Bollywood screenwriting legend Salim Khan has revealed the backstory behind the casting of Amitabh Bachchan in the iconic film Zanjeer. In an interview with Arbaaz Khan, Khan disclosed that the film’s script had initially been offered to several other major actors, including Dharmendra and Dev Anand, who declined the role for personal reasons. Dilip Kumar also turned down the opportunity, describing the lead role as uni-dimensional with no room for performance. The role eventually went to Bachchan, whose career had been flagging after a series of flops. Despite director Prakash Mehra’s reluctance to cast Bachchan, Khan and co-writer Javed Akhtar were impressed with the actor’s talent and screen presence. They also convinced Bachchan’s wife, top star Jaya Bachchan, to take on a supporting role in the film. As a result, Zanjeer became one of the most iconic films in Bollywood history, introducing the archetype of the “angry young man” and cementing Bachchan’s place as one of India’s most beloved and enduring stars.
