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Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Javed Akhtar reveals Jaya Bachchan trusted Amitabh Bachchan despite 11 flops before his breakthrough in Zanjeer: 'She had great respect for his talent...'
Before Amitabh Bachchan's breakthrough with Zanjeer, Jaya Bachchan recognized his potential, even amidst his early career struggles. Javed Akhtar recalls her unwavering belief in his talent, along with Hrishikesh Mukherjee's continued support. Akhtar was certain that Amitabh was the only actor who could embody the character of Vijay in Zanjeer. Before Zanjeer changed everything, Amitabh Bachchan was struggling with back-to-back flops. But as Javed Akhtar recently shared, Jaya Bachchan had unwavering belief in his talent—even before they were married—proving she saw the superstar in him long before the world did. Early Recognition Despite Box Office Failures Amitabh Bachchan began his film career with Saat Hindustani in 1969 but gained early recognition through a supporting role in Anand alongside Rajesh Khanna . Despite landing lead roles afterward, his initial films failed at the box office. In a recent interview with Hook Global, the veteran writer shared that a few people saw Amitabh's potential early on—describing him as a "volcano, waiting to erupt." Among them was Jaya Bachchan (then Bhaduri), who, though not yet married to him, deeply respected his talent. Faith From Those Who Saw His Potential Javed recalled that even before she became his wife, Jaya Bachchan recognised Amitabh Bachchan's immense talent and held deep respect for his work. He added that filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee also believed in him and continued to cast him despite his early flops. Akhtar noted that even in poorly written or executed films, Amitabh's performances stood out. He described him as a "volcano, waiting to erupt," and said that those who observed him closely had complete confidence that he was a major star in the making—just waiting for the right opportunity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo Why Javed Akhtar Knew Amitabh Was 'Vijay' The iconic writer duo Salim-Javed penned the script of Zanjeer, but Javed Akhtar revealed it was he who was fully convinced that Amitabh Bachchan was the perfect fit for the role of 'Vijay'. At the time, Amitabh was out of work, yet Javed—despite barely knowing him—was certain no one else could do justice to the character. Recalling their interaction, Javed shared that he called Amitabh to narrate the script, and the actor, having no work then, readily agreed. After hearing the story, Amitabh asked if Javed really believed he could pull off the role. To that, Javed replied with full conviction, 'Nobody in this country can play it better than you.'
Economic Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
'I am a flop actor': When Jaya Bachchan reminisced about Amitabh Bachchan's career struggles
Amitabh Bachchan faced a significant career downturn in the 1990s, marked by box office failures and financial struggles with his company, ABCL, leading to near bankruptcy. He made a remarkable comeback by humbly seeking acting opportunities, landing a role in Mohabbatein, which revitalized his film career. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Amitabh Bachchan's Tumultuous Climb Back to Stardom The Downturn of the 90s Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads ABCL's Collapse and Mounting Losses A New Beginning Through Old Strengths Reinvention on the Small Screen The acting profession is riddled with uncertainties. Fame is a fickle mistress, and even veteran stars with numerous blockbusters under their belt are at the mercy of weekend box-office collections. In an interview with superstar Amitabh Bachchan's biographer Khalid Mohammed, his wife, actress Jaya Bachchan, recalled how she saw the men in her life cope with a dry phase in their B, who faced a lean phase in his career during the '90s, often used to refer to himself as a 'flop actor' in front of Jaya. Jaya, who acted as a pillar of strength, decided not to take his career setbacks to heart.'I never took his flops seriously; I was convinced that they were a passing phase. He was learning and improving. He would not get depressed by his failures, but, yes, at times he would retort sharply, 'Naturally, no one wants me since I'm a flop actor…' she Bachchan's cinematic journey began in 1969 with the film Saat Hindustani, marking the start of a difficult path. Despite his entry into films, recognition remained elusive for several years. His true breakthrough came with Zanjeer, a film that finally brought his raw charisma and talent into the spotlight. This film marked the beginning of his rise in the Hindi film industry. However, the road ahead was far from smooth, and a single miscalculation threatened to erase everything he had the 1990s, Bachchan's career faced an extended period of stagnation. A string of box office disappointments like Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi, Jaadugar, Toofan, and Main Azaad Hoon pushed his once-flourishing stardom into the shadows. The Illustrated Weekly of India even ran a cover story labelling him 'Finished!', a harsh reflection of public sentiment at the time. From 1992 to 1996, he stepped away from films completely, choosing to disappear from the screen as he re-evaluated his 1995, Amitabh took a bold turn by launching his entertainment venture, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. (ABCL). Initially, the company showed promise by producing the popular television series Dekh Bhai Dekh. But what started on a hopeful note soon spiraled into disaster. Poor management decisions and ambitious plans, like organizing the 1996 Miss World pageant in India, ended up damaging ABCL's reputation. The swimsuit segment of the pageant sparked public outrage and had to be moved to Seychelles. This incident marked the beginning of ABCL's public the problems, none of the films produced by ABCL managed to succeed commercially. Financial losses kept piling up, eventually reaching a staggering Rs 90 crore. Bachchan's return to films in 1997 with Mrityudata added to his woes when the movie failed miserably. By 1999, his financial situation had deteriorated to such an extent that he was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. His home, Prateeksha, was under threat, and he faced unrelenting pressure from creditors, many of whom arrived at his doorstep making aggressive demands. In a 2013 India Today interview, Bachchan reflected on that harrowing period, calling it one of the darkest chapters in his career, spanning over four to overcome his debts, Bachchan turned to what he knew best—acting. Swallowing his pride, he approached filmmaker Yash Chopra, who lived nearby, and humbly requested an opportunity to work. Chopra responded with a role in Mohabbatein (2000), casting him in a strong supporting role. Though this move stemmed from financial necessity, it marked a dramatic turnaround in Bachchan's life and became a massive box office success and was among the highest-grossing films of that year. Bachchan's portrayal of Narayan Shankar, a stern and principled school principal, earned him widespread critical acclaim. His performance resonated with audiences and marked his re-entry into mainstream cinema with the same year, Bachchan embraced television for the first time. He became the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), the Indian adaptation of the British game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? His baritone voice, dignified presence, and warmth as a host made him an instant favorite among viewers. In no time, KBC turned Bachchan into a household name once again, rejuvenating his connection with the masses and securing his comeback across platforms.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'I am a flop actor': When Jaya Bachchan reminisced about Amitabh Bachchan's career struggles
The acting profession is riddled with uncertainties. Fame is a fickle mistress, and even veteran stars with numerous blockbusters under their belt are at the mercy of weekend box-office collections. In an interview with superstar Amitabh Bachchan's biographer Khalid Mohammed, his wife, actress Jaya Bachchan, recalled how she saw the men in her life cope with a dry phase in their careers. Big B, who faced a lean phase in his career during the '90s, often used to refer to himself as a 'flop actor' in front of Jaya. Jaya, who acted as a pillar of strength, decided not to take his career setbacks to heart. 'I never took his flops seriously; I was convinced that they were a passing phase. He was learning and improving. He would not get depressed by his failures, but, yes, at times he would retort sharply, 'Naturally, no one wants me since I'm a flop actor…' she revealed. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo Amitabh Bachchan's Tumultuous Climb Back to Stardom Amitabh Bachchan's cinematic journey began in 1969 with the film Saat Hindustani, marking the start of a difficult path. Despite his entry into films, recognition remained elusive for several years. His true breakthrough came with Zanjeer, a film that finally brought his raw charisma and talent into the spotlight. This film marked the beginning of his rise in the Hindi film industry. However, the road ahead was far from smooth, and a single miscalculation threatened to erase everything he had achieved. The Downturn of the 90s During the 1990s, Bachchan's career faced an extended period of stagnation. A string of box office disappointments like Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi, Jaadugar, Toofan, and Main Azaad Hoon pushed his once-flourishing stardom into the shadows. The Illustrated Weekly of India even ran a cover story labelling him 'Finished!', a harsh reflection of public sentiment at the time. From 1992 to 1996, he stepped away from films completely, choosing to disappear from the screen as he re-evaluated his path. ABCL's Collapse and Mounting Losses In 1995, Amitabh took a bold turn by launching his entertainment venture, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. (ABCL). Initially, the company showed promise by producing the popular television series Dekh Bhai Dekh. But what started on a hopeful note soon spiraled into disaster. Poor management decisions and ambitious plans, like organizing the 1996 Miss World pageant in India, ended up damaging ABCL's reputation. The swimsuit segment of the pageant sparked public outrage and had to be moved to Seychelles. This incident marked the beginning of ABCL's public decline. Compounding the problems, none of the films produced by ABCL managed to succeed commercially. Financial losses kept piling up, eventually reaching a staggering Rs 90 crore. Bachchan's return to films in 1997 with Mrityudata added to his woes when the movie failed miserably. By 1999, his financial situation had deteriorated to such an extent that he was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. His home, Prateeksha, was under threat, and he faced unrelenting pressure from creditors, many of whom arrived at his doorstep making aggressive demands. In a 2013 India Today interview, Bachchan reflected on that harrowing period, calling it one of the darkest chapters in his career, spanning over four decades. A New Beginning Through Old Strengths Desperate to overcome his debts, Bachchan turned to what he knew best—acting. Swallowing his pride, he approached filmmaker Yash Chopra, who lived nearby, and humbly requested an opportunity to work. Chopra responded with a role in Mohabbatein (2000), casting him in a strong supporting role. Though this move stemmed from financial necessity, it marked a dramatic turnaround in Bachchan's life and legacy. Mohabbatein became a massive box office success and was among the highest-grossing films of that year. Bachchan's portrayal of Narayan Shankar, a stern and principled school principal, earned him widespread critical acclaim. His performance resonated with audiences and marked his re-entry into mainstream cinema with authority. Reinvention on the Small Screen In the same year, Bachchan embraced television for the first time. He became the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), the Indian adaptation of the British game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? His baritone voice, dignified presence, and warmth as a host made him an instant favorite among viewers. In no time, KBC turned Bachchan into a household name once again, rejuvenating his connection with the masses and securing his comeback across platforms.
India.com
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Not Jaya or Rekha, Amitabh Bachchan was madly in love with this woman, became his first girlfriend, flirted with him, love broke up due to…, she is…
While Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is well known in the film industry for his brilliant films and acting, there has been a lot of discussion about his personal life as well. While Amitabh Bachchan was in the news for his relationship with Jaya, apart from many names in the stories of his love life, there was another name, who is said to be his first girlfriend. You might wonder if it would be veteran actress Rekha, but no. Although there was much news of his link-ups in his youth, do you know that his first girlfriend worked in British Airways? Famous writer and film historian, Hanif Zaveri, spoke openly about this relationship of Amitabh Bachchan in the podcast 'Meri Saheli'. He said that his first affair was with a woman named Maya, who worked for British Airways. He said that Bachchan's romance with Maya started in Kolkata when he was working for a company there. Maya used to come to meet Amitabh often Hanif further narrated the story by saying that Amitabh fell deeply in love with Maya. But later, Big B moved to Mumbai to pursue his acting career and started living in a bungalow with his uncle. Hanif said that Maya used to visit him regularly, and his uncle did not like her visits. He was afraid that his mother, Teji Bachchan, would find out about Maya. Actor Mehmood's brother Anwar Ali said this to Big B The author further said, 'Maya was very bold and openly flirted with Amitabh, which made him uncomfortable. When Amitabh expressed his concern and told this to actor Mehmood's brother Anwar Ali (who was working with him in his first film 'Saat Hindustani'), he advised him to separate from Maya. 'You won't be able to spend your life with Maya' He said that Anwar had told Bachchan, 'You will not be able to spend your life with Maya. It will be difficult for her to fit into the Bachchan family, and as you move forward, more problems will arise.' Hanif said that this is how Big B and Maya's relationship ended. Meanwhile, he later met Jaya Bachchan in 1970 at the Pune Film Institute. While working together during 'Ek Nazar', feelings for each other grew between the two, and they got married in 1973 after the release of 'Zanjeer'.
India.com
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This superstar was once paid only Rs. 5000 as his fees, audience found him unfit for mainstream actor, today he is India's most bankable actor, he is…his net worth is…
This superstar was once paid only Rs 5000 as his fees, audience found him unfit for mainstream actor, today he is India's most bankable actor, he net worth is... The glitzy and glamorous world of cinema is truly unpredictable. While one day an actor would be a nobody. The next day, he would become a star, captivating the hearts of millions. One such similar tale is of an actor who started at his journey with peanuts with barely a fee of Rs. 5000, and today there are fans lined up in front of his house every Sunday to get a glimpse of him. Yes, we are talking about the shahenshah of Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan. Amitabh started his career with a film where he wasn't even playing the lead part. Directed by Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, the film was Saat Hindustani. The film featured Amitabh Bachchan and six other actors, including Anwar Ali, Utpal Dutt, Jalal Agha, and Dina Pathak. Besides being a multi-starrer film, it turned out to be a huge flop at the box office, and Amitabh Bachchan was only paid Rs. 5000 for the entire project. Actor and filmmaker Tinnu Anand, who was also part of the film, once spoke in an interview and recalled that he was given the 'dirty job' of giving this newcomer his entire payment of Rs. 5000, for however long the film took to make. This film was Amitabh Bachchan's debut movie, and during that time, his deep voice that makes the entire world go crazy today worked against him. People considered his voice too heavy and his height too tall. During that time, his USP was his barriers, which stood in the way of his revolutionary career. He got the role through a recommendation by actress Neena Singh, but even then, he was asked to travel to Mumbai and audition at his own expense. It wasn't a grand welcome, just an uncertain opportunity. While later, the film won a National Award and was appreciated for its performances, it didn't do well commercially. Amitabh Bachchan was noticed but not appreciated But the tides turned out soon, and his qualities, which were considered barriers, became his greatest strengths. While once he was overshadowed and overlooked, today he stands as a towering figure in Indian Cinema. Amitabh Bachchan is the topmost celebrated and bankable actor in India today with a net worth of approximately Rs. 3200 crores to Rs. 3700 crores, and he continues to resonate with the audience even after 5 decades of his being in the industry.
