Amitabh Bachchan recalls how Manmohan Desai supported him when he was home, battling myasthenia gravis: ‘I will give you a silent role on a wheelchair’

This made Amitabh Bachchan reminisce about a time when he was diagnosed with a muscle disorder. He shared that once he was shooting and just collapsed. When the doctors came, they realised he had myasthenia gravis, a muscle disorder.

“You cannot drink water, button your coat, and even close or open your eyes. The doctor suggested medication and asked me to rest. But I was so scared and worried. When I came home, I was wondering how would I ever work in films. I can’t even walk and don’t know if I would be able to talk properly. It was a tough time,” he said, adding that it was Manmohan Desai, who added a ray of hope to his life.

Big B shared, “I was at home when director Manmohan Desai, with whom I had collaborated multiple times came to meet me. He said, ‘Tu bilkul mat darr. Tereko wheelchair pe bitha ke silent role karwaunga main (You don’t worry. I would make you sit in a wheelchair and do a silent role). I cannot describe how important it was to see that optimism in someone else. That support was what I needed most.”

The host added that he can relate to the contestant’s emotions. He also lauded women for always supporting their husbands and celebrated naari shakti in the episode.

When Amitabh Bachchan thought he’d have to give up acting because of Myasthenia Gravis

The legendary star was shooting for Mard in 1984 when he was diagnosed with this muscle disorder, just a few months ahead of starting shoot for Shehenshaah. The film’s director Tinnu Anand had earlier told Radio Nasha, how the actor explained his illness to him, and also shared how the doctors have warned that he could never work again. This led the director to face a lot of issues, even from his creditors. However, after a year of treatment they could finally go on floors with the film.