How Amitabh Bachchan’s reassurance gave ‘ruined’ Shahenshah director some hope while star recovered from life-threatening injury

Tinnu Anand, who directed Amitabh Bachchan in Shahenshah, recalled the financial strife he experienced during the superstar's recovery from a life-threatening injury.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | January 2, 2024 03:53 PM IST

3 min read

Amitabh Bachchan in a still from Shahenshah. (Photo: Express Archive)

Actor-director Tinnu Anand recalled the financial fix he found himself in after Amitabh Bachchan was gravely injured on the set of Coolie, leading to a delay in the film Shahenshah, which Tinnu was directing. In an interview, he said that creditors were knocking on his door, and that after a tense few months, Amitabh assured him that he would complete the film.

In an interview with News-18, Tinnu said that he imagined Shahenshah as an Indian version of Superman, with Amitabh alternating between a cowardly cop and a vigilante named Shahenshah, like Clark Kent. Recalling the film’s troubled production, Tinnu said, “Amitabh fell ill, and he announced that he won’t be working in films again. He went to hospital, Breach Candy, indefinitely. He was in very, very bad shape after that accident. And the announcement came on Monday or Sunday, that Amitabh Bachchan will not work in films anymore. And I had spent a lot of money for an outdoor schedule. I had creditors coming to my house now.”

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During this time, to make ends meet, Tinnu started making corporate films. He continued, “But slowly, slowly, Amitabh came back… His brother told me, ‘Tinnu, don’t worry, I know about your condition. But if da (brother) comes back, he’ll finish his unfinished two films, and after that, if he’s still in a condition to work, yours is the first film we’ll take’. So, there was some ray of hope given by Bunty, his brother.”

Tinnu waited patiently, and finally, he was asked to come meet Amitabh on set after his return. He said, “Tinnu, I’ve come to know everything, don’t worry.” He offered Tinnu lunch, but the director refused, saying he wasn’t hungry. When Amitabh pushed his own plate away, saying that it isn’t fair for him to eat and Tinnu to remain hungry, Tinnu said, “You want to hear a ‘fair’ story? Here you go: A rich man like yourself was eating food. A poor man who hadn’t eaten in days approached him, and asked for some food as well. The rich man shooed him away. The man said, ‘Sir, eat me. Your hunger will go away, as will all my problems’.”

Tinnu said that Amitabh understood his point, and assured him that even though he’d be working slower than before now, he’d finish the film. Released in 1988, the film was a box office success, and is still remembered for its oft-quoted line, “Rishte mein toh hum tumhare baap hote hain, naam hai Shahenshah.”

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