Amitabh Bachchan, a megastar today, once faced career struggles when filmmakers hesitated to cast him. Despite losing many films, he remained determined and focused on success, never giving up on his dreams. Fans now eagerly await even his brief appearances on the silver screen.
Fifty-six years ago, Amitabh Bachchan was beginning his journey to success. New to the industry, he faced challenges in making a mark. His debut film, Saat Hindustani (1969), hit the screens but failed to make an impact at the box office.
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His big break came with Prakash Mehra’s Zanjeer (1973), where he portrayed Inspector Vijay Khanna. The film’s success propelled his career, making him a rising star in Bollywood.
Despite Zanjeer’s success, Amitabh Bachchan still struggled to land significant roles. In 1974, he was cast opposite Rekha for the first time in a Kundan Kumar film. However, after shooting some scenes and a song, he was abruptly removed from the project without any prior notice.
Bachchan was initially cast opposite Rekha in Duniya Ka Mela (1974), which was supposed to be their first film together. However, he was replaced midway by Sanjay Khan due to distributor concerns about his box office appeal. Eventually, Bachchan and Rekha’s first film together became Do Anjaane (1976).
Kundan Kumar was determined to cast Amitabh Bachchan, but when distributors pressured him, threatening to block the film’s release in theaters, he had no choice but to comply with their demand.
Sanjay Khan was quickly brought in as the lead opposite Rekha, but Duniya Ka Mela failed at the box office. The audience completely rejected the pairing of Rekha and Sanjay Khan.
After Duniya Ka Mela flopped, Amitabh Bachchan reportedly reflected on his early struggles in an interview. He expressed gratitude for being considered for the film despite his string of flops and acknowledged that Sanjay Khan, a popular star at the time, had replaced him in the project.
