He produced Amitabh Bachchan's blockbuster ‘Don' but did not have money to buy food, died penniless before its release. Who was Nariman Irani?

Time of India

4 days ago

When Don hit theatres in 1978, it wasn't just another Bollywood release. It was the latest chapter in the meteoric rise of Amitabh Bachchan, following blockbuster hits like Zanjeer, Deewaar, and Sholay. Directed by Chandra Barot and crafted by the legendary writing duo Salim–Javed, Don became a roaring commercial success. Yet, behind its triumph lay a tale of financial despair and personal tragedy—particularly that of its producer, Nariman A.
Irani
.
A Career-Crowning Role for Bachchan, A Financial Wreck for Irani
For Amitabh Bachchan, Don was another feather in an already crowded cap, but for Nariman Irani, the man who backed the film, it was a last-ditch effort to salvage his career. After his previous venture, Zindagi Zindagi (starring Sunil Dutt), had failed to generate revenue, Irani found himself burdened with debt. As director Chandra Barot revealed in a 2006 interview with Rediff, several industry stalwarts—including Amitabh Bachchan, Pran, Zeenat Aman, and the writing pair Salim–Javed—collaborated on Don out of loyalty and goodwill toward Irani. According to Barot, the film's development stretched over three and a half years, with numerous hurdles and tight budgetary restrictions.
A Song That Was Never in the Script
Interestingly, one of the film's most iconic elements—its unforgettable song 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala'—wasn't part of the original plan. In an interview with
DD Urdu
, lyricist
Sameer
Anjaan recounted how his father, the renowned lyricist Anjaan, came to be associated with what would become a signature tune for Amitabh Bachchan.
Sameer explained that after watching the film's final cut, screenwriter Javed Akhtar felt that the second half of the movie had become overly saturated with action and lacked an emotional or cultural pause. To counteract the dryness, Akhtar suggested the addition of a lighthearted song. Despite the film already being completed and the release date confirmed, Akhtar pushed strongly for the inclusion of this new number.
A Producer on the Brink of Collapse
At the time, Nariman Irani's financial situation had deteriorated to such an extent that he reportedly lacked even the money for basic needs. As Sameer Anjaan recalled, Irani told Javed Akhtar that he simply couldn't afford to shoot another scene. However, Akhtar remained insistent. The creative team understood that the right song could bring balance to the film's tone and enhance its appeal. Eventually, despite his reservations and constraints, Irani agreed.
The Tabela Shoot That Made History
But more obstacles lay ahead. Amitabh Bachchan was set to leave India for an overseas commitment, and only a single day was available to shoot the new song. Moreover, there was no budget to build a set. Faced with the logistical nightmare, the team improvised. They chose a real cattle stable, or 'tabela,' in Goregaon—a locality in Mumbai known for housing workers from
Uttar Pradesh
. With barely any preparation, the team rolled cameras at this makeshift location and managed to film the entire song within a few hours.
What resulted was cinematic magic. 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala,' composed by Kalyanji-Anandji with lyrics by Anjaan, became a cultural sensation. It not only boosted the film's popularity but became eternally tied to Amitabh Bachchan's on-screen persona.
Music That Made the Film a Classic
Don's soundtrack played a pivotal role in its success. Kalyanji-Anandji's composition, alongside lyrics from Anjaan and
Indeevar
, gave the movie its memorable musical identity. Apart from 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala,' the film featured other chartbusters like 'Yeh Mera Dil,' performed by Asha Bhosle. These songs helped elevate Don from just another thriller to an iconic Bollywood offering that would influence generations of cinema.
A Tragic Turn of Fate
Despite Don turning into a box office hit—it was the third highest-grossing Indian film of 1978 and achieved the prestigious golden jubilee status—Nariman Irani never lived to see its triumph. Just weeks before the movie's release, he was involved in a tragic accident.
While working as a cinematographer on Manoj Kumar's film Kranti at the Rajkamal Kalamandir studios in Bombay, Irani was caught in a sudden cloudburst. During the chaos, a wall collapsed and fell on him, resulting in a serious hip injury. Though he was rushed to the hospital, he did not survive. Irani passed away in December 1977, leaving the film incomplete and his family devastated. The profits from Don were later used to repay the debts he had accumulated.
Friends Who Rallied Behind a Vision
Director Chandra Barot reiterated in his
Rediff
interview that Don was born not just out of creative ambition, but as a rescue mission for a friend in dire need. Irani, whose work as a cinematographer was well regarded—he had even won the National Award and the Filmfare Award for Saraswatichandra (1968)—was experiencing one of the lowest points of his professional life. His friends in the film industry didn't abandon him. Instead, they pooled their talents to create something that could lift him out of crisis. Tragically, he would never enjoy the fruits of their labor.
A Legacy Larger Than Life
Nariman A. Irani might not have witnessed the release of Don, but his name lives on through its legacy. The movie sparked a successful franchise that has evolved through decades. A remake starring Shah Rukh Khan arrived in 2006, followed by a sequel, Don 2. Now, a new reboot featuring Ranveer Singh is in development, proving the staying power of the character and story Irani helped bring to life.
Irani's initial concept for Don reportedly drew inspiration from his own previous work as a cinematographer on Chhailla Babu (1977), as per historical sources. He discussed a revamped story idea with Chandra Barot, who took the project forward. Though he never saw its completion, his creative fingerprints remain all over the film.
Remembering Nariman Irani: The Man Behind the Vision
Nariman A. Irani's contributions to Indian cinema extend beyond his tragic story. As a cinematographer, he brought visual poetry to films like Talash, Phool Aur Patthar, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, and of course, Saraswatichandra. His work was critically acclaimed, and he was regarded as a master of black-and-white cinematography during a time of transition in Bollywood.
His ambition to become a producer may have led to financial hardship, but it also resulted in one of the most iconic thrillers in Indian cinematic history. Though he never saw the applause or reaped the financial success of Don, his influence echoes through every frame of the film and every beat of its unforgettable songs.