In the 1990s, Amitabh Bachchan took a nostalgic journey down memory lane, reflecting on the changing landscape of stardom in Indian cinema. He reminisced about his upbringing in Uttar Pradesh, where the captivating presence of legends like Dilip Kumar and Kamini Kaushal left a lasting impression on him.
In a candid conversation with the late Rajesh Khanna, featured in Movie magazine, Bachchan suggested that the golden age of larger-than-life movie stars might be waning, marking a significant shift in the film industry.
Big B reminisced about a time when the allure of cinema and its stars was palpable. Reflecting on his school days in Allahabad, he recounted a memorable incident while Kamini Kaushal and Dilip Kumar were filming Shaheed. The excitement among fans was so intense that they nearly overturned a train, and the shattered glass windows of the air-conditioned coach housing Kamini Kaushal became a hot topic of conversation. He noted that this kind of mystique surrounding film stars has faded over the years, highlighting the shifting perceptions of celebrity in contemporary times.
During the discussion, when asked if any actor could achieve the same level of stardom in the future, Bachchan expressed skepticism about the notion of “superstars.” He acknowledged that actors like Anil Kapoor, Sunny Deol, and Jackie Shroff were already at the forefront of the industry, and he noted that he needed to pay attention to some of the newcomers making their mark as well.
Rajesh Khanna offered his perspective on Big B’s remarkable status in the industry, highlighting the unique position Bachchan occupied. He pointed out that while he was once considered the top star, the rankings changed over time, with newcomers filling the lower spots. Khanna expressed no animosity towards younger actors but emphasized that they lacked the irreplaceable star quality of their predecessors. He illustrated this by noting that filmmakers might easily find alternatives if Jackie Shroff was unavailable, but they would rather wait for Mr Bachchan than compromise on their project.