Jaya Bachchan was hesitant to be a part of Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Zanjeer’: “Never wanted to be a part of male-centric cinema”

In the recent documentary ‘Angry Young Men’,

Amitabh Bachchan

and

Jaya Bachchan

reflect on a crucial chapter in Amitabh’s career, crediting the legendary screenwriting duo

Salim-Javed

for recognizing his potential at a time when his films were failing at the box office. This pivotal moment came with the film ‘

Zanjeer

’, which marked a significant turning point in Amitabh’s journey to stardom.

Initially, the role of Inspector Vijay in ‘Zanjeer’ was not meant for Amitabh. The film was first offered to the iconic Dev Anand, who ultimately turned it down due to concerns over the absence of songs, which he believed would make the film less attractive to the audience. This rejection frustrated director Prakash Mehra, who was convinced of the film’s potential. Jaya Bachchan recalls Mehra’s reaction, saying, “How dare anybody do this? He was like, ‘I know this is a good story. I know this would make a difference.’ He got angry that he was rejected by so many people. He had to prove a point.”

Then fate worked its magic and Amitabh was noticed by Salim-Javed for his performance in Mehmood’s ‘Bombay to Goa’. As shared by Farah Khan in the documentary, the duo was particularly impressed by Amitabh’s confidence, especially in a scene where he chews gum while fighting Shatrughan Sinha. This moment convinced Salim-Javed that Amitabh was the right fit for the role of Inspector Vijay in ‘Zanjeer’.

Reflecting on this period, Amitabh Bachchan recalls the emotional state he was in, given his string of unsuccessful films. “At a stage when you have failed in many of the attempts you’ve made in the profession, you actually enjoy the fact that somebody is coming to narrate a script to you rather than being dismissive. Just the fact that Salim-Javed wished to come and see me for a narration was in itself a huge moment,” Amitabh shared.

Interestingly, Jaya Bachchan was initially hesitant to join the cast of ‘Zanjeer’. She explained her reluctance to be part of what she viewed as a male-centric film. “I never wanted to be a part of

male-centric cinema

. ‘Zanjeer’ was a male-centric film. They had tried a lot of other women actors, but they all refused. They said, ‘You can’t say no. We need you,’” Jaya recounted. However, she ultimately agreed to do the film, partly motivated by the opportunity to spend time with Amitabh. “So, I thought at least we’d get to spend some time together,” she admitted.
Their collaboration on ‘Zanjeer’ culminated in a blockbuster success, and just a month after its release in June 1973, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan tied the knot, cementing both their professional and personal partnerships in the annals of Indian cinema.