Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan both began their film careers in the late 1960s, a time when Rajesh Khanna reigned as Hindi cinema’s first superstar. Back then, it seemed no one could match Khanna’s stardom, but as the new decade began, his popularity waned, and Vinod and Amitabh emerged as serious contenders. Amitabh Bachchan, after a series of unsuccessful films, made a triumphant comeback in 1973 with Zanjeer, where his ‘Angry Young Man’ persona resonated with audiences.
Meanwhile, Vinod Khanna was also rising to prominence. After various supporting roles, his lead role in Gulzar’s Mere Apne (1971) became a hit. However, it was his powerful villainous performances in films like Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Purab Aur Paschim, and Sachaa Jhuta that established him as a major force.
By the time Vinod Khanna had solidified himself as a leading actor, Amitabh Bachchan was already ahead with successes like Zanjeer and Namak Haram. The rivalry between the two stars became evident when they starred together in BR Chopra’s Zameer (1975), with critics viewing Khanna as a strong contender to Bachchan’s throne. This competition intensified during the making of Hera Pheri (1976) under Prakash Mehra.
Rumor had it that Mehra initially wanted to cast Feroz Khan alongside Amitabh, but when Khan refused to work on Sundays, the role went to Khanna. However, Khanna reportedly agreed only on two conditions: he would get equal screen time with Amitabh, and he would be paid a lakh more t.