Latest news with #DuniyaKaMela
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:
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Amitabh Bachchan was replaced by Sanjay Khan in a film, as he had given 16 flops,' recalls Raza Murad, revealing how the actor bagged 'Zanjeer'
Amitabh Bachchan 's first big hit was 'Zanjeer', post which he got married to Jaya Bhaduri . Just after the success of 'Zanjeer', Bachchan and Jaya tied the knot in June 1973. The legendary actor had faced failure before he could see his first big hit and in a recent interview, veteran actor Raza Murad has spoken up on it. He recalled some instances, thus, further adding how luck plays such an important role. He revealed that Bachchan was replaced by Sanjay Khan in a film as he had given 16 flops. He said during a chat with The Filmy Charcha, "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. ' As destiny would've had it, many top actors rejected 'Zanjeer' and then Bachchan got the role. He 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 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.' He added, "Luck is very important in this industry." The film was a huge turning point in Bachchan's career and also then started the partnership of Salim-Javed (Salim Khan, Javed Akhtar). Following this, they wrote a number of scripts which starred Bachchan and made him into this angry young man.
