In the recent documentary ‘Angry Young Men’, Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan reflect on a crucial chapter in Amitabh’s career, crediting the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed for recognizing his potential at a time when his films were failing at the box office. This pivotal moment came with the film ‘ Zanjeer ’, which marked a significant turning point in Amitabh’s journey to stardom. Initially, the role of Inspector Vijay in ‘Zanjeer’ was not meant for Amitabh.
The film was first offered to the iconic Dev Anand, who ultimately turned it down due to concerns over the absence of songs, which he believed would make the film less attractive to the audience. This rejection frustrated director Prakash Mehra, who was convinced of the film’s potential. Jaya Bachchan recalls Mehra’s reaction, saying, “How dare anybody do this? He was like, ‘I know this is a good story.
I know this would make a difference.’ He got angry that he was rejected by so many people. He had to prove a point.
” Then fate worked its magic and Amitabh was noticed by Salim-Javed for his performance in Mehmood’s ‘Bombay to Goa’. As shared by Farah Khan in the documentary, the duo was particularly impressed by Amitabh’s confidence, especially in a scene where he chews gum while fighting Shatrughan Sinha. This moment convinced Salim-Javed that Amitabh was the right fit for the role of Inspector Vijay in ‘Zanjeer’.
Reflecting on this period, Amitabh Bachchan recalls the.