Amitabh Bachchan was not first choice for this blockbuster, Salim-Javed wrote script in 18 days, film was...

Amitabh Bachchan's career skyrocketed in the 1970s, with 1975 being his most successful year. The year 1975 was a game-changer for him, with the release of the iconic film Sholay, which shattered records that still stand today. However, few people know that before Sholay, another film starring him took the box office by storm. This film was none other than Deewar, where he played the lead role, despite not being the makers' first choice.

The film we're talking about, features several prominent actors, including Shashi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, and Parveen Babi, who play crucial roles. The film's story, dialogue, and music captivated audiences, making them fans. This film is none other than the classic Deewar. Interestingly, the film was written by Salim-Javed, who insisted on casting Amitabh Bachchan in the film, even though he wasn't the initial choice. 

Rajesh Khanna was initially signed for the film, but Salim-Javed, the writers, insisted that Bachchan was the ideal cast for the role. This decision proved to be a turning point in Bachchan's career. Interestingly, Salim-Javed penned the script in a mere 18 days, and it played a pivotal role in establishing Amitabh as Bollywood's iconic 'Angry Young Man'. 

In an old interview with the Lehran podcast, Salim recalled the decision to choose Amitabh over Rajesh. He said, "There are things like ideal and compromising casting. We felt that for Deewar, there was no one better than Amitabh Bachchan. Rajesh Khanna was signed by Deewar producer Gulshan Rai, but we felt that the right casting for the story was Amitabh Bachchan, and we insisted that if you wanted to make this film, only Amitabh would work in it. Maybe the film would have worked with someone else, but it wouldn't have been ideal casting. It would have been a compromise."

Deewar, directed by Yash Chopra, emerged as a blockbuster and earned Amitabh another Filmfare nomination for Best Actor. The success of Deewar cemented Amitabh's status as a superstar, and he went on to dominate the film industry throughout the 1970s and 1980s.