Thrown out of the shoot’: Amitabh Bachchan recalls struggle

Legendary Hindi film actor Amitabh Bachchan reflected on the challenges he faced in the beginning of his career while conversing with Commonwealth Games 2026 gold medalists in a special segment celebrating India's sporting triumphs. When asked if actors receive harsh criticism from directors and coaches like athletes, Bachchan chuckled as he recounted a particular incident from the early days of his career.

He recounted being repeatedly told that he had no acting skills and was too tall to pursue a career in acting. "You know nothing about acting, you are too tall, go back home," he recalled being told by the director, which translates to "Tumko kuch aata nahi hai, acting-wacting, tum bahut lambe ho, jaake ghar jaao." Despite facing such criticism, Bachchan persevered and gradually improved with persistent coaching.

One particularly difficult episode involved arriving late for a film shoot, as he did not own a car at the time and had to rely on someone else's vehicle. The director saw him arrive and immediately told him the shoot was over and to leave. This setback was one of many throughout Bachchan's early career. He made his acting debut in Saat Hindustani and later gained fame with films like Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay, Don, and many others, becoming one of the most enduring stars in Indian cinema.