Shahenshah: The Film That Almost Never Happened Due to Amitabh Bachchan’s Health Crisis
“Shahenshah” is one of the iconic films in Amitabh Bachchan’s illustrious career. However, its production faced significant hurdles when the legendary actor was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a condition that weakens muscles, shortly after a life-threatening accident during the shooting of “Coolie.” This diagnosis cast doubt on Bachchan’s ability to continue working, putting the future of “Shahenshah” in jeopardy.
Tinu Anand’s Financial Crisis
Tinu Anand, the producer-director of “Shahenshah,” recounted the financial turmoil he faced during this period in an interview with Radio Nasha. He explained, “The shooting of the film was cancelled, but we had already incurred thousands and lakhs of rupees in expenses for the unit, flight tickets, and other logistics. After the cancellation, my creditors began knocking on my door, demanding repayment. It was impossible for me to return that money.”
In a desperate attempt to salvage the project, Anand considered replacing Amitabh Bachchan with other actors like Jackie Shroff or Jeetendra. He stated, “Jackie was open to playing the role, and he was excited about the prospect. In our discussions, he signed three or four films. Jeetendra, however, made it clear that he couldn’t step in for Amitabh.”
Despite the search for alternatives, Anand eventually realized that no one could portray the character of Shahenshah like Bachchan. “After all these efforts, it became clear that Amitabh Bachchan was the right fit for the role. No one else could play Shahenshah like Big B,” he reflected.
A Ray of Hope
During this challenging time, Amitabh Bachchan’s brother, Ajitabh Bachchan, reassured Anand that if Amitabh could complete his two unfinished films post-treatment, he would also commit to “Shahenshah.” Ultimately, Amitabh Bachchan recovered and began filming again. “Shahenshah” was released in 1988, marking a significant comeback for Bachchan and solidifying his status as a cinematic legend.
The film not only became a landmark in Bachchan’s career but also demonstrated the resilience of the actor and the dedication of Tinu Anand in bringing the project to fruition.
