MUMBAI: An illustrious career in Bollywood, spanning multiple decades, has not slowed down Bollywood’s Shehenshah aka Amitabh Bachchan, who still proves to be a big draw at the box office.
The mere mention of the name is enough to send fans into a frenzy. And it is this frenzy and absolute adulation of fans’ that filmmakers are seemingly tapping into. If not Bachchan himself, many of his earlier films are being remade, proving his undisputed clout at the box office.
The trend started with ‘Don’, which was remade very successfully by Farhan Akhtar, with Shah Rukh Khan in the lead. The film even had a sequel, but the original (starring the lanky, handsome vintage Bachchan) has always been lauded for being the perfect masala potboiler.
And now one learns that producer Jayantilal Gada, CMD of Pen India Pvt Ltd., has acquired the official remake rights of Amitabh Bachchan’s old films ‘Andha Kanoon’ and ‘Aakhree Raasta’. The former also had South superstar Rajinikanth, while ‘Aakhree Raasta’ featured Sridevi and Jaya Prada, opposite Bachchan, who featured in a double role.
Gada’s last production was the super-successful Vidya Balan starrer ‘Kahaani’ said he was kicked about the acquisition, as Bachchan films had a huge draw for audiences even today: “I am very kicked about the deal. Bachchan films were huge and shall remain so. I am not sure which, but I will start one of them early next year,” he said.
Prior to this, Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Agneepath’ too was remade, with Hrithik Roshan essaying the role of ‘Vijay Dinanath Chauhan.. poora naam.” Though the film was a blockbuster, Hrithik’s smouldering good looks and tough physique were not even a patch on Amitabh Bachchan’s raw intensity and zeal for revenge.
Most recently, Priyanka Chopra and Ram Charan Teja were signed on in the ‘Zanjeer’ remake, another old Bachchan classic. The film, with its share of controversies and legal tangles, is currently being wrapped up, and will release later this year.
