Many actors have spoken about Amitabh Bachchan’s unmatched dedication to his craft. The actor, who turned 83 on Saturday, continues to inspire with his relentless work ethic and passion for cinema. In an old interaction with Filmfare, veteran star Jeetendra - who worked with Big B in the 1973 film Gehri Chaal - praised Amitabh’s commitment and recalled how the Sholay actor overcame his life-threatening Coolie accident with sheer determination. He said, “As an actor, Amitabh is a class apart. His dedication is exceptional. There is no word like ‘chalega’ in his dictionary. He puts complete effort in anything and everything that he does. Also, one can’t work hard unless one is passionate about his/her work.” Jeetendra further recalled, “I remember when I went to meet him at Breach Candy hospital, post his near-fatal accident on the set of Coolie (1982), he said, ‘I’ve forgotten how to walk.’ He’d been lying in bed recuperating for so long that he was unable to walk. But his willpower helped him fight back.” For the unversed, Amitabh Bachchan suffered a near-fatal injury during the filming of the 1983 movie Coolie after a mistimed punch by actor Puneet Issar during an action sequence. Bachchan remained critical for months and, according to reports, was even declared dead for a few minutes before being revived through multiple surgeries and life support. He eventually recovered, and Coolie was released in 1983, becoming a massive hit. Jeetendra described Amitabh Bachchan as “a class apart” and lauded him for his “exceptional dedication” and humility despite his superstardom. “Often, after achieving success, one tends to forget what made them successful, what got them so far. But Amitabh, on the other hand, grew more and more conscious and never lost a grip on himself. I’ve never seen him make producers wait, I’ve never seen him while away time or chatting away on the set. He respects his time and more importantly that of others. He has always led a disciplined life,” he said. Jeetendra also remembered how Amitabh maintained discipline even in his early years. “In the early days, even when we all sat drinking together till 3 am, he’d reach the shoot dot at 7 am. Unlike others who wouldn’t be able to make it after a late night. Clearly, he never took his position or stardom for granted. That’s why he has kept growing,” he recalled.
