Javed Akhtar reveals Jaya Bachchan trusted Amitabh Bachchan despite 11 flops before his breakthrough in Zanjeer: 'She had great respect for his talent...'

Time of India

4 days ago

Before Amitabh Bachchan's breakthrough with Zanjeer, Jaya Bachchan recognized his potential, even amidst his early career struggles. Javed Akhtar recalls her unwavering belief in his talent, along with Hrishikesh Mukherjee's continued support. Akhtar was certain that Amitabh was the only actor who could embody the character of Vijay in Zanjeer.
Before Zanjeer changed everything,
Amitabh Bachchan
was struggling with back-to-back flops. But as
Javed Akhtar
recently shared,
Jaya Bachchan
had unwavering belief in his talent—even before they were married—proving she saw the superstar in him long before the world did.
Early Recognition Despite Box Office Failures
Amitabh Bachchan began his film career with Saat Hindustani in 1969 but gained early recognition through a supporting role in Anand alongside
Rajesh Khanna
. Despite landing lead roles afterward, his initial films failed at the box office. In a recent interview with Hook Global, the veteran writer shared that a few people saw Amitabh's potential early on—describing him as a "volcano, waiting to erupt." Among them was Jaya Bachchan (then Bhaduri), who, though not yet married to him, deeply respected his talent.
Faith From Those Who Saw His Potential
Javed recalled that even before she became his wife, Jaya Bachchan recognised Amitabh Bachchan's immense talent and held deep respect for his work. He added that filmmaker
Hrishikesh Mukherjee
also believed in him and continued to cast him despite his early flops. Akhtar noted that even in poorly written or executed films, Amitabh's performances stood out. He described him as a "volcano, waiting to erupt," and said that those who observed him closely had complete confidence that he was a major star in the making—just waiting for the right opportunity.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Why Javed Akhtar Knew Amitabh Was 'Vijay'
The iconic writer duo Salim-Javed penned the script of Zanjeer, but Javed Akhtar revealed it was he who was fully convinced that Amitabh Bachchan was the perfect fit for the role of 'Vijay'. At the time, Amitabh was out of work, yet Javed—despite barely knowing him—was certain no one else could do justice to the character.
Recalling their interaction, Javed shared that he called Amitabh to narrate the script, and the actor, having no work then, readily agreed. After hearing the story, Amitabh asked if Javed really believed he could pull off the role. To that, Javed replied with full conviction, 'Nobody in this country can play it better than you.'