Little did Amitabh Bachchan know that Zanjeer would become a massive hit, drawing audiences to theatres and changing the course of his career. Released in 1973, Zanjeer launched Big B into stardom and introduced the "angry young man" archetype to Bollywood.
As Amitabh Bachchan celebrates his birthday, it is worth revisiting the film that changed the course of his career and turned him into one of Hindi cinema’s biggest stars.
Birth of Angry Young Man
Amitabh Bachchan essayed Inspector Vijay Khanna—a brooding, silent and morally righteous police officer. His character was driven by a quest for personal revenge and justice against systemic corruption.
Zanjeer captured the National Mood
Zanjeer was released during a period of deep socio-economic turbulence and urban frustration in India. Big B's character resonated deeply because he voiced the anger and anxieties of the common man.
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Salim-Javed Writing Impact
Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar were popularly known as the iconic screenwriting duo. Having written Zanjeer, they infused Bachchan's character with explosive restraint, sharp dialogue and a powerful sense of alienation that broke conventional cinematic molds.
Zanjeer gave Big B long-awaited stardom
Zanjeer made Amitabh Bachchan an overnight star. Before Zanjeer, Bachchan was a struggling actor dealing with a string of box-office flops and dismissed by some as an awkward outsider.
More than five decades later, Zanjeer remains a landmark film that cemented the legacy of the Angry Young Man and marked the beginning of Big B’s extraordinary journey to superstardom.
FAQs
Who was the first choice for the lead role of Inspector Vijay?
The film was initially planned with Dharmendra. The script was later offered to several top actors including Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raaj Kumar, all of whom rejected it.
How did Amitabh Bachchan land the role?
The legendary writer duo Salim–Javed spotted Amitabh Bachchan’s potential during a specific chewing-gum-punctuated fight sequence in Bombay to Goa (1972).