Mumbai, Oct 5 – Amitabh Bachchan, an icon of Indian cinema, has spent more than four decades delivering unforgettable performances. A recent interview with the veteran actor gave us a fresh look at how the roles he starred in during the early 1980s—Anand and Zanjeer—are linked and why they still resonate with fans today.
The early-career snapshot
When asked about the lasting impact of the Anand role, Amitabh, known affectionately as “Big B,” said that the film’s release before Zanjeer was a matter of destiny. He explained that the powerful character of Babu Moshai from Zanjeer would have eclipsed the more subdued but equally impactful role in Anand if the movies had been flipped.
“If Zanjeer had come out earlier, I probably wouldn’t have played Babu Moshai in Anand,” he said. “The influence of Zanjeer was so strong that it would have outshined everything else.”
Two rebels in different worlds
The actor highlighted that both characters share a common thread: a fight against what they saw as injustice. In Anand, the doctor was a quiet rebel who questioned the pharmaceutical system. In Zanjeer, the police officer’s revolt is loud and physical.
“Babu Moshai in Anand was, in a way, the same as the officer in Zanjeer,” Amitabh noted. “The doctor’s inner struggle became the officer’s outward action.”
He pointed out that while the doctor’s rebellion was quiet and intellectual—wondering why doctors made money off medicines—the police officer’s protest was more direct. The officer, after losing his uniform and facing unjust dismissal, turns to vigilantism: “I’m no longer in uniform. Let’s talk now.” This shift from subtle to bold made the Zanjeer character “more exciting” for audiences.
Why the similarity matters
Bachchan’s insight shines a light on how a single actor’s career can pivot based on the timing of films. The Anand and Zanjeer characters aren’t just roles; they represent two sides of a broader critique of society—one internal, one external.
Fans of Amitabh Bachchan and classic Bollywood dramas alike will find this perspective refreshing. It reminds us that even a 15‑minute film can carry a legacy, and that a movie’s release order can shape how history remembers an actor’s most iconic parts.
In the world of Bollywood, where storytelling and star power collide, such revelations underscore how a single actor’s journey can influence the fabric of Indian cinema.
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