Amitabh Bachchan replaced Rajesh Khanna in Zanjeer, written by Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan.
Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna were the biggest stars of the 1970s and 1980s.
Amitabh Bachchan received his big break in Bollywood after he was cast in Zanjeer, written by Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan. The film became a superhit and revived Amitabh’s career overnight. However, before Amitabh was cast in the film, Rajesh Khanna was in contention for the role. In a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, Amitabh Bachchan recalled how he was cast for Zanjeer and mentioned that his backup plan was to drive a taxi if his film career failed.
Amitabh Bachchan said, “I had worked in two or three films, but they failed, discouraging me. Before moving to Mumbai, I worked in Kolkata, earning just 400-500 rupees a month. But when I arrived in Mumbai, I was determined to make it work. I thought I would drive a taxi if I didn’t find work in films. I even got my driving license in preparation.”
He recalled, “Eventually, I found work, and Abbas saab gave me my first break. Zanjeer was written by Salim-Javed, and it was a turning point in my career. At the time, Rajesh Khanna was the biggest superstar in India. Kya aura tha, kya following thi…His presence was so powerful that when he arrived, women would take the dirt from his car’s tyres and apply it to their foreheads as a blessing. I was a nobody, but then Salim-Javed came to meet me and offered me the story. I didn’t expect to get the role, but I did, and that’s how I got Zanjeer.”
As to why Salim-Javed were convinced that Amitabh was right for the role, the veteran actor said, “Javed Saab told me that in one of my films, Bombay to Goa, there’s a scene where I’m sitting in a restaurant when Shatrughan Sinha slaps me. The scene was supposed to lead to a fight, but when I stood up, I was still chewing the sandwich I had been eating. That moment made Javed saab believe I could handle the role in Zanjeer.”
Despite some initial hurdles, Amitabh Bachchan became a successful actor and a global superstar. He was last seen in Kalki 2898 AD as Ashwatthama, and his role received massive praise from viewers and critics alike.
