It’s all about being ‘Now’! Amitabh Bachchan celebrates his 81st birthday today. And from his and even later generations, no one else is as au courant as this legend. The man has worked with two generations of co-stars, filmmakers and musicians. And in one case, he is onto the third!
Hat-trick of generations!
Raj Kapoor was in a cameo in his memorable ‘John Jani Janardhan’ song, playing himself to Bachchan’s waiter in Naseeb. In this very film, and also Kabhi Kabhie, Amar Akbar Anthony, Coolie and Ajooba, he co-starred with Rishi Kapoor. Randhir Kapoor was also a part of the Naseeb song, and co-starred in featured roles in Kasme Vaade, Pukar and Armaan. Rishi’s son Ranbir Kapoor has worked with Bachchan in Brahmastra—Part One: Shiva, while Randhir’s daughters Karisma Kapoor (Mrityudaata, incidentally Bachchan’s production) and Kareena Kapoor Khan (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…, Dev) have also worked with him.
‘Double’ Bill
The ‘doubles’ are incredibly vast. Just as trivia, Bachchan was the narrator of Krrish produced and directed by Rakesh Roshan and starring Hrithik Roshan, who was also in the cast of K3G and Lakshya. Bachchan also worked with stunt coordinator Veeru Devgan in many films like Khoon Pasina, Mr. Natwarlal all the way to Laal Badshah, and has an excellent rapport with his son Ajay Devgn. Amitabh and Ajay were also co-singers for the title-track, besides working together in Ajay’s production, Bol Bachchan, his home production Hindustan Ki Kasam, his production and directorial Runway 34, and also Amitabh’s own home production, Major Saab.
Speaking of action, veteran legend Shetty was the action director of Deewaar, Don and The Great Gambler, while his son, Rohit Shetty directed All The Best! Speaking of filmmakers, Bachchan has worked with producer N.C. Sippy (Anand, Chupke Chupke and more) and his sons, producer Romu N. Sippy and Raj N. Sippy (Satte Pe Satta), B.R. Chopra and Ravi Chopra (Baghban et al), Yash Chopra and son Aditya Chopra (Mohabbatein and more), and Yash Johar and Karan Johar (K3G and others). With G.P. Sippy and Ramesh Sippy (Sholay as standout example) and Manmohan and Ketan Desai (Coolie and more), most of the films are also recognized as cult cinema.
Director Ravi Tandon worked with Bachchan in the hits, Majboor and Khuddaar. His daughter, Raveena Tandon Thadani, has co-starred also in two Bachchan home productions, Aks and Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap.
As it happens, famed art director Sudhendu Roy directed Bachchan in one of his early remarkable roles in Saudagar and was also the art director of movies like Trishul and Don. His daughter, Sharmishta Roy, was also production designer for films like K3G and Veer-Zaara among others.
Moving on to lyricists, Anjaan (Don, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Yaarana etc,) and Sameer Anjaan (K3G, Baghban) were both responsible for major cult hit songs filmed on Bachchan. And while Salim-Javed scripted Bachchan’s breakthrough film, Zanjeer, their respective sons, Salman Khan (Baghban and more) and Farhan Akhtar (as filmmaker in Lakshya and co-star in Wazir) also worked with him, Javed also being the lyricist of movies like Silsila. Both the writer-fathers worked individually with him as well (Akayla and Main Azaad Hoon respectively)!
On the music side, S.D. Burman worked first with Bachchan in his first and musically noteworthy home production, Abhimaan. Numerically, Amitabh’s films were led by his son, R.D. Burman, who also employed him as singer in Mahaan and Pukar. Kalyanji-Anandji were very close to Bachchan all along, musically excelling in films like Don, Muqaddar Ka Sikander and Laawaris among others, and Kalyanji’s son, Viju Shah, scored ABCL’s maiden production, Tere Mere Sapne and also another Bachchan home production, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Viju was also the live composer for Bachchan’s live recitals of his father, Dr. Harivanshrai Bachchan’s poetry!
And as for songs, Kishore Kumar’s contribution to Bachchan’s career is legion (Kishore also did a cameo in Bachchan’s first solo hit, Bombay To Goa as himself!). But son Amit Kumar also was Bachchan’s voice in movies like K3G, Parvarish, Aaj Ka Arjun and others.
We finally come to the stars. Dharmendra and Vinod Khanna were among the heroes who formed popular combinations with Bachchan. But their respective sons, Sunny Deol (Krodh and Insaniyat with Bachchan in cameos), Bobby Deol (Ab Tumhaare Hawala Watan Sathiyo) and Akshaye Khanna (Deewaar—Let’s Bring Our Heroes Home) also worked with him.
The same was the case with Sunil Dutt (Shaan and Reshma Aur Shera, the latter also produced and directed by Dutt) and Sanjay Dutt. Sanjay not only featured in Bachchan’s home production Virrudh, but got Bachchan to do his own films, Kaante and Shootout At Lokhandwala). Jeetendra (Gehri Chaal) and Tusshar (Khakee) and Jackie Shroff (this included Jackie’s production, Boom) and Tiger Shroff (Ganapath, releasing this month) were other cases.
Among heroines, we had Tanuja (Pyar Ki Kahani, Khakee) as co-star and her daughter, Kajol as Bachchan’s daughter-in-law in K3G. Sharmila Tagore (Virrudh and also Desh Premee and others) and son Saif Ali Khan were both common to Eklavya. Amitabh’s home production, Shamitabh, featured Akshara Haasan in a key role: her father Kamal Haasan (Geraftaar) and mother Sarika (Nastik, Satte Pe Satta) had both co-starred with Bachchan earlier.
With an incredible 54 years spent in the industry, the fact that he escaped near-death from his accident and got out safely all of 41 years ago, is less important here than the fact that even at 81, Amitabh Bachchan remains relevant to Hindi cinema for his past record, illustrious present and no doubt remarkable future.
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