Amitabh Bachchan Refused To Shoot Kajra Re With Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek: 'Nahi Chalega'
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Director Shaad was confident that the song would be a chart-topper and convinced Amitabh Bachchan to give it a proper listen.
Kajra Re is among the most iconic Bollywood songs of the 2000s, celebrated for its infectious energy and blend of traditional and modern music. Featured in the 2005 film Bunty Aur Babli, the song showcased a star-studded collaboration with Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, and Abhishek Bachchan, creating a landmark moment in cinematic history. But did you know, Amitabh Bachchan was sceptical about featuring in the song and asked that it not be shot?
In a recent conversation with SCREEN, director Shaad Ali recalled, 'I knew when I heard an eight-second riff of it… that this is going to work wonders… But Yash Raj had given it the last number… ki yeh sabse kam popular hoga (that this will be the least popular one). Amit ji ne kaha tha ki yeh gaana shoot hi mat karo (Amit Ji said don't even shoot this song)."
However, Shaad was confident that the song would be a chart-topper and convinced Amitabh Bachchan to give it a proper listen. He said, 'Maine jab unhe bulaya tha sunne ke liye… toh he said ki yeh nahi chalega (When I called him to listen to it, he said it won't work)." Amitabh Bachchan felt that the song needed better creative input.
'He did all that jugalbandi in the song… all the portions from which it starts. I wanted him to sing that, but he said no and wanted Shankar Mahadevan to do it," Shaad shared. Although Amitabh Bachchan agreed to do the song, he had his reservations. Shaad recalled, 'Later, he was shooting a song for some film, maybe Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna or something else, I don't exactly remember, and said, 'Yeh hota hai item song (This is what an item song should be).' I was like, okay."
However, the song became massively popular after the film's release, and Amitabh Bachchan apologised to Shaad for doubting his creativity. 'Tabhi Amit Ji ka mujhe message aaya ki, 'I'm sorry, I second guessed it' (That's when Amit Ji messaged me saying, 'I'm sorry, I second guessed it')," Shaad recalled. Aishwarya Rai sizzled in the item number, her dance and expressions making Kajra Re an instant hit. Her magnetic performance was matched by Abhishek Bachchan's cool swagger and Amitabh Bachchan's timeless screen presence. 'Kajra Re wouldn't have been what it is without him (Amitabh Bachchan)," Shaad concluded.
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