Jaya Bachchan reveals Prakash Mehra’s frustration After stars like Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand and more rejected ‘Zanjeer’ | Filmymeet

The film ‘Zanjeer’ became a turning point in Amitabh Bachchan’s career, but it might have taken a different path if not for a series of rejections from top Bollywood actors. Directed by Prakash Mehra and penned by the iconic writing duo Salim-Javed, the movie not only established Bachchan as the ‘Angry Young Man’ of Indian cinema but also transformed the depiction of heroes in Hindi films.Interestingly, Amitabh Bachchan wasn’t the initial choice for the role that would eventually launch him into stardom.
According to Jaya Bachchan, who shared insights into the series ‘Angry Young Men,’ Prakash Mehra initially offered the lead role to established actors like Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, and even Dev Anand. Despite the strong script, these actors turned down the role, leaving Mehra frustrated and determined to prove a point. Jaya Bachchan explained that Mehra was deeply angered by the rejections, feeling that the film had the potential to be a game-changer.
“Prakash Mehra’s anger was: ‘How dare anybody do this? I know this is a good story, I know that it would make a difference.’ He was angry that he got rejected by so many people. He had to prove a point,” she revealed.The series also featured insights from other industry veterans like Javed Akhtar, Salim Khan, and Sachin Pilgaonkar, who shed light on why these stars passed on the film. Sachin Pilgaonkar noted that Dev Anand refused the role because the script didn’t include any songs for the lead character, Vijay. Dev Anand, who was known for his romantic roles and musical hits, couldn’t envision himself in a film devoid of songs. “You’d remember how Vijay doesn’t have even one song. This is the reason why Dev (Anand) sahab refused to act in it. He refused after hearing the script because he thought, ‘the audience will not accept Dev without songs!’ he explained.
With top stars declining the role, Prakash Mehra was left searching for an actor who could bring his vision to life. It was during this time that Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan noticed Amitabh Bachchan in an action scene from ‘Bombay to Goa’ and felt he was perfect for the role. At that point, Bachchan was struggling in his career, with a string of flops to his name and actresses reluctant to work with him. Bhawna Somaiya, a senior film journalist, mentioned that Amitabh Bachchan was at one of the lowest points in his career when he was approached for ‘Zanjeer.’
Once cast, Big B’s performance in ‘Zanjeer’ not only redefined his career but also introduced a new kind of hero to Bollywood—one who was intense, brooding, and far removed from the song-and-dance routines typical of Hindi cinema at the time.