Released on February 16, Agneepath celebrates its 35th anniversary as a cult classic. The film, which was not an initial box-office hit, went on to become one of Amitabh Bachchan’s most iconic roles, particularly with his classic “Vijay Deenanath Chauhan” dialogue. However, what many don’t know is that Amitabh’s original baritone voice for the character wasn’t well received by audiences. He recalled on Kaun Banega Crorepati that he modeled Vijay’s voice after a man with a similar tone who visited Kalyanji-Anandji’s home. Despite initial backlash, the character’s voice became an integral part of his persona, leading to the re-dubbing of the film in Amitabh’s normal voice.
Amitabh’s Selfless Gesture
Producer Nikkhil Advani told a poignant anecdote of the shoot for Agneepath. When Karan Johar’s mother, Hiroo, had been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack, Amitabh hastened to be by her side to lend his support. Even as the family went through tough financial times, Amitabh willingly offered his dates to Yash Johar to get the film rolling, which ended up being influenced by *Scarface*. His dedication to the project was pivotal in the film’s development.
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Jumma Chumma: A Song That Nearly Was
Perhaps the most iconic Amitabh song, Jumma Chumma, was actually meant for Agneepath. But Amitabh didn’t feel that it was suitable for his don character. So another song was employed in its stead. Interestingly, actress Archana Puran Singh was first approached to do the song, before Kimi Katkar was chosen.
Mithun’s Inspiration for Krishnan Iyer
Mithun Chakraborty’s character, Krishnan Iyer, was based on a true incident of his poor roommate, Devio. The experience, where Mithun occupied the bed when Devio was out and got reprimanded upon his return, became the basis for Krishnan’s iconic role in the movie.
These behind-the-scenes anecdotes give depth to the history of Agneepath, cementing its position in film history.
