Amitabh Bachchan reflects on the turning points in his career,

Hindi Cinema’s Legend Amitabh Bachchan doesn’t feel that ‘Deewaar’ would have been the film it is if it wasn’t for Shashi Kapoor’s understated performance.

Infact, the three turning points in Amitab’s career were eventuated within three years of one another. Prakash Mehra’s 1973. directorial ‘Zanjeer’ made him a superstar.
In 1975 Ramesh Sippy’s ‘Sholay’ and Yash Chopra’s ‘Deewaar’ re-scripted cinematic history by redefining the concept of mass entertainment by bringing in a poise and sophistication never seen in the action genre before.

When ‘Sholay’ and ‘Deewaar’) hit the 65 released, no one saw them in that light. Perceptions of cinema change with every generation”
He added that the team never saw the abiding success of ‘Deewaar’ coming.

Amitabh went on to reveal that there were no plans to make ‘Deewaar’ what it was.

Classics cannot be planned..Guru Dutt didn’t tell himself, ‘All right, let’s make a classic,’ when he decided to make ‘Kagaz Ke Phool.’ Not that he is comparing ‘Deewaar’ to any of the classics,” chuckles the mega-star.

But for sure he must have sensed the uniqueness of the scenes being shot. What he sensed was the extraordinary writing. It was no coincidence that both Sholay and Deewaar and earlier Zanjeer were all written by Salim-Javed. They were indeed a force to reckon with.”

“Indeed. What they brought to Hindi cinema through their writing was unique, and incomparable. Personally, Salim-Javed’s writing made it very easy for me to play my characters. They wrote with such clarity and precision, the film would come alive on paper,” elaborated Mr. Bachchan.

When asked, where would he place ‘Deewaar’ in his repertoire, he replied “One doesn’t sit and think of these things. But yes, ‘Deewaar’ ranks very high among audiences. The dialogues are iconic. He clarified that the
most-mouthed dialogue from the film. ‘Mere paas meri maa hai’ was mouthed by my co-star and colleague and dear friend Shashi Kapoor.”

He was all praise for Shashi Kapoor. “It is easy to undermine the quieter performance. But he never thought ‘Deewaar’ would have been the film it is if it wasn’t Shashi’s understated performance.”

“And not to forget Nirupaji. She was central to the conflict amid the brothers. She was just marvelous. Actors, Satyen Kappu, Iftikhar, Madan Puri, and Alankar Joshi, who played the childhood portion of his character.

With humility Amitabh articulated that ‘Deewaar’ wouldn’t have been the film it is without them.

News Edit KV Raman