Latest news with #KhaikePaanBanaraswala
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Amitabh Bachchan remembered Kishore Kumar's ‘True artist within': A rare tribute from one legend to another—Throwback
On the occasion of 's 96th birth anniversary, fans across the world flooded social media with heartfelt tributes. But amidst the nostalgia, let's take a look at a throwback video featuring , who is seen offering a personal, intimate reflection on Da's unmatched artistic essence. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Big B shared that Kishore wasn't just a singer; he was a true artist in every sense. Amitabh Bachchan's on-screen energy was perfectly complemented by Kishore's voice in songs like Khaike Paan Banaraswala and Rimjhim Gire Saawan. 'Playback singing came later; he was first a director.' In the video, Amitabh Bachchan recalls how Kishore Kumar's brilliance extended far beyond the microphone. 'To speak about Kishore Da would take hours,' he begins. According to Bachchan, Kishore Kumar had an innate sense of filmmaking and artistry. 'He took up playback singing later, almost accidentally. His directorial instincts and creative spirit were far more awakened than people realized,' he said. Big B went on to explain that while audiences remember Kishore's powerful voice behind actors like and , there was a deeply awakened artist behind the curtain—someone driven not by fame, but by the art of storytelling in all its forms. A heart full of humanity—'There 'was always humanity inside him.' What struck Bachchan most, however, wasn't just Kishore's versatility but his heart. 'No matter how busy he was, no matter what troubles or joys he was facing—there was always humanity inside him,' he said, reflecting on his personal experiences with the singer. While much of the public memory around Kishore is colored by tales of eccentricity and rebellion, this rare tribute from Amitabh Bachchan offers a gentler, deeper picture. Meanwhile, on the other hand, Amitabh Bachchan was last seen in the starrer 'Vettaiyan.' Remembering Kishore Kumar on his birthday
Indian Express
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Rajesh Khanna leapt at the opportunity to replace a miffed Amitabh Bachchan on Kishore Kumar's last film, didn't charge a rupee
It's nearly impossible to imagine Amitabh Bachchan's iconic songs without the magical voice of Kishore Kumar. Though the legendary singer lent his voice to many leading stars of the era, there was something truly unique about his playback for Bachchan, a match that created cinematic music history. Take 'Dekha Ek Khwab' from Silsila, for example. The way Kishore's voice blends with Bachchan's on-screen presence is nothing short of timeless. But like many great collaborations, this one, too, experienced turbulence. As with most artistic partnerships, creative differences eventually took their toll, leading to a fallout between the two legends. Now, in a recent interview with Radio Nasha, Kishore Kumar's son, singer Amit Kumar, opened up about what really happened behind the scenes. 'Misunderstandings are a part of human relationships. My father was human, too,' Amit said. 'And Mr Bachchan has been a great actor. We've always had a good relationship with him, but yes, there was a bit of misunderstanding at that time.' He went on to explain, 'My father was directing Mamta Ki Chhaon Mein, it was his last directorial project, and he felt having a big actor in it would really help. Naturally, we suggested Mr Bachchan's name. But at that time, Amitabh ji was extremely busy. Somewhere during all the back-and-forth, a misunderstanding developed.' According to Amit, the media sensationalised the situation, but things were eventually resolved. 'The media really exaggerated it… you know how the media is. But later, everything got sorted out. Mr Bachchan came home, they hugged it out, the misunderstanding was cleared.' Also Read | Kishore Kumar refused to sing Amitabh Bachchan's 'Khaike Paan Banaraswala', created a hungama, recalls Sameer: 'Javed Akhtar said song has to be there' As fate would have it, the role eventually went to another superstar, Rajesh Khanna, who was often portrayed as Amitabh Bachchan's rival. It was Bachchan, after all, who significantly dented Khanna's superstar image during the 1970s. Much has been written about their rift over the years. In the book Rajesh Khanna: The Untold Story of India's First Superstar, Khanna's secretary and associate of 20 years, Prashant Roy, recalled: 'Those days, Kakaji used to be very angry with Amitabh Bachchan. He used to tell his close friends that Hrishikesh Mukherjee was his favourite director, but Amitabh had filled his ears.' Amit Kumar recalled the moment he offered the film to Khanna, saying: 'I asked him if he would do the role, and he said, 'How dare you ask me that? I'll come stand at Kishore Kumar's door and ask why he didn't call me earlier!'' Amit fondly added that Rajesh Khanna worked on the film without charging a single rupee. 'When my father tried to pay him, he outright refused.' Interestingly, only a few months ago, lyricist Sameer had shared a light-hearted anecdote that hinted at the friendly bond Kishore Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan shared, despite occasional tensions. Sameer recalled a moment when Kishore expressed his wish to act alongside Amitabh. In his typical witty fashion, Bachchan reportedly replied: 'Dada, main hi ek bacha tha kya barbaad hone ke liye?' (Dada, was I the only fool left to be ruined?)
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How Javed Akhtar and Anjaan saved Amitabh Bachchan's classic ‘Don' with a Kishore Kumar song that was almost dropped
In the pantheon of Bollywood classics , few films enjoy the cult status that Don (1978) does. With its gripping narrative, unforgettable dialogues, and an electrifying Amitabh Bachchan in a dual role, the film has been a cultural mainstay for over four decades. But what many fans don't know is that one of its most iconic songs—Khaike Paan Banaraswala—was almost never part of the film. In a recent interview with BBC Hindi, noted lyricist Sameer Anjaan revealed the lesser-known tale behind the song that became a desi anthem. According to Sameer, the track was not part of the original script and only came into being after two cinematic heavyweights—Javed Akhtar and Manoj Kumar—voiced concerns over the film's tone. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Healthcare Data Science Others Leadership others MBA Design Thinking Technology Degree Product Management healthcare Data Science Operations Management Cybersecurity Finance Management Digital Marketing Project Management CXO Data Analytics Public Policy PGDM Artificial Intelligence MCA Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details The Song That Saved the Second Half Sameer recounted how Javed Akhtar and Manoj Kumar were shown an early cut of the film. 'They thought the second half was dragging. Too much action, no relief,' Sameer said. 'So they suggested a song—something that could give the audience a breather.' That's when they called upon his father, the legendary lyricist Anjaan, to inject a musical break into the narrative. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo But crafting a hit song wasn't as simple as inserting a melody. Anjaan drew inspiration from an earlier track in the film, Yeh Hai Bambai Nagariya, and decided to follow a similar flavor. What emerged was Khaike Paan Banaraswala , a playful, vibrant number that would go on to become one of Kishore Kumar 's most unforgettable performances. Convincing the Composers and Kishore Kumar However, not everyone was immediately on board. Music directors Kalyanji-Anandji weren't convinced. 'They felt a song about paan might not work,' Sameer revealed. 'But Javed Sahab insisted. He said the song had to be there.' You Might Also Like: 'They even dream in English': Javed Akhtar slams Bollywood filmmakers, says south cinema is succeeding because... The next hurdle? Getting Kishore Kumar into the mood. Known for his flamboyance and creative unpredictability, Kishore wasn't keen on the Bhojpuri-style diction. ''Chaka-chak' and 'khaike' didn't sit right with him—he wanted to say 'khaake',' Sameer explained. It took Anjaan's insistence—and a literal paan in Kishore's mouth—to get the vibe right. The singer finally relented, ordered a peekdaan (spittoon), and gave a single, flawless take. 'When he sang, it didn't feel like Kishore Kumar anymore. It felt like someone straight from the lanes of Banaras,' Sameer said. Don, directed by Chandra Barot, starred Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Pran, and Iftekhar. But it was Khaike Paan Banaraswala that injected flavor into the film's second act, helping cement Bachchan's desi mard image and giving audiences a tune they'd hum for generations. You Might Also Like: Amitabh Bachchan once spotted a former Bollywood superstar waiting for bus, after he lost his fortune and fame
Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
When Chandra Barot recalled Amitabh Bachchan's Don being declared a flop and how Manoj Kumar's advice saved the film
Filmmaker Chandra Barot, best known for directing Amitabh Bachchan's cult classic Don, passed away on Sunday at the age of 86 following a prolonged battle with pulmonary fibrosis. While Don eventually went on to become a landmark film for both him and Big B, it wasn't an easy project to complete and release. In an old interview with Syed Firdaus Ashraf, Chandra Barot had revealed that Don faced severe financial troubles and was even declared a flop on the day of its release. He shared that the film's producer, Nariman Irani, passed away six months before its release, leaving the team without any money for promotions. This put the movie at a disadvantage as it was competing with major releases like Yash Chopra's Trishul and Shashi Kapoor's Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Adding to the challenge was the fact that Chandra was a debutant director. He said, 'Don was to hit screens on May 12, 1978. Two weeks before that date, Yash Chopra's Trishul was released and became a big hit. We had no money to promote Don because the producer Nariman Irani died six months before the release. There were other films out at around the same time — including Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Prakash Mehra's Muqaddar Ka Sikandar — and I, as a debutant director, was a dwarf compared to them.' Chandra Barot also admitted that the pressure was high since Don was the only solo Amitabh Bachchan-starrer at the time, as his other films were all multi-starrers. He said, 'Moreover, Don was the only Amitabh film with him as the lead; his other projects were all multi-starrers. So, I was obviously nervous.' Chandra Barot revealed that the film was made on a modest budget of Rs 25 lakh. After the producer's death, they had to wrap the film on a constrained budget and couldn't afford any promotions. This lack of publicity meant there was barely any footfall on the first day. He explained, 'Don was shot with a budget of around Rs 25 lakh. After Nariman Irani's death, we somehow managed to wrap the film without any money for promotion.' However, luck was on their side. The song 'Khaike Paan Banaraswala' struck a chord with audiences and pulled them into theatres. The film's turnaround was driven entirely by word-of-mouth. 'It was a big disappointment and declared a flop because not many people turned up. Luckily for me, within a week, the song Khaike Paan Banaraswala became a big hit. Word of mouth publicity led to the film becoming a big hit from the second week on. It ran for 50 weeks in all centres and for 75 weeks in Hyderabad,' he said. Chandra Barot credited the film's music director Babla and actor Manoj Kumar for the film's success. The latter had advised him to add a song to provide relief from the fast-paced narrative. 'I must also thank Manoj Kumar, who told me a song was needed. When he saw it, he said the film was too tight. He said it made taking a toilet break difficult, because the story was so gripping! So, we included that song,' he said. In the end, Don's team ensured that the film's success helped deceased Nariman Irani's family. Sharing how they helped pay back the debts of the late producer, Chandra said, 'When it became a big hit, we gave the money to Salma Irani, the producer's widow, to settle her husband's debts.'
