Dharmendra on Zanjeer: In 1973, the film Zanjeer was made under the direction and production of Prakash Mehra. This film changed the career of Amitabh Bachchan as it was his first superhit film. Actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Pran and Ajit were seen in the film. Dharmendra first liked this film but he himself wanted to become the producer of this film.
After the superhit film Zanjeer (1973), Amitabh Bachchan got the tagline of ‘Angry Young Man’. Prakash Mehra initially wanted to cast Dharmendra, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna and Rajkumar in this film. Dharmendra liked the script and wanted to produce it along with acting but it could not happen.
Why did Dharmendra leave ‘Zanjeer’?
Amitabh Bachchan made his Bollywood debut in the 70s. After giving back to back flops, no big filmmaker wanted to work with him. During that period, Prakash Mehra had heard no from Rajesh Khanna, Rajkumar, Dev Anand and Dharmendra for his film Zanjeer. Salim-Javed suggested Amitabh Bachchan’s name to Prakash Mehra because they had seen his performance in the film Anand (1971).
Later this film was made with him and proved to be a blockbuster. Dharmendra had told in a report that after the film Haqeeqat, when the script of the film Zanjeer went to Dharmendra, he decided that he would produce this film. According to the DNA report, when director Prakash Mehra went to Dharmendra with the offer of the film, the actor had made up his mind to produce the film because he liked the script.
But one of Dharmendra’s cousin sisters told him not to work with this film director. Dharmendra listened to his sister at that time and rejected the film. But later when it was released, it proved to be a blockbuster and completely changed Amitabh Bachchan’s career. It is said that Dharmendra later regretted leaving this film and was also happy for his new friend Amitabh Bachchan.
box office collection of ‘Zanjeer’
Prakash Mehra’s film Zanjeer was released in 1973. The story and dialogues of this film were written by Salim-Javed. Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan were seen in the lead roles in the film. Amazing actors like Pran and Ajit were also seen in this film.
According to Sacnilk, the budget of the film Zanjeer was Rs 1 crore while the film collected Rs 6 crore worldwide at the box office. The verdict of the film is said to be a blockbuster which is according to that era.
