Latest news with #PrakashMehra
India.com
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actor, who was thrown out of a film after 16 flops, then one movie changed his life, became superstar, his net worth is Rs 1,600 crore; He is...
Amitabh Bachchan's ascent to superstardom rarely happened. After being dropped from Duniya Ka Mela and watching 16 films fail at the box office, the industry had counted him out. But, as Raza Murad notes, 'When the luck was in his favour, everything fell in place.' A lost opportunity for legends Before Zanjeer, Prakash Mehra offered the film to titans like Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Dev Anand, and Rajkumar—all declined. The movie's heavy focus on one man scared them away. It took a recommendation from Jaya Bachchan (then Bhaduri) for Prakash Mehra to finally take a chance on Amitabh—and history was made. In his chat with The Filmy Charcha, Murad remained adamant: 'You need 90% luck to succeed in the industry.' The right script meets the right actor—it's rarely just hard work that gets the throne. Zanjeer's enduring legacy For those of you who don't know, Zanjeer was more than a career revival—it was a cultural shift. It introduced a gritty Vijay, an honest cop driven by his past. It also elevated the Salim-Javed duo into legend and cemented Pran's charismatic Sher Khan, especially with unforgettable lines like 'Yeh police station hai, tumhare baap ka ghar nahin.' Salim-Javed's writing paired with Mehra's direction created a masterpiece. A hero forged from desperation, Vijay's journey from haunted soul to righteous crusader resonated deeply. Sher Khan's legacy—in his Pathani attire and principled presence—left a permanent mark on popular culture. Zanjeer wasn't just Amitabh's resurgence—it was the moment Bollywood transformed. A showcase of how fate can pivot entire careers, this film still stands as proof that sometimes, success is born from surviving and seizing rare opportunities. Amitabh Bachchan's net worth According to several media reports, today, his estimated net worth stands at a staggering Rs 1,600 crore (USD 190 million approx), making him one of India's wealthiest film icons.
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
'Amitabh Bachchan was last choice for Zanjeer — but when luck was on his side, everything fell into place': Raza Murad
Veteran actor Raza Murad has stirred discussion in Bollywood circles with his recent remarks on the role of luck in achieving success in the Hindi film industry. In an interview with The Filmy Charcha, Murad boldly claimed that "90% luck" is necessary to make it big in the business, citing the early career of megastar Amitabh Bachchan as a prime example. 'Amitabh Bachchan was thrown out of 'Duniya Ka Mela'. The makers replaced him with Sanjay Khan. 16 of his films flopped. Distributors said nobody will turn up to theatres if he will star in a film. At that time, his luck was not with him. But when the luck was in his favour, everything fell in place,' Raza Murad said. Elaborating further, Murad recounted how Amitabh was not the first choice for 'Zanjeer', the 1973 film that launched him to superstardom. The actor added, 'When Prakash Mehra wanted to make 'Zanjeer', he went to Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Dev Anand, Rajkumar, and they all refused for some or the other reason. The subject was extremely hero-oriented, yet, these superstars rejected it. Nobody knows why, but one can say that the luck wanted Amitabh Bachchan to lead the film. When nobody wanted him, and Prakash Mehra had no option, Jaya Bachchan (then Jaya Bahaduri) recommended the director he take Amitabh Bachchan and rest is history.' 'Zanjeer' not only resurrected Amitabh's career but also became a milestone for screenwriters Salim-Javed, who later crafted many of Bachchan's iconic roles. The film's success introduced the archetype of the 'angry young man' in Hindi cinema, shifting the narrative away from romantic leads to grittier, working-class protagonists. Pran's portrayal of Sher Khan in his Pathani attire became legendary, while lines like 'Yeh police station hai, tumhare baap ka ghar nahin' ('This is a police station, not your father's house') embedded themselves in Indian pop culture. 'Zanjeer' (1973) was helmed by director Prakash Mehra, who also co-produced the film along with S. Ramanathan. The screenplay was written by the legendary duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, whose powerful storytelling and sharp dialogues would go on to reshape the landscape of Hindi cinema. With music composed by the acclaimed duo Kalyanji-Anandji and lyrics by Gulshan Bawra, the film was a complete cinematic package.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Amitabh Bachchan was thrown out of the film, replaced by Sanjay Khan': Raza Murad recalls how Zanjeer changed Big B's fortune after 16 flops
Prakash Mehra's Zanjeer (1973), written by Salim-Javed, became a landmark film in Indian cinema. It gave a whole new identity to Amitabh Bachchan, who until then had seen 16 flops and almost lost hopes to make it big as an actor. But, it was his luck that made him who he is today, believes veteran actor Raza Murad. The film launched Amitabh into superstardom, leading to a string of hits like Deewar, Sholay, and Don, among others. In a recent interview with The Filmy Charcha, Raza Murad claimed that one needs 90% luck to make it big in the industry. To prove his point, the actor took the example of actor Amitabh Bachchan, whose life changed overnight with a single film that chose him as its lead star. 'Amitabh Bachchan was thrown out of Duniya Ka Mela. The makers replaced him with Sanjay Khan. 16 of his films flopped. Distributors said nobody will turn up to theatres if he will star in a film. At that time, his luck was not with him. But when the luck was in his favour, everything fell in place.' ALSO READ | Sarzameen trailer: Ibrahim Ali Khan looks not so nadaan in this father vs son patriotic drama He explained, 'When Prakash Mehra wanted to make Zanjeer, he went to Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Dev Anand, Rajkumar, and they all refused for some or the other reason. The subject was extremely hero-oriented, yet, these superstars rejected it. Nobody knows why, but one can say that the luck wanted Amitabh Bachchan to lead the film. When nobody wanted him, and Prakash Mehra had no option, Jaya Bachchan (then Jaya Bahaduri) recommended the director he take Amitabh Bachchan and rest is history.' With this anecdote, Raza Murad asserted that 'Luck is very important in this industry.' Zanjeer didn't just become a turning point in the life of Amitabh Bachchan but also writer duo Salim-Javed. Apart from them, the film's character Sher Khan, played by actor Pran became a cult figure with his Pathani attire. Dialogues from the film, such as 'Yeh police station hai, tumhare baap ka ghar nahin' became a part of pop culture. The film redefined Hindi film heroes with many claiming Amitabh Bachchan's Vijay gave voice to the frustrated Indian middle class of that era. It shifted the focus from romantic heroes to gritty-brooding protagonists.
