Jeetendra Turned Down Amitabh Bachchan's Role in Shahenshah After Big B Fell Sick: ‘I Don’t Think I Can...’

Amitabh Bachchan’s Shahenshah is one of his legendary films, but it almost didn’t happen! Right before the shoot was about to begin, Amitabh Bachchan faced a major health scare, diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness. This came after his near-fatal injury during a fight scene on Coolie. With Amitabh stepping out of Shahenshah, director Tinnu Anand was left scrambling as creditors started pounding on his door, demanding the money spent on the production. In a recent chat with Radio Nasha, Anand revealed they even considered replacing Amitabh, though they knew no one could truly fill his shoes.

In the conversation, Tinnu shared, “Shahenshah was cancelled after thousands and lakhs of rupees had already been spent on the unit, on air tickets, and everything. Then, creditors began knocking at my door, asking their money back. For me, that amount was impossible to repay, and that’s when we began searching for an actor to replace Amitabh. Of course, there was no replacement for him.”

Tinnu Anand revealed that he considered both Jackie Shroff and Jeetendra for Amitabh Bachchan’s role in Shahenshah. Jackie even signed a few films due to the buzz about possibly replacing Amitabh. “We had to make Shahenshah, and it took us a year. Jackie was the first to agree. He enjoyed the attention he was receiving about possibly replacing Amitabh Bachchan in Shahenshah. He signed three or four more films because of that buzz. Jeetendra, on the other hand, said, ‘I don’t think I can fit into Amitabh’s shoes,’” Tinnu shared.

Tinnu Anand realised that no one could replace Amitabh Bachchan as Shahenshah, so the film was shelved. This led to a tough period for him financially. He revealed, “I experienced one year of poverty.”

Amitabh Bachchan’s Shahenshah (1988) stands as one of his most memorable films, where he played a dual role — an ordinary, corrupt cop during the day and a justice-seeking vigilante by night. The film, thanks to its gripping plot and Bachchan’s larger-than-life portrayal, became a fan favourite, especially for his famous dialogue, “Rishtey mein toh hum tumhare baap lagte hain.”