Rajesh Khanna couldn’t digest his failure, started drinking heavily during Amitabh Bachchan’s rise to superstardom: Prem Chopra

Veteran actor Prem Chopra has opened up about witnessing the highs and lows of superstardom from close quarters, recalling how the transition phase of Rajesh Khanna during the rise of Amitabh Bachchan was far from easy.

‘It’s difficult for him to digest that failure’

Speaking about the phase when Rajesh Khanna’s career slowed down, Prem Chopra admitted that while the superstar never explicitly spoke about it, his struggles were evident. “He didn’t discuss it, but I could feel what was going on. It’s difficult for him to digest that failure... to accept this position when he was already a top star, a superstar,” he told Vickey Lalwani.


He further pointed out how such phases often take a toll on actors. “He was drinking earlier too, but then he started drinking heavily. This happens everywhere—when such things happen, an actor either drinks more or something goes wrong because they can’t tolerate what they were and what they are now.”

‘The difference between him and Amitabh Bachchan is...’

Drawing a comparison, Prem Chopra highlighted what set Amitabh Bachchan apart. “The difference between him and Amitabh Bachchan is that Amitabh has accepted, ‘I am not the hero of the picture.’ He doesn’t take the film on his shoulders. It’s the character he is doing, and his character is outstanding. Every film is doing so well.”

He added that Bachchan’s ability to adapt is what kept him relevant. “He is doing very central characters and has become very popular because of this.”

‘He walked to Yash Chopra’s house asking for work’

Recalling Bachchan’s struggling days, the actor shared a striking anecdote. “He himself has said he lost a lot of money, property and all that. But once he got into it, there was no looking back. He walked from his house to Yash Chopra’s house for a role when he had no work. He went and said, ‘I want work.’”

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Praising his discipline, he added, “He is a very hardworking actor. When he comes on set, he comes before time and works on the character he is doing.”Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”