DYK This director is scared of working with Amitabh Bachchan and says, ‘Shah Rukh Khan can’t be that big for me’
It’s almost every filmmaker’s dream to work with Amitabh Bachchan, one of the biggest superstars in the country. Having ruled the hearts of millions for decades, Big B has built a massive fan following across India, playing a wide variety of roles that have stayed with the audience. However, did you know there’s one filmmaker who is actually scared of working with him? Yes, despite truly wanting to work with the legendary actor, this director is nervous about the idea.
That filmmaker is none other than Imtiaz Ali, a well-known name in the world of cinema. Imtiaz has directed several successful films, working with some of the biggest stars in Bollywood, including Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Shahid Kapoor. However, when it comes to Amitabh Bachchan, the thought of directing him leaves Imtiaz feeling starstruck and hesitant. In a recent interview with Midday’s Sit With Hitlist series, the filmmaker opened up about his admiration for Bachchan and why he feels this way. This revelation adds an intriguing angle to entertainment news, especially for those who admire both Imtiaz Ali and Amitabh Bachchan.
Imtiaz Ali shared that even though he knew some of his movies had been successful and believed that if he approached Amitabh Bachchan, the actor might agree to work with him, he was always too scared to actually do it. The Tamasha director admitted that his fear was not about rejection, but rather the possibility that Big B might actually say yes. Imtiaz explained that he couldn’t imagine himself directing someone as iconic as Amitabh Bachchan, whom he believes is too big a star. In his words, even Shah Rukh Khan doesn’t feel as intimidating because he’s younger, but Amitabh holds a different level of greatness.
The Jab We Met director also remembered his childhood in North India, where he witnessed the frenzy that Amitabh Bachchan’s films would create among audiences. Imtiaz shared that people would get so excited during screenings of movies like Geraftaar (1985), and some would even break seats in the theater. That kind of excitement and admiration still stays with him, making the idea of working with Bachchan overwhelming. The filmmaker added that while he holds immense respect for the megastar, he feels it’s best to admire him from a distance because Bachchan is such a down-to-earth and genuine person.
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Further, Imtiaz Ali also revealed a special moment when Amitabh Bachchan sent him a letter at around 1:42 or 2:42 AM, appreciating his film Rockstar (2011), which starred Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri. The letter starts with this message, “Dear Imtiaz, I’ve just finished watching your Rockstar,” which left Imtiaz deeply touched.
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