Amitabh Bachchan refused to shoot THIS song with lead actress, told director to call it off

India.com

24-05-2025

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has delivered countless memorable films and songs during his illustrious career spanning over 55 years. Some of his songs have become even more iconic than the films he starred in, and fans still enjoy listening to them with great enthusiasm. However, today we share the back story about one such iconic song that Big B initially was skeptical about featuring in and asked not shoot it.
It was the famous song Kajra Re from the 2005 film Bunty Aur Babli . The song featured Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, and Abhishek Bachchan together on-screen. Meanwhile, at first, Amitabh Bachchan had doubts about the song's potential and believed it might not work. However, little did he know that it would go on to capture the hearts of millions.
During a conversation, director Shaad Ali shared that the moment he heard the first eight seconds of the song's music, he was confident it would be a hit. but the team from Yash Raj Films believed it might be the least-liked track of the movie or might not work at all. Shaad recalled that when he first played the song to Amitabh Bachchan, the actor immediately responded that it wouldn't work and felt it needed more effort. When Shaad Ali Urged Amitabh To Sing The Song
Furthermore, Shaad revealed that he initially wanted Amitabh Bachchan to sing the starting portion. However, the superstar declined and suggested that it should sung by Shankar Mahadevan instead. Eventually, Amitabh agreed to shoot the song, although he wasn't completely convinced about it.
Despite the initial doubts, Shaad Ali was thrilled that the song was created. When the film was released, Kajra Re became an instant hit and had audiences dancing along. Amitabh Bachchan Messaged Shaad Ali After The Response
Shaad further told that after witnessing the overwhelming response, Amitabh Bachchan messaged him personally and said 'I'm sorry, I misjudged it.'' Aishwarya Rai's stunning performance, expressive dance moves, and charm added to the song's appeal, while Abhishek Bachchan's flair and Amitabh's presence made it unforgettable. Even today, the song continues to captivate listeners.
Bunty Aur Babli also featured the stellar cast including Rani Mukerji, Puneet Issar, Talluri Rameshwari, Kiran Juneja, Pratima Kazmi, Brijendra Kala and Prem Chopra.