Did you know? Amitabh was dropped from his first film with Jaya after just 10 days of shooting

Undoubtedly, Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan are one of the golden couples of Bollywood. Their relationship have stood the test of time despite various hurdles and difficulties. It’s been almost 44 years to their marriage now, but both have managed to keep their onscreen chemistry intact even today. This beautiful pair was first seen sharing screen space together on big screen in ‘Bansi Birju’ (1972). This was followed by many classics like ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Sholay’, ‘Chupke Chupke’ and ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…’. The association of Amitabh and Jaya goes back a long way when the latter had made her debut in Bollywood with ‘Guddi’ (1971). The film directed by late Hrishikesh Mukherjee featured Jaya opposite Samit Bhanja playing the lead roles and Big B in a guest appearance playing himself.

But, the fans and admirers of this golden couple out there wouldn’t be aware that it was none other than Amitabh only who was to play the lead opposite Jaya in ‘Guddi’, later played by Samit Bhanja. Recently, we stumbled upon one of the old blogs of Big B where he recalled that how he was dropped from ‘Guddi’ by Hrishi Da (Hrishikesh Mukherjee) after shooting for it for almost 10 days. And sadly, it couldn’t see the onscreen pairing of Amitabh opposite Jaya in the latter’s debut Hindi film. (Also Read: When Amitabh Bachchan continued shooting, even after getting injured)

Amitabh had written a blog about late Hrishikesh Mukherjee, sharing his association with him, and the films that he did with him. While talking about them, he mentioned the name of ‘Guddi’ in it as well.

Big B shares, “I mention ‘Guddi’, because I was the hero of the film, (Jaya, as most know was the heroine, it being her first film) and actually shot for it for almost 10 days. But, during the making of ‘Guddi’, ‘Anand’ released and became a huge success. It had Rajesh Khanna in the lead, the first actor for whom the term superstar was coined. Nothing ever has been seen since, that comes anywhere near matching the hysteria and fan madness of those years. The success of ‘Anand’ rubbed a bit off on to me as well and Hrishi Da felt that a now known face for ‘Guddi’ would be inappropriate for the film. I was dropped from the film and Samit Bhanja, a very fine and accomplished actor of prominence in Bengali cinema was taken opposite Jaya. I remember I was shooting for a South Production of a film called ‘Pyaar Ki Kahani’, when Hrishi Da called me and told me of his decision. I was crest fallen. But he explained to me the reason and I understood. He did, however, do something very sweet. In a sequence of ‘Guddi’, he put in a clip of another film I was shooting for those days, ‘Parwana’ where I played an obsessed lover with grey shades. ‘See’ he said later to me ‘I have not dropped you from the film, you are very much there’!”

“‘Guddi’ had brought Jaya and me together and since she was given the first break by Hrishi Da he became in a sense our godfather. When Jaya and I decided to marry, he was the first one that we went to after telling our parents to seek blessings. Him and Abbas Saheb. There is another fact that many may not know. The leading lady that I have done the maximum number of films with, is Jaya. And most of the films have been directed by Hrishi Da,” added the megastar.

As luck would have it, Amitabh and Jaya didn’t starred opposite each other in ‘Guddi’. But, perhaps it was destiny that they went on to work together in many films and ultimately the love blossomed between the two, making them an inseparable pair.

Amod Pandit

Quiet, resonant, and creative, he can be seen immersed in his own world, and puts in his heart and soul into the one passion that he has, Bollywood. His line for survival? Feel happy to be a part of it.