Salim-Javed Talk About Zanjeer, Deewaar, Don & Mili | Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Ideal Casting’ | #AngryYoungMen
In the 70s and 80s, the writer duo Salim-Javed had immense success with 20 out of 24 films becoming hits. Their partnership with Amitabh Bachchan started with Zanjeer. On its 25th anniversary, Salim-Javed discussed ideal casting and Bachchan's best performances with Lehren In a flashback video. This year, Zanjeer celebrates 51 years.
Transcript
00:00Amitabh Bachchan had become so used to winning and success that little setbacks, little failures probably he has not taken it very well.
00:10Angry young man, it is said that Amitabh Bachchan has played in many films.
00:15He has not played in many films.
00:17We were very friendly with Rajesh Khanna. Rajesh Khanna was a star.
00:21And we could have persuaded Rajesh Khanna to do that role.
00:25But we felt that the role probably would suit Amitabh Bachchan more than Rajesh Khanna.
00:36The fact is that there is something like ideal casting.
00:41And there is something like compromise casting.
00:45Zanjeer ka jo role tha, when we approached Amitabh Bachchan,
00:51we very strongly felt that it was ideal casting.
00:54That no one else could have done Zanjeer ka role other than Amitabh Bachchan.
00:59Although, at that time, the producers whom we had sold the story to,
01:06they felt that it is economically not viable and feasible.
01:11So we approached different people. Not that we never approached different people.
01:14We approached different people.
01:16But finally we came back to our original casting, Amitabh Bachchan.
01:21And that time also, it's a fact which everybody knows and even Amitabh Bachchan knows,
01:26that we were very friendly with Rajesh Khanna. Rajesh Khanna was a star.
01:30And we could have persuaded Rajesh Khanna to do that role.
01:34But we felt that the role probably would suit Amitabh Bachchan more than Rajesh Khanna.
01:41And so we insisted on that. And of course, even in Diwaar,
01:46Rajesh Khanna was signed by Mr. Kulshan Rai for his next film.
01:52But we very strongly felt that the ideal casting for this role is Amitabh Bachchan.
02:01And we insisted that if you want to make this story, Amitabh Bachchan will work in it.
02:09Because maybe the film would have worked if it was someone else.
02:13But it would not have been ideal casting. It would have been a compromise casting.
02:17Because often it happens that if a certain actor is not available,
02:22who has a concept by a writer or a director,
02:27due to some reason, due to dates or due to a monetary problem,
02:31then finally it's not that the film doesn't work. Sometimes you have to make that film.
02:35But then you have to revert to somebody else. That is a compromise casting.
02:39So, in this case, the ideal casting was Amitabh Bachchan.
02:44And it proved. Also, of course, I mean, now the rest is history.
02:49Now, the other day, about a year back, a director approached me
02:56for Salman Khan. He is a very big maker. He is a very sensible, intelligent maker.
03:02Salman Khan was not available for some reason, due to dates and all.
03:08His original casting was Anil Kapoor. He approached Salman Khan after there was some problem.
03:15Then Salman was not available. He reverted to my youngest son Sohail.
03:20Sohail was probably that time 19 years old, 18 years old. So, what was the original concept actually from Anil Kapoor to Sohail?
03:2920 years difference. I mean, so that is not. I mean, when I go to an actor, I mean, when I have got an actor in mind,
03:38I tell him, I pamper him, I tell him, you are the right casting. If for some reason, if you are not going to do this role,
03:46probably I will find difficult to make this film. There is no harm in it. But most of the time, a director would approach an artist
03:54or a producer would approach an artist, when he needs that artist very badly, but try to give the impression that,
04:00you know, main tumhari life bana dunga, ki tumhari life ka best role hai, you must do it. Actually, need uski hoti hai.
04:05So, there is no harm in telling that it is my need. I need you and if you do that role,
04:10because in the interest of the picture, you should do that. Usme jhukne mein koi burai nahi hai.
04:16Because for a creative interest, for the interest of the film, one should tell the artist and the artist would feel very happy
04:22that you are the right casting, you are the ideal casting and if probably for some reason, if you are not available,
04:28I will not be able to make this film. You should give him this feeling and then he can give his best.
04:33So, in this case, I mean, I strongly felt about Amitabh Bachchan in Tanjeer, in Deewaar.
04:40And of course, I mean, he delivered the goods. So, ye unka badapan hai, ya unki humility ka hi hai, modesty ka hi hai.
04:48Toh aise ka alaba unke paas koi choice bhi nahi hai, ke wohi kehte hain ke agar ye role koi bhi karta,
04:53toh itni bada star ho jata, ye role koi bhi karta toh picture itni badi hit hoti. But I don't agree with it.
04:59I mean, he gives us lot of compliment by saying that. Thank you very much for that. But I don't agree with it.
05:08Fact ye hai ke ek acchi film manne ke liye, jaise ek acchi script ki zaroorat hai,
05:14acche director ki zaroorat hai, acche cameraman ki zaroorat hai, ussi tarahe acche actor ki zaroorat hai.
05:20Aur agar aap ek film unit ko football team banale, mai football isliye keh rahe hoon ki in dino world cup hua hai,
05:31toh ussi ki misaal le lete hain, toh usme actor center forward hai.
05:38Isliye wo script ho, wo director ho, wo camera ho, sab usse ball pass karke D me ball dete hain.
05:45Lekin ultimately goal me balchik actor karta hain.
05:50Amit ji kitne talented actor hote hai me bhi, unhone filmon mein kaam karna ban kar diya hai.
05:55Toh uss baare naam kya hai?
05:58There is, I think, I mean, I am not a psychiatrist, I am not very close at the moment with him.
06:05I have done 2, 14, 15 pictures with him. I was very close to him. At the moment, I mean, we both are involved in our different spheres.
06:13But I would personally feel kei martaba aadmi ko jeetne ki kitni aadat ho jati hai, toh jab wo haarta hai toh usko bahut takleep hoti hai.
06:23Aur I would give an example ke agar Sri Lanka jeetti hai toh uske liye ek surprise hota hai.
06:31Ke bhai jeet gaye. Aur agar West Indies haarta hai toh uske liye ek surprise hota hai.
06:36Karein hum haar gaye. Amitabh Bachchan ko shayad jeetne ki success ki kitni aadat ho gayi thi.
06:41Ke little setbacks, little failures, probably he has not taken it very well.
06:48Probably that fear of failure has creeped in. Ke agar nahi hua phirke se.
06:56Another reason I can probably attribute is that ke now, nobody has probably offered him something different.
07:04Now, anybody who goes to him, wo usi ke type ka role leke jaayenge ki yeh Amitabh Bachchan karte hai.
07:11Amitabh Bachchan is good at all these things. Yeh Amitabh Bachchan ka forte hai.
07:15Now, he has done all those things at least 50-60 times.
07:18Probably that boredom has creeped in. Ke dubara phirke studio jaana, wo ke wo hi role karta, wo ke wo hi chillana, sheekhna.
07:25So, another reason I can give that.
07:27Agar isi boredom mein, isi routine ke andar agar success milti rehti hai.
07:32Toh aajmi ko success ek high deta hai, ek incentive deta hai.
07:35Ke chalo wo ke wo hi kar raha hai, magar chal toh raha hai.
07:38Wo ke wo hi kar raha hai aur nahi chal raha hai.
07:40That depresses a person and that dissuades a person.
07:44Ke kya matlab hai? We have done enough.
07:46Sometimes I also have this feeling, when a good performance or a good picture flops.
07:52I also have this feeling, ki kiski liye kar raha hai? I have been doing this for the last 35 years.
07:56But then I feel that one must continue to work.
08:01Because creativity mein kap chal jaa. Jab Diwaar likhi thi, toh yeh andaza nahi tha ke Diwaar itni bade hit hogi.
08:07We always felt that Diwaar was a very good script. Diwaar was a very properly casted film.
08:12Diwaar was a well made film. But we never realised that Diwaar is going to be such a landmark.
08:16Jab Sholay likhi thi, toh we never thought that Sholay is going to be such a great landmark.
08:21One should continue. As an artist, that flow should always be there. That talent should not be stopped.
08:27So I can only say through this media that Amitabh Bachchan should go on working.
08:32And probably in that, he might come across an extraordinary role or he might come across an extraordinary film.
08:40Which will give him again a high and again some incentive. I mean, except, I mean,
08:46I understand it ki the roles he must be offered, the pictures he must be offered today.
08:54Must be all those routine films. Kuchhte hain honge ke kya hai, woh ki wohi, phir kaise dumara, phir kaise.
09:00Achha aur kya hoga, maximum yeh picture hit ho jayegi. What else? There is no motivation probably for him left.
09:06That's why probably he has stopped taking interest. This is what my personal feeling is.
09:36Kuch performances aise hain, jin ka zikr nahi hota hai. Itna. Jab ke woh unke bade lajawab performance.
09:44Unmein se ek picture hai, Mili. Mili, kyunki woh thi to heroine oriented film. Central character, heroine ka tha.
09:53Jo Jaya ji ne kiya tha. Bahot achha kaam kiya tha usme. Usme jo hero, Amitabh Bachchan sahab ne play kiya tha.
10:02Uska zikr nahi hota, Amitabh Bachchan sahab ki acche performances mein.
10:07Hala ke woh bada exceptional kaam tha. Bahot ghazab ka kaam tha.
10:14Kuch picture hain jo ke unke itne bade star banne se pehli ki film hai. Unmein se ek film hai Saudagar.
10:21Yeh Saudagar nahi. Pehli. Asli wali.
10:26Toh usme Lutan ji heroine thi. Usme bahot kamaal ka kaam hai.
10:34Toh main bajaa iske koi ek scene ya ek dialogue aapko wataun.
10:40Main aapko yeh do filme keh raha hoon. Aur main inka isli zikr kar raha hoon.
10:44Ke jab bhi main padhta hoon, sunta hoon, ke Amitabh Bachchan sahab ki tarif ho rahi hai.
10:51Toh jinn filmon ka zikr hota, aaj tak main filmon ka naam unmein nahi suna hai.
10:58Magar Millie mein toh bahot kamaal ka kaam hai.
11:01Aur jo Angry Young Man kaha jaata hai ki Amitabh Bachchan ne bahot filmon mein kiya hai.
11:06Toh bahot filmon mein toh kiya hi nahi hai. Kuch 4-5 picture hain jinn mein aap keh sakte hain
11:11ki yeh Angry Young Man ka role hai. Aur unmein se ek film hai Millie.
11:17Bahot khubsoorat performance hai.
11:26Waise koi khaas gaana toh, I mean it would be unfair of me to say ki koi khaas gaana
11:30but I give one example of one particular song hai.
11:35Hamar film complete ho gayi thi Dawn. Almost complete ho gayi thi.
11:39And humne gayi logon ko uske trial dikhai, different logon ko.
11:45Usmein se ek Manoj sahab bhi thi, Manoj Kumar.
11:48We also felt that something is lacking in the film. Kuch na kuch kami hai film ke andar.
11:54And every time we used to see the complete copy of the film, aisa lagta tha ki usmein
11:58something is missing.
12:00Toh picture dikhai toh second half mein ek gaana daaliye.
12:05Second half mein picture jo hai cloak and dagger ho gayi hai, kabhi yeh hua, kabhi yeh hua, kabhi yeh hua, kabhi yeh hua.
12:12Toh he said that I have a song, Kalyanji Anandji ka music hai aapke paas.
12:16But anyway, wo song toh humko suit nahi karta tha.
12:19But then we heard another song.
12:21And Imran sahab ne likha wo gaana, Kalyanji Anandji ne wo gaana record kiya.
12:28Aur uski credit thi, Manoj sahab ko wo situation unhe batai ki yahan yeh gaana aana chahiye.
12:34Aur Kalyanji Anandji ko, writer ko uski credit hai ki they have given us such a hit song.
12:41And without any modesty I can say ki wo jitni badi hit hui hai wo film,
12:47wo gaana ka usmein bahot bada contribution hai.
12:50Wo gaana hai, Khai Ke Paan Banaras Wala.