Latest news with #DuniyaKaMela
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actor, who was thrown out of a film after 16 flops, then one movie changed his life, became superstar, his net worth is Rs 1,600 crore; He is...
Amitabh Bachchan's ascent to superstardom rarely happened. After being dropped from Duniya Ka Mela and watching 16 films fail at the box office, the industry had counted him out. But, as Raza Murad notes, 'When the luck was in his favour, everything fell in place.' A lost opportunity for legends Before Zanjeer, Prakash Mehra offered the film to titans like Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Dev Anand, and Rajkumar—all declined. The movie's heavy focus on one man scared them away. It took a recommendation from Jaya Bachchan (then Bhaduri) for Prakash Mehra to finally take a chance on Amitabh—and history was made. In his chat with The Filmy Charcha, Murad remained adamant: 'You need 90% luck to succeed in the industry.' The right script meets the right actor—it's rarely just hard work that gets the throne. Zanjeer's enduring legacy For those of you who don't know, Zanjeer was more than a career revival—it was a cultural shift. It introduced a gritty Vijay, an honest cop driven by his past. It also elevated the Salim-Javed duo into legend and cemented Pran's charismatic Sher Khan, especially with unforgettable lines like 'Yeh police station hai, tumhare baap ka ghar nahin.' Salim-Javed's writing paired with Mehra's direction created a masterpiece. A hero forged from desperation, Vijay's journey from haunted soul to righteous crusader resonated deeply. Sher Khan's legacy—in his Pathani attire and principled presence—left a permanent mark on popular culture. Zanjeer wasn't just Amitabh's resurgence—it was the moment Bollywood transformed. A showcase of how fate can pivot entire careers, this film still stands as proof that sometimes, success is born from surviving and seizing rare opportunities. Amitabh Bachchan's net worth According to several media reports, today, his estimated net worth stands at a staggering Rs 1,600 crore (USD 190 million approx), making him one of India's wealthiest film icons.
Mint
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
'Amitabh Bachchan was last choice for Zanjeer — but when luck was on his side, everything fell into place': Raza Murad
Veteran actor Raza Murad has stirred discussion in Bollywood circles with his recent remarks on the role of luck in achieving success in the Hindi film industry. In an interview with The Filmy Charcha, Murad boldly claimed that "90% luck" is necessary to make it big in the business, citing the early career of megastar Amitabh Bachchan as a prime example. 'Amitabh Bachchan was thrown out of 'Duniya Ka Mela'. The makers replaced him with Sanjay Khan. 16 of his films flopped. Distributors said nobody will turn up to theatres if he will star in a film. At that time, his luck was not with him. But when the luck was in his favour, everything fell in place,' Raza Murad said. Elaborating further, Murad recounted how Amitabh was not the first choice for 'Zanjeer', the 1973 film that launched him to superstardom. The actor added, 'When 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 Bahaduri) recommended the director he take Amitabh Bachchan and rest is history.' 'Zanjeer' not only resurrected Amitabh's career but also became a milestone for screenwriters Salim-Javed, who later crafted many of Bachchan's iconic roles. The film's success introduced the archetype of the 'angry young man' in Hindi cinema, shifting the narrative away from romantic leads to grittier, working-class protagonists. Pran's portrayal of Sher Khan in his Pathani attire became legendary, while lines like 'Yeh police station hai, tumhare baap ka ghar nahin' ('This is a police station, not your father's house') embedded themselves in Indian pop culture. 'Zanjeer' (1973) was helmed by director Prakash Mehra, who also co-produced the film along with S. Ramanathan. The screenplay was written by the legendary duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, whose powerful storytelling and sharp dialogues would go on to reshape the landscape of Hindi cinema. With music composed by the acclaimed duo Kalyanji-Anandji and lyrics by Gulshan Bawra, the film was a complete cinematic package.
News18
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Amitabh Bachchan Was 'Thrown Out' Of A Film, Replaced By Sanjay Khan: Recalls Raza Murad
Last Updated: Raza Murad said 90% luck drives success in films. He recalled how Amitabh Bachchan was replaced by Sanjay Khan in a movie after 16 flops, before Zanjeer changed it all. Prakash Mehra's Zanjeer remains one of the most iconic films in Amitabh Bachchan's career to this day. The film marked the second inning of Big B's career after back-to-back 16 flop films. The Salim-Javed written movie gave hope to Bachchan and got him all the success and a string of hits like Deewar, Sholay, among others. While Big B's stardom is what almost everyone wishes for in the industry, Raza Murad believes it was his luck that made him who he is today. In a recent interview with The Filmy Charcha, Raza Murad claimed that one needs 90% luck to make it big in the industry. While citing Amitabh Bachchan's example, Murad revealed that the former was thrown out of Duniya Ka Mela and shared, 'Amitabh Bachchan was thrown out of Duniya Ka Mela. The makers replaced him with Sanjay Khan. Sixteen of his films 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." He explained, 'When 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 luck wanted Amitabh Bachchan to lead the film. When nobody wanted him, and Prakash Mehra had no option, Jaya Bachchan (then Jaya Bhaduri) recommended the director take Amitabh Bachchan — and the rest is history." Zanjeer marked a major breakthrough not just for Amitabh Bachchan, but also for the legendary writing duo Salim-Javed. The film's iconic character Sher Khan, portrayed by Pran in his signature Pathani look, also left a lasting impact. With punchy lines like 'Yeh police station hai, tumhare baap ka ghar nahin," Zanjeer firmly cemented its place in Bollywood's pop culture legacy. Zanjeer follows the story of an honest cop Vijay, haunted by his parents' murder and a recurring nightmare. As he battles the crime world, he finds allies in reformed gangster Sher Khan and Mala. First Published:
