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The Wrong Man and Ek Ruka Hua Faisla: Two most important films we should watch right now!

With ‘The Wrong Man’ Alfred Hitchcock had tried to serve a different dish to his audiences. Sadly, he failed. The king of suspense was expected to tell only mysteries and thriller through his films. The film has suddenly come into relevance for me. While watching the whole JNU episode in which the police picked Kanhaiya Kumar from JNU campus and people engulfed by nationalism called him a traitor without a single question springing in their mind, I began to picture some scenes from ‘The Wrong Man’. Those scenes in which Manny played by the legendary Henry Fonda is picked up by the police mistakingly.

Henry Fonda and Vera Miles in "The wrong Man"- Bollywoodirect

Henry Fonda and Vera Miles in “The wrong Man”

It happens when Manny goes to his bank to apply for a loan and the bank employee finds Manny’s face and dressing matching with a criminal who attacked her some months back. In fear, she yells at him. All the other employees come to her and the police is called. The next moment, Manny finds himself in a jail.

He tries to convince the police, the woman bank employee who had put the blame and the other employees of the bank that he is not a criminal. But nobody tries to believe him. In everyone’s perspective, he is a villain, a criminal.

Perspective! Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Wrong Man’ was all about perspective. The film questions on yours and mine perspective in looking at things. Was it your perspective which believed that Manny was a criminal or was it someone else’s? That someone else could be anyone. It could be a gang on social media, your neighbour or may be the news anchor who is shouting enormously on the screen.

One woman finds Manny a criminal and Manny becomes a criminal the next second. Without any second thought, any rethinking, everyone has reached the conclusion.

At JNU, they picked up the wrong man. In spite of getting after those who are alleged defaulters, police picked up Kanhaiya Kumar- the man who wanted to stop his loved university from getting defamed unnecessarily. Nationalism was at work over there but in the wrong direction.

The only difference between the ‘The Wrong Man’ and the present JNU scenario is the intention behind putting the blame. In the film, the woman mistakingly sends Manny to jail. At JNU, it was not a mistake but an intentional game plan. But let’s not get into it. The bigger questions are – why are we in so much hurry in declaring judgements? Do we know that because of our impulsiveness, someone is taking advantage for their politics?

Are we ready debate on an issue before reaching a conclusion? And this question brings me to other favorite film – Basu Chatterjee’s Ek Ruka Hua Faisala. This film was a copy of Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men. The tagline of the film in itself is a lesson. It says ‘Life in their hands, death in their minds’. Relate the tagline with the present scenario where everyone is after Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid (even if he is a traitor, let’s prove he is the one and not be depended upon some video clips and media to prove his guilt). Relate the tagline to the group of lawyers who attacked the journalists inside Patiala House Court. Relate the line with the plethora of social media comments which read ‘Kill the traitors’.

A scene from Ek Ruka Hua Faisla

A scene from Ek Ruka Hua Faisla

Now let’s come back to the film. Ek Ruka Hua Faisla involves the greats of the hindi film industry- KK Raina, Annu Kapoor, Pankaj Kapoor coming together in one film. The film is about a boy who allegedly has killed his father. The court has left the right to take the final call of the case on 12 men only after discussing all the aspects of the case. The 12 men are locked in a room to discuss.

Even before the start of the discussion, 11 of them have already made their mind – the kid is guilty. He should be sent to jail. All the witnesses are against him. There is a strong list of evidences against him. There is no question why he should be set free. The kid is a danger to the society, they said. All the men in the room share the same opinion except one.

Juror No. 8 played by KK Raina, stands and says, “I want to debate. I am not saying the Kid is not guilty but I dare to disagree that he is guilty. The court has given us the responsibility to take a very important decision and we ought to take it seriously.”

Juror No 8 is what all we need to be. Debate. Think. Rethink. Because even the truth needs a debate.

Written By – Shubham Pandey

Featured article from Bollywoodirect.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015)

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo_Poster_Wallpaper_Salman Khan_Sonam Kapoor_Swara Bhaskar_BollywoodirectRating: 2/10
Release Date: 12th November 2015
Time: 174 minutes
Director, Writer: Sooraj Barjatya; Music: Himesh Reshammiya;
Starring: Salman Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Swara Bhaskar, Deepak Dobriyal, Armaan Kohli, Aashika Bhatia

This is not just a silly story, it’s a flawed, silly story dipped in gulab jamun ki chasni. It’s death with a thousand, slow, torturous cuts, and each cut is coated with sugar. It’s the same old, packaged as the same old – no attempts to give the story a modern twist – the heroine still simpers and makes semi-orgasmic expressions when the hero touches her and the hero still speaks as if he’s stuck in the black and white era. Nothing bad happens in the film, but everything occurs in agonizing slow-motion, with camera shots from three different angles, music at every turn and characters looking like they are all in a Maanyavar ad.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo_Poster_Wallpaper_Salman Khan_Sonam Kapoor_Swara Bhaskar_Bollywoodirect1

Salman Khan has two roles. For his first one, he doesn’t have to stray too far from his previous film (Bajrangi Bhaijaan) and is a Ram-bhakt, expert participant of his local village Ram-Leela. Who fell in love with a princess, Sonam, as she descended from the steps of a helicopter (impeccably dressed) while conducting flood relief operations for her charity. He decides he’s going to meet her (with his side-kick Deepak Dobriyal), as she’s going to attend her fiancée, a big-shot prince’s (the other Salman) crowning ceremony. However, evil forces are trying to take the life of this prince – there is a dastardly attack – and Ram-Leela Avatar is forced to step into the shoes of the Prince by the kingdom’s loyal advisor, Anupam Kher.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo_Poster_Wallpaper_Salman Khan_Sonam Kapoor_Swara Bhaskar_Bollywoodirect2

The Ram Bhakt soon realizes the Prince’s forte wasn’t human relationships – he has to mend quite a few fences – first with the Princess, Sonam, who’s mad at him for some past errors. Then with his step-sisters (Swara and Aashika) and then also with his step-brother (Neil). He proceeds to do this in full nautanki style, behaving illogically, inappropriately at every occasion. Like converting a formal function into a football match between men and women. Doing everything the Prince didn’t do – eat spicy food, cook, roam around with his fiancée etc. We then have a couple of very predictable twists, dealt with in an equally predictable manner – some tears, some muscles, some melodrama – followed by an even more predictable ending.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo_Poster_Wallpaper_Salman Khan_Sonam Kapoor_Swara Bhaskar_Bollywoodirect3

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo_Poster_Wallpaper_Salman Khan_Sonam Kapoor_Swara Bhaskar_Bollywoodirect4

Sonam continues to irritate. And display her lack of acting prowess. The fact that she also looks less than half her hero’s age doesn’t help the film. Salman has either of two expressions in the film – one is his beatific one, with folded hands, asking for forgiveness / love / help etc (in the villager role). The other is angry (in the Prince role). Anupam Kher takes over the Alok Nath sanskaari role, while Neil Nitin tries unsuccessfully to look angry while leading the spoilt, rich lifestyle.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo_Poster_Wallpaper_Salman Khan_Sonam Kapoor_Swara Bhaskar_Bollywoodirect5

Nothing, of course, makes any sense. You can begin with the logical questions (what was the villain’s grand plan at the end?). And then ask a few existential ones (why does Sonam get so many roles despite her impressive failure rate and equally impressive lack of acting skills ? Or even, Why do films like this get made at all ?)

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo_Poster_Wallpaper_Salman Khan_Sonam Kapoor_Swara Bhaskar_Bollywoodirect6

There are a few moments of mirth but they are too far and few and are sandwiched between many minutes of agony. Every scene is stretched, really ridiculous songs are inserted at every possible opportunity (there is one song – I’ve named it the chaatwala song – where basically Deepak Dobriyal and Salman recount all the different kinds of savouries you get in India), tears milked whenever the chance presents itself – and it’s really a gooey, syrupy painful film where the hero can do and experience nothing bad. Apart from his heroine.

My review of the film in one sentence is presented in this audio file: Click Here

Review Written By- Apurv Nagpal Author of Eighteen Plus 

Featured article from Bollywoodirect.

Caution: The opinion expressed in this article are the personal opinion of the author. Bollywoodirect and Cinemaforensic is not responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability or validity of any information in this article. The information/Opinion, facts appearing in it do not reflect the views of Bollywoodirect & Bollywoodirect doesn’t assume any responsibility or liability of the same.

An Actor – Farooq Sheikh

Writing about Farooq Sheikh has been the toughest. Despite being, one of the greats Hindi Cinema has produced, there is so little to read about him, either in books or even on the internet. All that you know about this gifted actor is through his films and the characters which he played. Farooq Sheikh was one of the pioneer actors in the New Indian Cinema along with Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri. Yet he was not them.Farooq was one actor who had always underplayed himself. When he was asked once, that what he thinks of himself as an actor, he replied saying that he is a very lazy actor who hasn’t achieved much but is happy for what he has achieved. His brutal honesty towards himself is what people loved in him. He never ever got ambitious in his life.

Farooq was labelled as an actor who never had any commercial viability. But he had no regrets accepting this tag. In an interview, he had even accepted his failure at being ‘not so famous’, and still be proud of what he was. He had told, “I have never been commercially viable: People recognise me, smile and wave at me — but I have never received marriage proposals written in blood. In his heydeys, when Rajesh Khanna drove down a street, the traffic stopped — I don’t mind not receiving this kind of adulation. But I do miss not having been able to command the kind of work I wanted. I miss not being 100 per cent commercially viable.

He was a gem in the art film corridors of our industry. Yet, he was different in the way other actors of the same genre went about themselves. Farooq didn’t do an ‘ArdhSatya’ or an ‘Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyo Aata hai’, yet he was present with his own finesse and style in films like ‘Chashme Buddoor, Kissi Se Na Kehna’.

Farooq Sheikh_Chasme Buddoor_Ravi Baswani_Rakesh Bedi_Bollywoodirect

Farooq Sheikh in Garam Hawa_Balraj Sahni_M S Sathyu_Bollywoodirect

Those who adore Farooq, are normally the ones who have seen ‘Chashme Badoor’. His absence from the film scene in the 90s almost made him forgotten for once and all. Television and theatre had then kept Farooq going. His, first love, was theatre. IPTA came as a breath of fresh air in his life after his short stint as a lawyer began to frustrate him. His acting prowess was seen at IPTA and then came the big break with M.S. Sathyu’s Garam Hawa for which he did not take a single penny.

Ironically,  ‘Garam Hawa’ proved to be the cool breeze every young actor needs at the start of his or career. What followed was something that even Farooq had not expected of himself. Satyajit Ray offered him to play Aqeel in ‘Shatranj Ke Khiladi’. This was not one of the best Satyajit Ray had filmed, as per the critics but this film definitely fulfilled Farooq’s dream to work with the legend Satyajit Ray himself.

Rekha_Farooq Sheikh in Umrao Jaan_Bollywoodirect

Farooq was a brave actor back then; he would choose movies no other actor would dare to say yes to. A case in point is ‘Umrao Jaan’. This film was all about Rekha and in those times when male-dominated films existed, I am sure it was a tough call as a male actor to do Nawab Sultan. Even the poster of the film had Rekha all over it.

With ‘Noorie’, he announced that he could deliver single-handedly. ‘Noorie’ went on to become the seventh highest-grossing film that year. For someone like Farooq, this would be a straight jacket entry into mainstream cinema as ‘Noorie’ was a Yash Chopra film. But he never let anyone categorised him. He did whatever came his way and this is why we see such diversified roles done by him in such a short period of time. If in ‘Katha’, he was the ‘Hare’ who liked chatting a lot and boasting about himself to woo people then in ‘Sath-Sath’, he played a stern man who could not sacrifice his principles. Then, in Bazaar, he was entirely in a  different story. This versatility in him created an image for himself in the industry. Farooq Sheikh could do a ‘Siddharth’ in Chasme Buddoor with the same ease he did ‘Basu’ in Katha. All these films became classics with time. and Farooq had a major role to play in making them one.

But despite these great performances, what he got were just appreciations in the form of good reviews and the tag of ‘good actor’. It was, finally, in the year 2010 that we saw him getting the National award for the best actor in a supporting role for ‘Lahore’ – a film that won several accolades around the globe. This recognition came much later to Farooq who deserved more than what he got. But as he was Farooq  Sheikh, these things – awards and recognition- never mattered to him.

I have written how he wasn’t an ambitious man. It was for this reason that he did even the smaller roles with the same excitement and vigour. Despite him being lost from the film scene in the 90s, he had no ego whatsoever to do serials like ‘Chamatkaar’ and ‘Ji Mantri Ji’.

And who can forget ‘Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai’, one of the best show Indian Television has produced and undoubtedly, the main reason for the show to get engraved in our memories was Farooq Sheikh. He wasn’t very glamorous and fizzy in the way he anchored. He was simple, genuine, calm in the way he handled the guests at his show. In two simple words, he was just Farooq Sheikh. Clad in Kurta and Pyjama, a dress he wore the most in his last 15 years of life, Farooq made sure there was no boredom in the show.

farooq sheikh_Deepti Naval_Bollywoodirect

It is not correct to say that he wasn’t an aware star. Those who knew him on- screen, they loved him. And those who know him off-screen, they adored him for being a person that he was. Deepti Naval remembers him as a man who was part of her career. She acted with him in as many as nine films. For her, he was a constant part of her professional as well as personal lives.

After his funeral procession was over, teary-eyed Shabana Azmi came out and said, “There will be no ‘Tumhari Amrita’ Without Farooq. The curtains have fallen.” ‘Tumhari Amrita’ was one play which both of these greats had been performing for the last twenty years till 2013. In early December of 2013, Shabana and Farooq had performed the play in Agra and after the completion of play, Shabana had told him, “Let it be our last play, Farooq. I believe this should be the end of ‘Tumhari Amrita’ to which he resisted, “Why! I think we should do this role for another 20 years to come!” After two weeks or so, Farooq Sheikh left the world leaving everyone shocked.

Written By: Shubham Pandey 

Caution: The opinion expressed in this article are the personal opinion of the author. Cinemaforensic/Bollywoodirect is not responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability or validity of any information in this article. The information/Opinion, facts appearing in it do not reflect the views of Bollywoodirect & Bollywoodirect doesn’t assume any responsibility or liability of the same.

Featured article from Bollywoodirect.

Zindagi Ek Safar-Kishore Kumar- Documentary

Experience and discover the journey of Kishore Kumar in this classic rare documentary film called “Zindagi Ek Safar! Kishore Kumar” which chronicles the life and times of the evergreen playback singer, actor, lyricist, composer, producer, director, and scriptwriter on the special occasion of his 86th birth anniversary.Watch this documentary film for excerpts from his friends, family and stalwarts of the Hindi film industry to know more about the story of the irreplaceable and amicable talented star “Late Shri Kishore Da”!

Produced by Sambhu Munshi & Kartik Das

Directed By: Jyoti Prakash Roy

Born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly, Kishore Kumar was the youngest of the four siblings, the other three were Ashok (the eldest), Sati Devi, and Anoop. He started his career as a chorus playback singer in Bombay Talkies studio.

His singing talent was presented in songs written and composed by well-known names of Bollywood like R. D. Burman, S. D. Burman, Bappi Lahiri, Gulzar, Kalyanji Anandji, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Anand Bakshi. The hit songs were picturized on superstars like Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Dev Anand, Shashi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Vinod Khanna, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and many more!

Some of his famous songs include:

“Roop Tera Mastana” – Anand (1969) 
“Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera” – Amanush (1957)
“Khaike Pan Banaras Wala” – Don (1978)
“Pag Ghungroo Baandh” – Namak Halaal (1982)
“Agar Tum Na Hote” – Agar Tum Na Hote (1983)
“Saagar Kinaare” – Saagar (1985)
“Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana” – Andaz (1971)

His notable work as an actor include:
Mr X in Bombay
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
Half Ticket
Padosan
Door Gagan Ki Chaoon mein
Dilli Ka Thug
Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi

Featured article from Bollywoodirect. 

Sukumar Ray A Documentary By Satyajit Ray

‘Sukumar Ray’ – Screenplay & Direction: Satyajit Ray 

1987, India. Documentary, 30 min, Color
Producer: Govt. of West BengalCredits

Narration: Soumitra Chatterjee 

Cinematography: Barun Raha 

Editing: Dulal Dutta 

Art Direction: Ashoke Bose 

Sound: Sujit Sarkar 

Music: Satyajit RayCast: Soumitra Chatterjee, Utpal Dutt, Santosh Dutt, Tapen ChatterjeeSummary.

The film presents the life and work of the writer Sukumar Ray, Satyajit Ray’s father. Ray made this film as a tribute to celebrate the centenary of his birth. The film comprises still photographs and readings from Sukumar Ray’s writings.

Comments
Sukumar Ray (1887-1923), the eldest son of Upendra Kishore, studied printing technology in England and joined the family business. He was an eminent poet, writer and illustrator of nonsense literature in the tradition of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear.Sukumar Ray fell ill the year Satyajit Ray was born with a dreaded tropical disease of the time – Kala-azar. He regularly contributed poems, stories and illustrations to ‘Sandesh’, a children’s magazine in Bengali which Satyajit Ray’s grandfather had started publishing and printing.

Featured article from Bollywoodirect.Courtesy: Sshoibal youtube channel

Amitabh Bachchan : The Blender of Perfect Combinations

Over the years, we have seen many great actors; we have seen many entertaining actors and have also seen many popular actors in Bollywood. But, nobody has got the attention and limelight for so long and towered over the rest as Amitabh has for much of his 46-year-long innings.

Amitabh Bachchan is certainly the strongest imprint, Bollywood has left in the lives of Indian cinema lovers.  Amitabh Bachchan kept himself evolving and adapting to the times of Bollywood and kept challenging the undefined boundaries of an actor´s limit. He was popular for his “Rebel” characters and also for his romantic styles. But, one thing which has always been ignored about him was his ability to support the other male protagonist of the movies. He played supporting roles with many actors and each time he adapted himself to their style, like with Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna and many more. Let’s have a hindsight over his chemistry with his male co-stars.

The Tussle with Muscle Man – Vinod Khanna

Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna were the two giants of Bollywood in the ’70s and worked together in 10 films. Sometimes they played brothers to each other, sometimes friends; and onscreen competition was a bonanza for the audience as it brought the best out of them. The super hit pair delivered five enormously successful and entertaining films together – Hera Pheri (1976), Khoon Pasina (1977), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) Parvarish (1977) and Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978). Even though Amitabh played the lead role in their films, Vinod managed to steal the limelight from him at times with his devastating good looks. While the Big B is a legend, industry naysayers have said that Vinod could have outrun him had he not left the industry at the peak of his career.

Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna -Bollywoodirect

The Superstar who witnessed the Rising star – Rajesh Khanna

The rivalry among the stars is not the talk of today’s Bollywood scenario rather it has been leaving its foot marks since the day one. Decades back, the rivalry between the two superstars – Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan was the hot talk of the town. Rajesh Khanna did only two movies with Amitabh Bachchan and at the two very different point of his career. When Amitabh Bachchan had entered into the industry, Rajesh Khanna was already an established star. As a cancer-stricken patient in Anand, Rajesh Khanna was a delight to watch. Decidedly he had an edge over Babu Moshai, played poignantly by Bachchan. But by the time they appeared together again in Namak Haram, the equations had changed and Amitabh was the new Superstar. But, watching them together in a movie was a delight for the cinema lovers in any period of time.

Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna - Bollywoodirect

The “Do Aur Do Paanch” Combination – Shashi Kapoor

It all started with “Roti Kapda Aur Makaan” and then they worked together in the superhits like Deewar (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Shaan (1980), Silsila (1981) and many more. Together they formed, arguably, one of our most popular two-hero combinations ever, from whom the audience allure and box-office expectations was next to only one pair, i.e. Dharmendra and Hema Malini.

Bachchan ji once said that “Shashi Kapoor and I became inseparable in many successful ventures that followed. Leading ladies would shy away from our projects by proclaiming that there would be nothing left for them to do once SK and AB were there together.” Though both worked a lot in the ’70s and ’80s, the clear secret of their collaboration was their obvious off-screen comfort zone coming up trumps on-screen as well. Their relaxed demeanor at work was there for all to see.

Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor- Bollywoodirect

Partners in Crime “Jai and Veeru” – Dharmendra

Dharmendra was one of the few actors during the 70s and 80s who could come close to matching AB’s charisma and star power. During the 70s and 80s, he gave quite a lot of hits in an era dominated by Amitabh. Dharmendra and Amitabh were very similar in respect of their camaraderie with other male leads. And together they  performed the most popular on-screen friendship of “Jai and Veeru” in movie “Sholay”. Apart from that they worked together in two other movies, “Ram Balram” in 1980 is the lesser known of the two because the other one happens to be the Hrishikesh Mukherjee´s “Chupke Chupke”, which is all time classic. The on-screen rapport between them was as a guarantee for entertainment.

Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra - Bollywoodirect

The Perfectionist “Thakur” – Sanjeev Kumar

From playing Amitabh Bachchan’s father in ‘Trishul’ to playing the husband of his former beloved in ‘Faraar’,Sanjeev Kumar is still remembered for playing a variety of roles on the big screen with Amitabh. At a time when actors were branded as a romantic hero or action hero, Sanjeev Kumar was one actor who was difficult to typecast. And Amitabh Bachchan plays stick to stick and walked a yard to yard while working with him. Who can forget the “Thakur” who manage to convince “Jai” for his motive in Sholay. Or who can forget the duel between father and son in “Trishul”. They worked together in 5 superhit movies like Silsila, ImaanDharam, Trishul, Khuddar and Sholay.

Amitabh Bachchan with Sanjeev Kumar - Bollywoodirect

The “Lambuji Tinguji” Partnership – Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor worked with Amitabh for the first time in 1976 in Kabhi Kabhi. He later usually played Amitabh’s friend or younger brother in films such as Amar Akbar Anthony, Naseeb, and Coolie. The flamboyant personality of Rishi Kapoor was well matched by Amitabh with his serious persona in the movies. Young Rishi Kapoor came as an answer to the roles, which directors planned for his uncle Shashi Kapoor (who was not able to play younger brother roles due to his aging). Rishi Kapoor took the challenge to substitute his uncle from the super hit combination of Amitabh and Shashi and marked his own partnership with Amitabh. The last time they came together was for Shashi Kapoor’s only directorial venture Ajooba, that was 22 years ago. Now, the Big B and Rishi Kapoor are all set to reunite for Sudhir Mishra’s “Mehrunissa”.

Amitabh Bachchan with Rishi Kapoor - Bollywoodirect

The Yaarana of Jai and Gabbar – Amjad Khan

In normal life, Amitabh Bachchan and Amjad Khan were great friends, but on screen they normally found each other on the morally opposite side of the story. They worked together in more than 10 movies, importantly Parvarish (1977), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Lawaaris (1981), Yaarana (1981) & Nastik (1983). But, it all started with “Sholay”, where their stellar performances created the immortal masterpiece of Bollywood.

Amjad Khan kept himself improvising and gave many memorable negative characters against Amitabh. The on-screen rivalry between them kept the audience engaged and thrilled. But, “Yaarana” was a totally different movie in compare to others, where Amjad Khan played a role of a best friend of Amitabh and the song “Tere Jaisa Yaar Kahan” was a superhit. They remain friends until the unfortunate death of Amjad Khan.

Amitabh Bachchan with Amjad khan - Bollywoodirect

The Dostana with Shotgun – Shatrughan Sinha

They came together on screen in Parwana (1971) first, where Shatru just made a guest appearance in the film. The real chemistry between the duo was seen in Bombay To Goa (1972) where Amitabh played a fun-loving guy who came between the leading lady Aruna Irani and the suave villain Shatrughan. They reportedly shared a good rapport off-screen; encouraging producers and directors to cast them together. Even with all the Amitabh-Shatru movies, Shotgun was never really overshadowed by Amitabh’s stardom.

Their next film, Kala Patthar (1979), is the prime example of the classic Bachchan-Sinha camaraderie. Shatrughan Sinha had a role with better lines and even won the audiences’ sympathy with his character dying a brave death. Amitabh, on the other hand, had a silent brooding role. But when they came on screen together, it was pure entertainment. The off screen tussle began at the time of Dostana (1980). With their growing egos, neither Amitabh nor Shatru wanted to work together. However, things looked better when, keeping their personal differences aside, Shatrughan appeared in the next Bachchan-dominant movie, Shaan (1980).

Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha- Bollywoodirect

The Surfing with the Southern wave – Rajnikanth

Amitabh had already some experience to work with the India’s most popular heartthrob like Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra, but working with Rajnikanth was totally different for him. It was the time when Superstars from The South were trying their hand in Bollywood for the first time. Producer were eager to try Amitabh- Rajni combination to have their reach in the south. They worked together in three movies – Andha Kanoon (1983), Geraftaar (1985) and long after Hum (1991). Even they were the superstar, their humility made each other comfortable on screen and off screen. The most remembered movie was “Hum”, where they played brothers to each other and their comedy timing along with Govinda left everybody laughing.

Amitabh Bachchan with Rajnikanth- Bollywoodirect

The Sehansaah and the Baadshah twain– Shah Rukh Khan

It was a time when Amitabh Bachchan was playing the elderly roles and Shah Rukh Khan was playing the roles, which two decades back would have penned for Amitabh. They have their own styles, but one common thing was their dedication. The first time, they were seen in together in “Mohabbatien” (2000), where Amitabh played a role of strict Principal and Shah Rukh Khan enacted the character of “Raj Aryan”. The On –screen combat of generation was grand to watch and audience gave a very good response to this pair. Then came the movies like Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Veer-Zaara (2004), Paheli (2005) and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006). Their professionalism has always brought the best out of them. Hope there will be more to come from this pair.

Amitabh Bachchan with Shah Rukh Khan - Bollywoodirect

The difference between success and failure is a great team and Amitabh have several great teams.

Featured article from Bollywoodirect.