Vikram Bhatt recalls Amitabh Bachchan’s powerful presence on 'Agneepath' set

Director Vikram Bhatt, who was the chief assistant to Mukul Anand on 'Agneepath,' recently shared insights about filming the iconic movie with Amitabh Bachchan in an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha. Bhatt highlighted that Bachchan's stardom came from his acting talent, not the other way around. He also recounted an anecdote from the set that showcased Bachchan's impressive presence and the deep respect he garnered from both the crew and fans.

Recalling those old days, those days, he said, “I learned so much on a daily basis. These individuals were true powerhouses of talent. When I look around now, I don’t see anyone who even comes close to that era. Of course, it would be unfair to compare different periods — the times have changed, techniques have evolved, audiences have shifted, and everything is different now. But back then, it was still the analogue era, not the digital one. We did things the old-fashioned way. I especially learned a great deal from Waman Guru, or Waman Sahib (Bhosle, film editor), who was the one who taught me editing and whom I consider my editing mentor."

Vikram Bhatt shared an intriguing anecdote from the Agneepath set. He recalled a scene where assistants were positioned at the back of the set. During this shoot, a group of visitors requested to take a photograph with Amitabh Bachchan.

"We were just having a conversation, me and a couple of colleagues. And I overheard them saying, ‘Arre, Amitabh Bachchan hai toh kya hai yaar. We’ll just go and tell him thoda right mein, thoda left mein.’ They were just having fun. Then Amitji came and asked, ‘Do you want a picture?’ Suddenly, they were gobsmacked. I think that’s the word! They were like, ‘Yes.’ All the fun and jokes they had planned to throw at him, they couldn’t."

'Agneepath' was helmed by Mukul S. Anand and alongside Amitabh Bachchan, the film also featured Mithun Chakraborty, Danny Denzongpa, and others.