Big B's lockdown throwback: Amitabh Bachchan calls 'Amar Akbar Anthony' a bigger success than 'Baahubali 2'
The actor also celebrated 15 years of 'Bunty Aur Babli' and 'Kajra Re'.
By ET Online and Agencies | Updated:
Agencies
Amitabh Bachchan also remembered 15 years of 'Bunty Aur Babli', which marked his first debut with actor-son Abhishek Bachchan.
NEW DELHI: This week is all about nostalgia for megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
The 77-year-old actor said on Wednesday that his 1977 film 'Amar Akbar Anthony', which completed 43 years, was a bigger success than 'Baahubali 2' that is one of the highest grossing films in India with a global business of over Rs 1,800.
Big B mentioned that the 1977 blockbuster made Rs 7.25 crore after its release, a figure that crosses the collections of the SS Rajamouli-directorial if the inflation is adjusted.
The film, which also featured Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Parveen Babi and Neetu Singh in the lead role, was a massive success at the time of its release, wrote the veteran actor.
"It (the movie) did massive business. Did 25 weeks in 25 theatres in Mumbai alone, or so they say. Doesn't happen now, gone are those days," Bachchan concluded.
T 3544 -43 YEARS .. !!! .. 'Amar Akbar Anthony' is estimated to have made Rs 7.25 crore in those days. Inflation-ad… https://t.co/4utlIhBeXP
'Amar Akbar Anthony' chronicles the story of three brothers, each raised in different religious households, who reunite after several years in a chance encounter.
In another post on Instagram, Bachchan also shared a black and white picture from the set with his children in his arms. The picture was from the time Big B was shooting the song 'My name is Anthony Gonsalves' at Holiday Inn Ballroom on the beach front, and children Shweta and Abhishek paid him a visit on the set of 'Amar Akbar Anthony'.
He also recalled the first time he heard the title from director Manmohan Desai, he thought the film-maker had 'lost it'. "At a time in the 70's when film titles revolved around 'Behen', 'Bhabhi' and 'Beti', this one was so out of place," his post read.
ADVERTISEMENT
On Tuesday, the 'Piku' star fondly remembered 15 years of the hit 'Bunty Aur Babli', which marked his first debut with actor-son Abhishek Bachchan.
Bachchan shared a poster of the film, along with a picture from a stage performance with Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
ADVERTISEMENT
Celebrating 15 years of 'Bunty Aur Babli' and performance of 'Kajra Re' on stage, called the cast and crew of the movie a fun team.
T 3543 - 15 years .. "Bunty Aur Babli " ... my first film with Abhishek .. such fun .. and what a team .. !! .. and… https://t.co/I1RruzZ9ZJ
Directed by Shaad Ali, the 2005 film featured Rani Mukerji and Jr Bachchan as con artiste partners-in-crime, while Big B played a cop on a mission to catch them.
The crime comedy also featured actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who went on to marry Abhishek in 2007, in a special appearance in the famous track 'Kajra Re'.
The father-son duo later collaborated on films such as 'Sarkar' series, 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna', and 'Paa'.
The sequel to "Bunty Aur Babli", backed by Yash Raj Films, was scheduled to be released on June 26 this year.
Touted as a "rebooted sequel", the film features Rani and Saif Ali Khan, who steps in for Abhishek Bachchan as the titular Bunty in the project.
It also stars "Gully Boy" star Siddhant Chaturvedi and "The Forgotten Army" actor Sharvari.
A name that needs no introduction, a voice that is recognised by millions, and a presence that makes even the most established actors nervous. Amitabh Bachchan is in every sense one of the biggest superstars the country has seen.
Having spent 50 years in the industry, and given fans masterpieces like 'Zanjeer', ‘Deewar’, ‘Sholay’, ‘Black’, and ‘Paa’ among several others, the Big B - as he commonly known - is a force to be reckoned with, even as he turns 77. Showing no signs of slowing down, the Padma Vibhushan-awardee’s upcoming films include Ayan Mukerji’s ‘Brahmastra’, Shoojit Sircar’s ‘Gulabo Sitabo’ and Rumi Jaffery’s ‘Chehre’.
While continuing to enthrall audiences every time he comes on screen, the superstar, who was 'selected unanimously' for Dadasaheb Phalke award this year, also dabbled in several other trades - sometimes succeeding, at other times not so much - through the course of his professional journey.
Here’s a look at Bachchan Sr. beyond films.
A name that needs no introduction, a voice that is recognised by millions, and a presence that makes even the most established actors nervous. Amitabh Bachchan is in every sense one of the biggest ..
Read More
Bachchan took a break from acting in 1984 to try his hand at politics. The 'Shahenshah', whose proximity to the Gandhis at the time was well-known, contested the 8th Lok Sabha elections from his hometown of Allahabad, in support of his friend, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. While he won the polls by a huge margin, his political career was short-lived.
Three years later, Bachchan resigned, following the Bofors scandal, vowing never to rejoin politics.
His wife and former actress Jaya Bachchan is a Rajya Sabha MP from the Samajwadi Party.
Bachchan took a break from acting in 1984 to try his hand at politics. The 'Shahenshah', whose proximity to the Gandhis at the time was well-known, contested the 8th Lok Sabha elections from his home..
Read More
Bachchan began his television stint as the host of quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC) in 2000, after a period of professional struggle. Little did he know at the time of signing on the dotted line, that the Hindi adaptation of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ would go on to become one of the most-watched shows on Indian television.
The Big B hosted the show until 2006, when he fell ill, and Shah Rukh Khan replaced him for the third season. However, in 2010 he returned to the show - that he continues to host till date.
The 'Deewar' star also hosted the third season of ‘Bigg Boss’ in 2009.
Long before the era of Netflix and other digital video streaming platforms that saw several B-town stars turn to the small screen, the Big B was expanding his TV presence. In addition to ‘KBC’, he also did the voiceover for a historic soap, ‘Bharat Ka Veer Putra: Maharana Pratap’.
In 2014, he ventured into the fictional space on television, with ‘Yudh’, a show produced by his banner, Saraswati Creations along with Endemol.
In Pic: Bachchan during 'Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 6', in 2012.
Bachchan began his television stint as the host of quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC) in 2000, after a period of professional struggle. Little did he know at the time of signing on the dotted li..
Read More
Bachchan often turns into a real-life hero for poverty-stricken farmers across the country. The actor, who owns farmland in the Muzzaffarnagar village of Kakori and has been registered as a farmer by the Uttar Pradesh Seed Corporation, has helped prevent many cases of farmer suicide by paying off their loans.
In addition to helping thousands of farmers across the country, he is often a contributor to relief funds at times of natural calamities, and also donates towards families of martyrs.
In 2018, the philanthropist distributed mechanical equipment to manual scavengers. Bachchan Sr., who was valued at $33.5 million in 2015 by Forbes,is also associated with charities that work for cancer, differently-abled children, and girl-child education. He is also a United Nations ambassador for the 'Girl Child’, and works towards TB and Hepatitis awareness.
Bachchan often turns into a real-life hero for poverty-stricken farmers across the country. The actor, who owns farmland in the Muzzaffarnagar village of Kakori and has been registered as a farmer by..
Read More
Bachchan the businessman was among the most-difficult periods of the superstar’s life. His dream venture Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, set up in 1995, not just failed, but also brought down the actor to bankruptcy.
The company seemed to falter in its every move, from producing 'Mrityudata' - featuring Amitabh Bachchan - that bombed at the box-office to organising the Miss World Show, that failed to bring in the money and added to ABCL's already growing financial woes.
In his late-50s, the Big B was embroiled in legal cases and left with losses of nearly Rs 90 crore and almost reaching a point of losing his iconic Juhu home, Pratiksha.
In 1999, ABCL approached the Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) to be rated as a sick company. The actor, however kept going, and bounced back with 'Mohabbatein' and 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', ultimately repaying his creditors.
In 2015, the stalwart and his son, Abhishek Bachchan jointly invested $2.5 lakh in Ziddu, a Singapore-based company.The award-winning actor also actively invests in stocks.
Meanwhile, son Abhishek owns the Pro-Kabbadi team, Jaipur Pink Panthers.
In Pic: Big B with family during his 70th birthday celebrations, held at Big studio in Mumbai on October 10, 2012.
Bachchan the businessman was among the most-difficult periods of the superstar’s life. His dream venture Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, set up in 1995, not just failed, but also brought down the actor..
Business News › Magazines › Panache › Big B's lockdown throwback: Amitabh Bachchan calls 'Amar Akbar Anthony' a bigger success than 'Baahubali 2'Text Size:AAA
