‘People in Bombay laughed at him’: Rajinikanth opens up on Amitabh Bachchan’s financial crisis

New Delhi: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was in a deep financial crisis after his production company, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL) failed miserably. Recently, his Vettaiyan co-star Rajinikanth recalled how the legendary actor battled the bad times by working 18 hours a day and selling off his properties. Thalaivar also shared that he approached Yash Chopra for work and that’s how he landed the iconic role in Mohabbatein.

For the unversed, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth will be sharing the silver screen together after 33 years in the upcoming film, Vattaiyan. The duo have worked together in Blind Law (1983), Hum (1991), and Grievous (1985).

Rajinikanth on Amitabh battling financial crisis

At the Vettaiyan audio launch event, megastar Rajinikanth revealed that Amitabh Bachchan decided to leave everything at the peak of his career. However, destiny had different plans for him. Amitabh’s business failed, pushing him into bankruptcy.

Rajinikanth recalled that the Unchai actor had to sell his Juhu home and other properties in Mumbai to pay off his debt. He also shared that Big B worked for 18 hours a day for three years. However, a few people in the Hindi film industry were not happy with his financial condition.

But, it was Yash Chopra who came to his rescue. When Amitabh approached Yash Chopra for work, he gave him a signed cheque but Big B refused to take it. He told Chopra that he would accept money only when he is given work and he got the role of Narayan Shankar in Shah Rukh Khan starrer Mohabbatein. Thalaivar revealed that Amitabh walked to Yash Chopra’s house wearing a monkey cap because he couldn’t afford a driver. Soon after that, he received the offer to host Who Will Become a Crorepati (KBC) and there’s been no looking back for the actor since then.

Rajinikanth also shared that Big B did all kinds of ads and “people in Bombay laughed at him when they saw this”. Thalaivar also said that after he cleared his debt, he bought back his old house and he bought a total of three houses in the same lane. He ended by saying that he is 82 now and still works for 10 hours a day.

Amitabh Bachchan’s work front

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Amitabh Bachchan will be next seen in Vettaiyan alongside Rajinikanth, Manju Warrier, Rana Daggubati, and Fahadh Faasil, among others. He was last seen in Kalki 2898 AD alongside Prabhas and Deepika Padukone.