logo
Exclusive: Chandra Barot deserved far more credit for Don, says Javed Akhtar

Exclusive: Chandra Barot deserved far more credit for Don, says Javed Akhtar

Time of India6 days ago
Javed Akhtar pays tribute to Don director, the late Chandra Barot
Veteran director
Chandra Barot
, 86, best known for making the 1978 cult classic Don, passed away in Mumbai. The filmmaker was battling pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years. Barot's directorial debut Don was written by Salim-Javed (
Salim Khan
and
Javed Akhtar
). The film, which featured
Amitabh Bachchan
in a dual role, also starred Zeenat Aman, Pran and Helen. The film, which continues to be a landmark in Hindi cinema, was remade by
Farhan Akhtar
in 2006 with
Shah Rukh Khan
in the lead.
Barot began his career in the Hindi film industry as an assistant director with actor-filmmaker Manoj Kumar.
Remembering Chandra Barot, Javed Akhtar told Bombay Times, 'I remember meeting him around 12-15 years ago at an event. It was a fleeting meet and we promised to meet each other soon which sadly never happened. I will always remember him as the most gentle, easy-going man with a great sense of humour. He had no ego hassles and was extremely humble.
Working with him and cinematographer Nariman A Irani on Don, was a great experience.
'
'Don was perhaps one of Amitabh Bachchan's first solo hits'
The 1978 action-thriller went on to become a massive hit, cementing Big B and Salim Javed's domination and stardom. However, Barot largely stayed out of the limelight. The acclaimed screen writer and lyricist explained, 'It's strange how the industry operates. Don was immensely successful. I remember he was planning to work with
Vinod Khanna
after that.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
20 Pieces of Clothing you should Ditch over 40
womentales.com
Learn More
Undo
There was a big announcement, but the film didn't take off. He was also in talks with Dilip Kumar. I don't know what happened there. I am not sure if this is the right time to say this, but he deserved far more credit for Don than he received. It was perhaps one of Amitabh's first solo hits. Most of his previous hits were multistarrers.'
'Don didn't mull over melodrama'
Speaking about what made Don a cult classic, Javed saab added, 'Don was the first caper of Hindi cinema.
It was one of its kind. Like other films of those times, Don didn't mull over melodrama, had no emotional backstory or rely on histrionics. I remember Chintu (Rishi Kapoor) saying in his classic tongue in cheek way, 'The whole film looks like a trailer!' What he meant was the film had that 'on the move' tempo and it was all Barot's vision.
He invented that style and that to me was most unique. It was a well-made film.'
'I will always be loyal to my Don'
Don was remade by Javed saab's son Farhan years later, but he says in all honesty, 'I will always be loyal to my Don. Don for me is the 1978 original, a film written by Salim-Javed. The films made later by Farhan are definitely successful and well-made, but I will stay loyal to my film.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Actress Jaya Bhattacharya recalls getting ₹1000 raise on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi; reveals she was the most underpaid one
Actress Jaya Bhattacharya recalls getting ₹1000 raise on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi; reveals she was the most underpaid one

Time of India

time30 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Actress Jaya Bhattacharya recalls getting ₹1000 raise on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi; reveals she was the most underpaid one

Actor Jaya Bhattacharya , who won many hearts with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi alongside Smriti Irani for many years, is making headlines. The actress recently revealed how she was the most underpaid actor on the set. She opened up about getting a raise only once in all the years she worked on the show. The actor recently joined Siddharth Kannan for a conversation where she opened up about her journey as an actor, her time on Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and more. During the conversation, she walked down memory lane and recalled her experience of working on the show. She played the role of Payal Parikh in the show and won many hearts for it. Talking about getting a one-thousand-rupee raise, she mentioned, 'I was the most underpaid actor. I never got a raise. Only once I asked for a raise, and while everyone got a raise of 2 thousand rupees, I got only 1 thousand. That hit my ego, so I didn't ask for it ever again and hence didn't get a raise for a straight 7 years.' She further revealed how all the other cast members got a raise. She said, 'Ohhh yes… woh log toh kahan se kahan paunch gaye (They reached great heights in their careers).' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo The channel recently shared a promo for the new season of the show which read, 'Badalte waqt mein ek naye nazariye ke saath laut rahi hai Tulsi! Unke iss naye safar mein judne ke liye kya aap hain taiyyar? (In changing times, Tulsi returns with a new outlook. Are you ready to join her on this journey?)' Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi aired for 8 long years and won many hearts with its emotional storylines, memorable characters, and more. The show is set to make a comeback with a new season and entertain fans once again with Smriti Irani, Amar Upadhyay and others.

Mohit Suri, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's ‘Saiyaara' becomes the 26th biggest hit of Hindi cinema, surpassing Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Dunki' and Ajay Dvegn's ‘Singham Again'
Mohit Suri, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's ‘Saiyaara' becomes the 26th biggest hit of Hindi cinema, surpassing Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Dunki' and Ajay Dvegn's ‘Singham Again'

Time of India

time30 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Mohit Suri, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's ‘Saiyaara' becomes the 26th biggest hit of Hindi cinema, surpassing Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Dunki' and Ajay Dvegn's ‘Singham Again'

Mohit Suri's Saiyaara achieves remarkable box office success. The film stars Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Saiyaara earns Rs 248.43 crore in ten days. It surpasses Dunki and Singham Again collections. The film's success is driven by strong storytelling and music. Saiyaara's performance is notable with debutant actors. The film is expected to enter the Top 25 Hindi films soon. In an industry where box office numbers often define a film's legacy, Mohit Suri 's Saiyaara has etched its name in the annals of Hindi cinema by becoming the 26th highest-grossing Hindi film ever. With an India net collection of Rs 248.43 crore in just 10 days, the film has outpaced major star-driven releases like Shah Rukh Khan 's Dunki (Rs 227 crore) and Ajay Devgn 's Singham Again (Rs 247.86 crore). Mohit Suri Spills On 20 Years In Bollywood - Ahaan & Aneet, Alia Bhatt Dream Collab & More Starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda , Saiyaara was initially viewed as a promising debut vehicle. But what followed was a box office phenomenon that not only defied expectations but also reaffirmed the power of storytelling and music-driven romance. Under the deft direction of Mohit Suri and backed by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, Saiyaara struck a chord with audiences across metros and mass belts alike. Released with solid buzz, Saiyaara opened with an impressive Rs 21.5 crore on its first Friday. What truly stunned the trade was the film's phenomenal growth over the opening weekend — Rs 26 crore on Saturday and a massive Rs 35.75 crore on Sunday. With a Week 1 total of Rs 172.75 crore, the film had already entered blockbuster territory. What followed in its second weekend cemented its status as a bonafide hit. On Day 8 (2nd Friday), Saiyaara held steady with Rs 18 crore, followed by a major jump on Saturday to Rs 26.5 crore, and then an estimated Rs 31.18 crore on Sunday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Arabian Sea Facing Apartments - Mahalaxmi, South Mumbai Lodha Bellevue Click Here Undo The 10-day total stood at a staggering Rs 248.43 crore, just enough to inch past Singham Again and Dunki, which had the backing of massive star power and franchise value. What makes Saiyaara's feat more remarkable is that it achieved this position with debutant actors in lead roles,something of this stature was seen about 25 years ago when Hrithik Roshan made his debut with Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai which had made about Rs 44 crore back in 2000. If inflation is adjusted it would made about Rs 200 crore now. Saiyaara has gone past some heavyweights like Dunki which boasted the return of Rajkumar Hirani and Shah Rukh Khan's post-Pathaan and Jawan outing, and Singham Again brought back the reliable Ajay Devgn–Rohit Shetty duo, Saiyaara relied purely on content, emotional depth, and soul-stirring music. This surge also places Saiyaara ahead of films like Drishyam 2 (Rs 239.67 Cr), The Kerala Story (Rs 239.05 Cr), and Krrish 3 (Rs 231.79 Cr), all of which were declared blockbusters or higher. Notably, it's also breathing down the neck of URI: The Surgical Strike (Rs 244.14 Cr), which was termed an 'All Time Blockbuster.' With the release of two films in Dhadak 2 and Son of Sardaar on 1st August and one can expect Saiyaara to lose some steam. But the film is fully capable of entering the Top 25 hits of the Hindi cinema by the end of the day.

Tom Lehrer passes away at 97: Remembering the satirical songwriter and math professor with a witty charm– Read inside
Tom Lehrer passes away at 97: Remembering the satirical songwriter and math professor with a witty charm– Read inside

Time of India

time43 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Tom Lehrer passes away at 97: Remembering the satirical songwriter and math professor with a witty charm– Read inside

Tom Lehrer was a famous American musician, songwriter, and math professor known for his funny and clever songs. He used humour to talk about serious topics like politics, religion, and education. He passed away at the age of 97 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The news of Tom Lehrer's demise was confirmed by his longtime friend David Herder to the New York Times. The sharp-witted musician and mathematician was known for his dark and funny songs like 'The Masochism Tango,' 'The Vatican Rag,' and 'The Elements'. Tom Lehrer's life journey Lehrer wasn't just a musical talent; he was also a brilliant mathematician. While he gained a cult following for his clever and often controversial songs, he continued to work as a math professor at Harvard and later at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He once joked that he didn't need to rely on music for a living and could easily make a teacher's salary instead. Born in New York into a Jewish family, Lehrer showed talent early, learning piano at the age of 7 and entering Harvard at just 15. He graduated with top honours and earned a master's degree shortly after. In 1953, he recorded his first album Songs of Tom Lehrer for just $40. The album, featuring humorous and satirical songs, quickly became popular among college students and sold over 10,000 copies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Japanese AI invention allows you to speak 68 languages instantly. The idea? Genius. Enence 2.0 Undo After serving in the Army, he released 'More of Tom Lehrer' in 1959, which included some of his best-known songs like 'The Elements' and 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park'. His style was edgy, and he was grouped with other bold comedians of the time like Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl. His live shows were famously titled 'An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer.' In 1965, Lehrer gained national fame through the show 'That Was the Week That Was'. His album 'That Was the Year That Was' became a hit in a short period. The songs poked fun at politics, religion, war, and education with sharp humour. He also wrote songs for the children's show 'The Electric Company' and supported political campaigns like George McGovern's in 1972. Later in life, Lehrer stepped away from the spotlight and focused on teaching math and musical theatre. He never married and had no children, but his witty and intelligent songs continue to inspire and entertain generations.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store