hurt the film's prospects. It wasn't until Zanjeer turned his fortunes around that his career took a dramatic upward turn, proving that persistence—and timing—can change everything. It was a twist of fate that eventually landed Amitabh Bachchan the lead role in Zanjeer—the film that would redefine his career. As veteran actor Raza Murad recalled, director Prakash Mehra initially approached several top stars of the time, including Dilip Kumar , Dharmendra, Dev Anand, and Rajkumar, but each declined the offer for various reasons. Success of Zanjeer Despite Zanjeer being a hero-centric script, it struggled to find a leading man—until Jaya Bhaduri (later Jaya Bachchan) suggested Amitabh's name. With no other options left, Mehra took a chance on the struggling actor. That stroke of luck, coupled with Bachchan's powerful performance, changed the course of Hindi cinema—and earned him the title of Bollywood's 'Angry Young Man.' After the success of Zanjeer, Amitabh Bachchan's career skyrocketed. He formed a legendary collaboration with writers Salim-Javed, delivering a series of iconic films like Deewaar, Sholay, Kaala Patthar, Trishul, Majboor, Shakti, and Don.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Amitabh Bachchan was replaced by Vinod Khanna in Shaque after 16 flops, reveals director Aruna Raje: ‘The producer just didn't want him'
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan had his share of struggles in the Hindi film industry before becoming one of the biggest actors in Indian cinema. The actor delivered 16 consecutive flops before writers Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar (Salim-Javed) saved his career by offering him Zanjeer in 1973. During his flop streak, Big B was replaced in several films. In a recent interaction, renowned director-editor Aruna Raje Patil shared one such incident when Amitabh was replaced by Vinod Khanna in the 1976 film Shaque. Recalling the incident, Aruna shared that the producer was adamant about not casting Big B in the film due to his poor box office record at the time. She said during an appearance on the YouTube channel Bollywood Crypt, 'Our first casting was Amitabh Bachchan and Waheeda Rehman. (Around that time) Amitabh's films flopped and the producer NB Kamat just didn't want him. He told us, 'The film won't happen'. So we said, 'All right, who else then?' He asked us to look for another actor, and a known one. So, we thought of Vinod Khanna and Kamat got a meeting with him for us and he agreed to do the film straight off.' In an old interview with The Filmy Charcha, veteran actor Raza Murad had also shared a similar incident when Amitabh Bachchan was ousted from the film Duniya Ka Mela due to his string of flops. He said, 'Amitabh Bachchan was thrown out of Duniya Ka Mela. The makers replaced him with Sanjay Khan. 16 of his films had flopped. Distributors said, 'nobody will turn up to theatres if he stars in a film'. At that time, his luck was not with him. But when the luck was in his favour, everything fell in place.' It was indeed luck that led Amitabh to bag Zanjeer, as all the other superstars of that time had refused to star in the film. Raza recalled the same and said, 'When director Prakash Mehra wanted to make Zanjeer, he went to Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Dev Anand, Rajkumar, and they all refused for some or the other reason. The subject was extremely hero-oriented, yet these superstars rejected it. Nobody knows why, but one can say that the luck wanted Amitabh Bachchan to lead the film. When nobody wanted him, and Prakash Mehra had no option, Jaya Bachchan (then Jaya Bhaduri) recommended that the director take Amitabh Bachchan, and the rest is history.' After Zanjeer, Amitabh went on to deliver many iconic films with Salim-Javed, including Deewaar, Sholay, Kaala Patthar, Trishul, Majboor, Shakti, and Don, cementing his place as the leading star of Indian cinema.
India.com
14 hours ago
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This film, which was released in 1997, was questioned by Amitabh Bachchan, on budget of Rs 9 crore, earned 33 crores, movie is..., lead actors were...
There was a suspense thriller from the 90s that changed the game for mystery films in Bollywood. With its gripping storyline, unexpected twists, and intense performances, it became one of the most iconic whodunits in Indian cinema. But behind its massive success was a surprising moment involving a Bollywood megastar who questioned the faith behind the film's making. Which film is this? Here we are talking about Gupt, released in 1997, directed by Rajiv Rai. The film starred Bobby Deol, Manisha Koirala, and Kajol, and turned out to be a box office blockbuster. Made on a modest budget of Rs 9 crore, the film collected around Rs 33 crore, a huge figure for that time. But before its release, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan asked director Rajiv Rai, 'How can you trust a suspense film to work at the box office?' He was referring to the fact that Indian audiences had rarely embraced the suspense genre as wholeheartedly in the past. What reply did Rajiv Rai give to clarify Amitabh Bachchan's doubt? Rajiv Rai, however, remained confident in his storytelling and star cast. His faith paid off as Gupt received immense praise for its unpredictable climax, especially Kajol's villainous turn, which shocked the audience. The film became a trendsetter and was even appreciated for its music, composed by Viju Shah, with songs like 'Mushkil Bada Yeh Pyaar Hai', Duniya Haseenon Ka Mela' and 'Gupt Gupt' topping the charts. When Amitabh Bachchan refused to work with Rajiv Rai Rajiv Rai said in one of his candid conversations that he met director Anees Bazmee and he prepared a script for Amitabh Bachchan, but when he narrated the script to him, he was not interested in it. He said, 'I don't want to do any film in the phase I am going through. He was not going through a good phase at that time,' he recalled and further said, 'He was confused, and in this confusion he refused, he was not confused, but his circumstances were like this.' Although Rajiv was confident that Amitabh would say yes, Amitabh refused, and at that time my heart my shattered.
