Angry Young Men: Did you know Dev Anand rejected Zanjeer because he didn’t have songs? Jaya Bachchan signed due to Amitabh Bachchan

Angry Young Men: Did you know Dev Anand rejected Zanjeer because he didn't have songs? Jaya Bachchan signed due to Amitabh Bachchan

As a child who grew up watching the legendary duo Salim-Javed’s masterpieces unfold on the silver screen, I can’t help but feel a sense of profound respect and admiration for their unwavering commitment to art and integrity. The Angry Young Men docu-series is a testament to their indomitable spirit, resilience, and the power of perseverance in the face of rejection and adversity.


The highly anticipated docu-series titled “Angry Young Men” is now available on Amazon Prime Video as of August 20, 2024. This series offers an enlightening perspective on the illustrious career path of the legendary writing duo, Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, who are commonly referred to as Salim-Javed. The series uncovers the interesting backstory behind their iconic film “Zanjeer”, which was initially rejected by several stars such as Dev Anand. It’s also disclosed that Amitabh Bachchan took on the role during a tough time in his career, with limited options available. Jaya Bachchan agreed to star alongside him because it would provide her more opportunity to be with Big B. When the movie was eventually released, it generated significant buzz and impact.

In an interesting twist, Sachin Pilgaonkar shared that Dev Anand declined participation in the movie Zanjeer because the character Vijay lacked a single song. The late actor believed the public wouldn’t accept him without musical numbers. Javed Akhtar applauded director Prakash Mehra for his dedication as a producer, maintaining the script unaltered despite numerous actors and actresses refusing it. Akhtar commended, “Zanjeer brought us fame. He remained faithful to the script. It takes courage to do what he did; it’s easier said than done.”

Regarding Zanjeer, Salim Khan stated that a fresh actor entered the Hindi film industry who didn’t engage in singing, romantic scenes, or comedy skits. He remarked that the character doesn’t partake in nonsense. Javed Akhtar added that they aimed to stay true to the character, not molding it to fit the storyline’s demands. Akhtar further explained that by maintaining this integrity, the character becomes more authentic and multi-dimensional. Lastly, Akhtar suggested that if Amitabh Bachchan had sung a few songs in Zanjeer, he might not be as renowned today as ‘The Angry Young Man’.

Amitabh Bachchan took on the role in the movie due to limited options, whereas Jaya Bachchan consented to be part of it primarily because of his involvement and under pressure from Salim-Javed. The leading lady of the film admitted that she was compelled by Salim-Javed to act in Zanjeer despite her reluctance, as it was considered a male-dominated production.

As an ardent admirer, let me tell you, another compelling factor that drew me into Zanjeer was the opportunity to engage with none other than Amitabh Bachchan, who happened to be my beloved fiancé at the time. Incidentally, Zanjeer hit the screens on May 11, 1973, and just a few weeks later, on June 3, 1973, our paths converged even further as Big B and Jaya Bachchan exchanged vows, marking their union.

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2024-08-20 15:23