3 weeks ago
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Amitabh Bachchan was going through a challenging phase in his career when he collaborated with Mukul Anand for Dharma Productions’ Agneepath. Although the film did not perform well at the box office upon its release, it later attained cult status. Director Vikram Bhatt, who served as an associate director on the film, recently shared some behind-the-scenes anecdotes about its making and his experiences working with Bachchan. He also recalled a humorous moment when the veteran actor jokingly ‘fired’ him during the trial screening.
Vikram Bhatt on Amitabh Bachchan abusing during the shoot of Agneepath
In a conversation with Radio Nasha, Vikram Bhatt recounted a particular fight sequence in which Bachchan’s character was repeatedly punching a man who was already dead. The actors standing beside him were meant to intervene, but an unexpected moment unfolded. “There were three cameras rolling simultaneously, and back then, they were really loud. Amit ji was so engrossed in the scene that he accidentally swore on camera. Mukul okayed the shot,” Vikram recalled. He further shared that even the actors around Bachchan were left stunned by the moment.
Despite being known for his dignified and well-spoken nature, Amitabh had unintentionally slipped into the heat of the moment. Vikram approached Mukul Anand about the incident, but the director assured him that they could dub over the line later. However, during the trial screening, which was a lengthy process at the time, Bachchan reminded Vikram to ensure the dialogue was removed before his family attended. “Amit ji called me and said, ‘My family is coming, so you remove the part where I have sworn.’ But amidst all the work, I completely forgot,” Vikram admitted with a laugh.
As the scene played out on the screen, Vikram suddenly realised his mistake, only to hear Bachchan’s commanding voice exclaim, “Vicky, you are fired!” Though it was all in jest, Vikram immediately apologised, and Bachchan took it sportingly, reassuring him with a simple, “It’s okay.”
Years later, Vikram Bhatt had the opportunity to work with Amitabh Bachchan again in the 2004 thriller Aetbaar. Reflecting on the experience, he acknowledged how effortless it was to direct an actor of Bachchan’s calibre. “Working with Amit ji is like sitting in an automatic car—you don’t have to do anything. He is so perfect. He comes, stands on his mark, has learned his dialogues, and is pitch-perfect,” he said.
