Amitabh Bachchan, the undisputed ‘Shahenshah’ of Bollywood, once faced a phase so dark that it seemed like his glorious career had reached an unceremonious end. In the late 1990s, the legendary actor found himself drowning in financial troubles, legal battles, and an acting career that had hit rock bottom.
Reflecting on this turbulent period in an interview with Vir Sanghvi- the clip of which is currently going viral. When asked if it was true that even his house could have been seized to which Mr Bachchan replied affirmatively. He stated that all his assets all his properties were attached. There were about 90 crore rupees to be paid back and about 55 legal cases were against him. And there were creditors on the door every day, it was very embarrassing and humiliating.
As his company ABCL came to a grinding halt, so did his acting career. Talking about it in the same interview he stated that things happened collectively. He added that when things go wrong in one department then everything else crashes all around you. People lose faith in you, they don’t want to see your face anymore. They think you’re not an actor or the films you are making are not worth seeing. People think that the way you dress, the way you look is not correct. Everything goes wrong because something has gone wrong in your life and everyone wants to say that it’s over for you.
Yet, the resilience that defined Amitabh Bachchan’s journey from an outsider to an icon saw him rise again. It was television that provided him with a lifeline when he agreed to host Kaun Banega Crorepati, a decision that marked the beginning of his resurgence. The show’s success rekindled his stardom, leading to a career revival that saw him once again become one of the most sought-after actors in Indian cinema.
