As the legendary Bollywood film 'Shehenshah' completes 36 years, film historian Dilip Thakur reminisces about the challenges faced by Amitabh Bachchan during its release.
Speaking to ETimes, Dilip Thakur revealed that Amitabh Bachchan was in the midst of a political journey when 'Shehenshah' hit the screens.
He said, "Amitabh Bachchan was already immersed in politics when 'Shehenshah' hit theaters. When Big B’s name got entangled in the Bofors scam, the opposition vehemently protested against the film."
In an attempt to alleviate the tension before the release of 'Shehenshah,' Rakesh Kumar's 'Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara,' featuring Bachchan in a cameo, was released. However, this move faced backlash, as people resorted to smearing black ink on the posters of that film.
Dilip Thakur explained, "The following week saw the release of 'Shehenshah.' The film's press show at Dreamland, held two mornings before its official release, marked the first instance of our bags and belongings being checked for security reasons."
He continued, "The primary theatre for 'Shehenshah's' release was Maratha Mandir in Mumbai. To ensure the film's safety, a police van was stationed outside the theatre.
Interestingly, Bachchan played a police officer in the film. Notably, Jaya Bachchan was credited for the story, and Tinnu Anand directed the movie, narrating a modern-day Robin Hood tale.
Despite not achieving superhit status, 'Shehenshah' performed decently at the box office.
The police van stationed outside Maratha Mandir was removed three weeks after the film's release, signifying a relief for Amitabh Bachchan from external pressures. The film coincided with Bachchan's decade-long media ban, which he lifted after the release of 'Aaj Ka Arjun.'
Directed by Tinnu Anand, the film featured a stellar cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Meenakshi Seshadri, Aruna Irani, and others in lead roles.
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