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Tinnu Anand, the director and producer of Shahenshah recounted the financial turmoil when Amitabh Bachchan initially withdrew from Shahenshah. The movie is remembered as one of Bachchan’s most iconic films. However, its creation was jeopardized after the actor was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune condition that causes significant muscular weakness. This diagnosis followed a severe intestinal injury B Big sustained during a fight scene for Coolie.
Tinnu Anand on Jackie Shroff enjoyed replacing Amitabh Bachchan
In a discussion with Radio Nasha, Tinnu Anand revealed spending a lot of money on Shahenshah. He said, “We had already spent a significant amount—thousands and lakhs of rupees—on the unit, including air tickets and preparations when we had to cancel Shahenshah. It led to creditors knocking on my door for repayment. The sum was impossible for me to refund, pushing us to search for an alternative lead actor. But, of course, there was no true replacement for him.”
During the interview, Tinnu Anand considered casting either Jackie Shroff or Jeetendra to fill the role of Amitabh Bachchan. Jackie particularly thrived on the publicity generated by the speculation. “We were determined to make Shahenshah, which took us a year. Jackie was the first to agree and embraced the attention he received regarding the potential role. His involvement in multiple projects increased as a result. On the other hand, Jeetendra hesitated, saying, ‘I don’t think I can step into Amitabh’s shoes,’” Tinnu recounted.
Amitabh Bachchan and Jackie Shroff
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Ultimately, Tinnu Anand realized that no one could embody the character of Shahenshah quite like Amitabh Bachchan. It also led Anand to shelve the project temporarily. This was a particularly tough period for Tinnu, as he experienced severe financial strain, to the extent of making ad films to survive.
However, Amitabh’s brother, Ajitabh (Bunty) Bachchan, reassured Tinnu that Amitabh would return. He would complete two unfinished films post-treatment and encouraged him if Big B was able to finish those. Also assured that Amitabh would surely take on Shahenshah as well. Ultimately, that’s precisely what happened.
About Shahenshah
Amitabh Bachchan’s Shahenshah (1988) stands as one of his most memorable films, where he played a dual role — an ordinary, corrupt cop during the day and a justice-seeking vigilante by night. The film, thanks to its gripping plot and Bachchan’s larger-than-life portrayal, became a fan favourite, especially for his famous dialogue, “Rishtey mein toh hum tumhare baap lagte hain.”
