In a recent revelation to Bollywood Thikana, filmmaker Mehul Kumar recounted the intriguing phone call where the south producer dialed Mehul’s number. “We want to remake Mughal-E-Azam,” he declared, “and we want the Bachchans to lead the charge.” Amitabh Bachchan as Emperor Akbar, Jaya Bachchan as Jodha Bai, Abhishek Bachchan as Salim, and Aishwarya Rai as Anarkali.
But Mehul Kumar, when asked about the audacious plan responded firmly, “Mughal-E-Azam can’t be remade. “He said that the original film, directed by K. Asif, was more than celluloid. Prithviraj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar’s portrayal of Emperor Akbar and Salim set a benchmark for toxic father-son dynamics, leaving an indelible mark on generations. Any attempt to replicate that magic would inevitably invite comparisons.
So what did Amitabh Bachchan himself think of this proposal? When the producer approached him, Amitabh advised, “Speak to Mehul Kumar first.” And when the message reached Mehul’s ears, he chuckled, “Amit ji said that Mehul is right.” Clearly, Amitabh understood the weight of history and the impossibility of recreating the film.
‘Mughal-E-Azam’ (1940s) was inspired by the tale of Anarkali, a doomed love story set against the Mughal court. Madhubala, Dilip Kumar, and Prithviraj Kapoor breathed life into characters that transcended time. Their chemistry and the grandeur of the Sheesh Mahal remain etched in our collective memory.
