On the 82nd birthday of Bollywood's legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, actor-producer Anwar Ali, a close friend, took the time to share his thoughts on their enduring friendship. In an exclusive interview with Zoom, he delved into Big B's journey to stardom, offered insights into the bond they share, and shared the memorable moments they've experienced together. Read excerpts to know the man behind the fame!
Could you walk me through your brother Mehmood Saab and your longstanding relationship with Bachchan Saab?
It’s always easier to speak of phases and experiences in retrospect, but so different when you are actually going through them. No time to ponder unless you are living not a life but a carefully constructed plan. Fortunately, Amitabh and I have had a spontaneous, unconditional, caring relationship all along, so if anything was choreographed it was certainly destiny’s own design. Mehmood bhai, on the other hand, welcomed Amitabh as my friend but treated him the same way as he treated me, like a younger brother. He took on the role of mentor when he had to add impact to Amitabh’s onscreen presence and of parent when he had to share work ethics and expectations with Amitabh.
When did your association with Mr Bachchan begin?
Amitabh and I are living an almost six-decade-long friendship that is beyond the scope of definition because it cannot be compartmentalized. I chanced upon Amitabh’s photograph at KA Abbas Saab’s office as Abbas Saab was casting for his filmSaat Hindustani and I was visiting hoping to get a role. I looked at the photo and thought to myself, what’s wrong with Abbas Saab… how can he consider this boy for a role… A tad perplexed, I was soon on my way to Bangalore for a short holiday. On arriving there, I received a call from Abbas Saab that I had bagged a role in his film. I took the next flight back to Bombay only to see the boy from the photo Amitabh, had come to receive me with my friend Jalal Agha in my Jaguar!! ‘Hi, I am Amitabh,’ said he with a voice full of bass to which I meekly retorted, ‘Hi, I am Anwar.’ We proceeded to Nariman Point where Amitabh was staying. All through the drive, I spoke. All through the drive Amitabh listened. It was perhaps his turn to wonder what’s wrong with Abbas Saab… His name in the film was Anwar and mine Sharma and thus started the journey of us Hindustanis in KA Abbas’ Saat Hindustani.
Is it true Mehmood Saab had predicted M. Bachchan’s superstardom and was the first to cast him as a leading man?
Mehmood Bhaijaan went on record to say, ‘Amitabh lambi race ka ghoda hai.’ Having introduced a plethora of artists, technicians and directors without an ounce of insecurity about his own work opportunities or position in the film industry, Bhaijaan with his eye for talent across the board, possessed the unique, rare quality of extending help and opportunity without hesitation, a trait handed over to us from our father Mumtaz Ali.
Apparently, you coaxed your brother Mehmood Saab to cast Mr Bachchan in Bombay To Goa?
All I had to do was coax Bhaijaan into considering Amitabh for the romantic lead of Bombay To Goa after which Bhaijaan called us to a discotheque to see if Amitabh could dance!!! Bhaijaan was already familiar with Amitabh’s impactful voice that echoed around our home as we lived under the same roof. Come to think of it, didn’t Mehmood Bhaijaan position Amitabh as the angry young man of Bombay to Goa?
Do you recall any memorable incident during Bombay to Goa?
His condition, the night before his first song shoot of Dil Tera Hai Main Bhi Teri Hoon Sanam. Amitabh was apprehensive, slightly nervous and unable to sleep. Kept tossing and turning. On asking, he said he was going to sing and dance for the first time for the first song of his reel life and he wondered how that would go. I assured him it would be okay and went back to sleep, but Amitabh being Amitabh, he stayed up all night only to report right on time the next morning, makeup and all! That’s my favourite song from the film.
After that, I learnt not to sleep in the same bed with him! Even at home, I chose to sleep on the ground and let him toss and turn at ease!!
I believe Mr. Bachchan stayed with you Anwar Saab initially when he came to Mumbai.
Amitabh stayed with Vijaypath Singhania’s sister at Nariman Point in the initial days. I stayed with Bhaijaan and our entire family in Andheri. As our interaction increased and we bonded over common goals, our visits to film production houses were also together. Hence, I invited Amitabh to stay with us at 134, Paradise from where our destinies were moulded for the next two years. He was the ninth sibling of our household and I was the third. The third sibling of his household. Having promised Ma, Amitabh’s mother, that I would look after him and I was now like her third son…
How closely have you known him and what changes have you noticed in him over the years?
Ek Moti ke do chhed hain hum. I know him just as much as he knows me. The hair may have greyed but other than that he hasn’t changed at all. He is still my lovable, determined Bidoo!
Khud-daar was one of his big hits in the 1980s, you produced the film. How was the experience of working with Mr B in Khud-Daar?
Once, Amitabh made a guest appearance at a leading electronics store so I could get a fridge for free! Khud-Daar was my first independent film as a producer. Amitabh had to be part of it. He instantly agreed, going out of his way ensuring we had a sound project in place. Having been co -actors right fromSaat Hindustani to Bombay to Goa and a couple of other films, our work equation in Khud-Daar was similar yet different. Similar because the comfort level of working together was set in stone; different because now I had the task of getting his dates, adjusting with other actors and making things happen including getting the financier on board! All through the making of the film we maintained our professionalism, our work ethics and post-release when I visited Amitabh at Breach Candy Hospital the first thing he asked was how the movie was faring. I informed him it was a super hit!
Having known him so closely what are the qualities that make Amitabh Bachchan the biggest star actor of Hindi films?
The teachings of dad Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan and the support of maa Mrs Teji Bachchan make Amitabh in his entirety. Qualities of dedication, commitment, ambition, fortitude, discipline, perseverance and more, derive from that single parental source, making him second best to none. Dad (Harivansh Rai Bachchan) once casually asked about my well-being as he sat at his writing desk and I walked in to pay my respects. Having had a challenging shoot, I spontaneously replied, ‘I feel like a zero’ to which Dad calmly and lovingly said, ‘The day you know the value of zero you will feel differently.’ He led me to discover the infinite power of zero. To me, zero is a space devoid of greed, fear, and desire where there is an abundant multiplication of love. I was thus inspired through a limited interaction. Imagine what Amitabh brings to the table with every dialogue he renders.
He was known to be a prankster and a fun-loving chap in his younger days. Did you, Mehmood Saab and Bachchan Saab share a lot of masti back then?
Bhaijaan was busy doing then what Amitabh is busy doing today, namely, being totally engrossed in work. News of our antics would trickle through every now and then.
We were busy too, trying to be busy by hunting for work. Would travel by my Jaguar and once the fuel got over going to different locations, we would happily return home by local train. We loved spending time singing with degchis/ kitchen utensils enthralling other friends with dad’s poetry… Jao Lao Piya Nadiya Se Soan Machhri….We devised our own cryptic way of greeting each other. As time passed, words were progressively substituted by periods of silence…. because we understood each other even when nothing was spoken. Ask us now, we will say the same thing… ‘Mitti ka tan… Man Chanchal…’ Not very much can change between the two of us.