Salim Khan on Amitabh Bachchan's 'reclusive' nature: Aap jab bahut bade star ho jaate ho...

With Zanjeer in 1973, Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar established the "angry young man" character in Hindi cinema, and the movie proved to be a turning point in both of their careers. Amitabh Bachchan's career was likewise revolutionised by Zanjeer, and he became the biggest star of the time. Salim Khan recently revealed that it was Bachchan's destiny to be cast in that movie during an interview with his son Arbaaz Khan for Bollywood Bubble. He also discussed how, following the infamous Salim-Javed split, Big B's reclusiveness contributed to some of the gap between the two.

Salim said that Amitabh Bachchan was given the script after Dharmendra, Dev Anand, and Dilip Kumar rejected it. However, no starring actress was at the time ready to appear in the movie, so he went to Jaya Bachchan's door and asked her to do so. He shared, “I suggested ki Jaya Bachchan ko le lo. She will do it and she will do it for him. Kahani bhi sunayi Jaya ko toh unhone kaha ki mera toh kuch hai nahi isme zyada. Maine kaha ki haan isme kuch hai nahi aapka zyada magar Amitabh Bachchan ke liye yeh ek aisi kahani hai ki yeh phod ke rakh degi."

Salim claimed that they continuously promoted Amitabh because they were so confident in both his performance and professionalism. Salim claimed that since Amitabh is naturally a little reticent, the two did not remain in touch following their split. He said, “Yeh jo thi relation rakhne ki repsonsibility, unpe thi. Aap jab bahut bade star ho jaate ho, aapki responsibility hoti hai ki usse milna julna jo bhi ho, relationship rakhna yeh aapka farz banta hai. Jo ki unhone shayad kisi vajah se nahi kia."

After the Salim-Javed feud in the 1989 movie Toofan, Amitabh and Salim collaborated once more. Salim claimed that they were equally professional but noted that they had never been friends.