The Legend of Amitabh Bachchan: Celebrating an Icon's Journey

Javed Akhtar, veteran screenwriter, praises Amitabh Bachchan’s exceptional talent and work ethic. Reflecting on 1973’s Zanjeer, he highlights Bachchan’s rise as the ‘Angry Young Man’. Akhtar discusses Bachchan's discipline and dedication, comparing him to Dilip Kumar. The conversation also touched on societal issues reflected in cinema.

Veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar lauded megastar Amitabh Bachchan for his extraordinary acting prowess and unwavering work ethic, noting that he delivered more hit films in a year than the legendary Dilip Kumar.

Speaking at the third edition of the Indian Express' six-part series Expresso in Mumbai, Akhtar reminisced about creating the 'Angry Young Man' phenomenon with the 1973 hit 'Zanjeer'. Akhtar spoke highly of Bachchan’s discipline and focus, citing his punctuality and the ability to deliver powerful performances.

Akhtar, who along with his writing partner Salim Khan crafted 14 films featuring Bachchan, stressed the importance of recognizing talent and reflected on how films like 1975's 'Deewar' mirrored societal discontent. The event, moderated by Anant Goenka and Pratap Bhanu Mehta, also included comments from Zoya Akhtar on directorial choices in a docuseries about Salim-Javed.

(With inputs from agencies.)