
Made for Rs 5 crore, this movie was a huge hit, but still ruined the producer's life due to..., movie was...
After a bunch of hits like Zanjeer, Deewaar, and Sholay, Amitabh Bachchan cemented his place in Bollywood with Don. But behind the camera, producer Nariman Irani was drowning in debt. This would tragically become his last film, despite it being a hit. The profits from Don didn't make him rich; they were used to pay off everything he owed. Who insisted on 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala'?
That one iconic song rarely happened. Lyricist Sameer Anjaan recalled that Javed Akhtar was adamant the film needed a new song in the second half to break the monotony of action. But the problem? The production had zero budget.
'The poor producer was in such a bad state because of the film that he didn't even have money for food,' Sameer said.
Nariman Irani resisted. There was no money, no time, no set. But Javed wouldn't budge. Eventually, the team shot the song in a makeshift tabela (a rural cow shed) in Goregaon, just a day before Bachchan was set to leave the country. It was rushed, raw, and unplanned—yet it became one of the most beloved songs in Indian cinema. What happened to Nariman Irani?
Despite Don becoming a commercial success, Irani didn't live to see its premiere. Just weeks before its release, he died in a freak accident, crushed by a wall during a cloudburst on the set of another film. His death left the cast and crew heartbroken.
Director Chandra Barot later shared that Don was made by friends trying to help Nariman clear his debts. Even with a modest budget of Rs 25 lakh, they created something truly magical. What did the cast say about Irani?
Zeenat Aman, who starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan, remembered the film as a family project. 'When he passed away, I did not take any of my remuneration. I just wrote all of it off,' she said.
Barot and others ensured the money made from the film was handed to Irani's widow, Salma, to help her repay the debts he left behind. A legacy bigger than its Box Office
Don didn't just boost Amitabh's superstardom; it became a franchise. Shah Rukh Khan starred in the 2006 remake and its sequel, and a reboot with Ranveer Singh is currently in the works. But the soul of the original Don lies in what the audience never saw: a producer's struggle, a friend's stubbornness, and an industry that came together like family.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Smriti Irani on Bollywood's silence on Op Sindoor: Don't watch them if you're hurt
When India launched its counter-terror operation under the codename Operation Sindoor, the nation rallied behind the armed forces. However, Bollywood faced criticism for its silence, with many questioning why prominent actors didn't speak up. Addressing the growing public anger, television actor and former Union Minister Smriti Irani remarked that the country stood firmly with its Army, regardless of whether celebrities voiced their support or to growing commentary about the film industry's muted reaction to Operation Sindoor, Irani said the nation should not measure patriotism through celebrity statements.'If someone is not with the country, and their lack of support offends you, then don't watch them,' she said. 'Because, as an ordinary citizen, how can you express your anger (against their silence)? By tunning off. It is wrong to say that if an actor did not stand with the Army, nobody stood with the Army. The whole country was standing with its Army," she emphasised that ordinary citizens have always risen to support the armed forces, regardless of whether celebrities have spoken out or not."The ordinary citizen, was there. The day, the ordinary citizen, will not be there, that day, I will be worried. So, till the time an ordinary citizen, and the parliament of the country is standing with the Army, you can question the silence of the actor. But I don't believe the country is sitting around waiting for an actor to say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai.' The nation is well aware of these realities by now," she India-Pakistan reached the brink of war, many politicians questioned the losses suffered by the Army and asked how many planes were downed by the neighbouring country. Many politicians have been demanding an answer from the government."Parliament session is underway; it will definitely be told there,' she warned against sensationalism in matters of national security, saying facts should prevail over headline-grabbing remarks.'As I said, it is very easy to give line-grabbing statements on the issue of national security. I cannot do it. I can speak very easily, but the right and responsibility of presenting facts in the Parliament is of the government—and the nation will run on facts.'She stressed the importance of following parliamentary decorum and history while dealing with sensitive national issues.'Our parliamentary decorum, the history in which he was lying, you will have to take a factual position,' Irani said, adding, 'And today the truth cannot be hidden from the geopolitics and social media and different aspects of media. So I think that the national government has the strength to place all the facts in front of the opposition and the country through the Parliament.'However, she also acknowledged that some facts related to national security may not be made public due to their sensitive should also be aware that there are some internal security and geopolitical facts which will be known only to the leadership and will not be made public. Now I think there is a need to understand the mature reality,' she Irani, who held various significant roles within the Union Cabinet during her political journey, is making her comeback on the screen with the same show that made her a household name 25 years ago – Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.- Ends


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
None of us owned a house or car: Smriti Irani on how Kyunki built lives
Actor-politician Smriti Irani is ecstatic about the return of her iconic show 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.' In an exclusive conversation with India Today's sister channel Aaj Tak, Irani spoke to Managing Editor and anchor Anjana Om Kashyap about the show's massive cultural impact and the turning point it created in Indian television the interview, she reflected on how the team behind the daily soap not only redefined prime-time viewing but also helped build the foundation of many livelihoods, including her 2000 to 2008, our team redefined television in a completely new way. Back then, no one used to watch TV at 10:30 p.m. Women producing television series wasn't common, and it was also rare for female actors to be the central narrators and the core focus of any show. Establishing all these things was a landmark in itself, a unique chapter of our lives," she said. Irani continued, "I still remember when we first started working on the show; we were about 120–150 people. None of us owned a house or a car. We all laid the financial foundation of our lives through 'Kyunki'. People may watch us on screen, but many don't realise how many households keep their stoves burning simply because someone switches on the television."Irani went on to talk about how television has evolved over the years."Television has changed tremendously over the past 25 years. When I look back on my journey as Tulsi, I can't help but draw a parallel with Aaj Tak. I portrayed Tulsi on television for eight continuous years, and during that same period, the Aaj Tak team and I consistently received awards for excellence across major platforms. But often, once you reach one peak, you begin searching for the next," she her conversation, the 49-year-old even touched upon her political career, navigating a career without a godfather, as well as her views on topics like the participation of Pakistani actors in Indian aired in 2000, 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' became a household name, celebrated for its engaging storylines and unforgettable characters. The reboot aims to retain the soul of the original while introducing fresh elements to engage both loyal fans and new just days to go for its premiere, 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' is already generating buzz - promising to revisit timeless themes of family, identity, and resilience, while reimagining Tulsi's world for a new generation.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Smriti Irani


India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
This Sholay star used to sell soap, had nothing to eat, was paid Rs 6 for his first film, name was..., died due to...
This Sholay star used to sell soap, had nothing to eat, was paid Rs 6 for his first film, name was..., died due to... Sholay continues to be one of the cult classic films in Bollywood. While lead actors Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Hema Malini received immense love for their portrayals, the actors who starred as supporting characters, including Asrani and Jagdeep, also received critical acclaim. Jagdeep, who portrayed Soorma Bhopali is still reminisced for his powerful dialogue 'Humara naam Soorma Bhopali aise hi nahi hai,' in Sholay. Do you know the actor had to go through extreme circumstances during his early phase? The heartbreaking struggles of Jagdeep's childhood Born as Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jaffrey in Gwalior during the pre-Partition days, Jagdeep's mother took him to Karachi after his father's demise. However, they later moved to Mumbai in search of better livelihood. With no family savings, Jagdeep's mother found a job at a local orphanage as a cook. He too took odd jobs such as selling kites and soap to earn whatever little he could to support his family. Jagdeep's first break in films Jagdeep then got his first break in the industry when someone came looking for kids to cast in B.R. Chopra's Afsana. He happily took the offer for mere Rs 3. On the set, he discovered that the actor who could speak Urdu would be paid Rs 6, so he eagerly said yes. From there on, he started getting small roles and collaborated with renowned filmmakers like KA Abbas (Munna), Guru Dutt (Aar Paar), and Bimal Roy (Do Bigha Zamin). He garnered recognition in 1986 with his quirky role in Shammi Kapoor's Brahmachari , becoming famous for his witty expressions and overall funny persona. It was until his character of Soorma Bhopali in Sholay rose him to celebratory status. With over 400 films and one of his most remarkable characters, veteran actor Jagdeep's contribution to the industry is still etched in the hearts of Bollywood fans. His journey from a tough childhood to a becoming a renowned comedian is nothing short of inspirational. The actor breathed his last on July 9, 2020 at the age of 81 at his Mumbai residence.