When Rajinikanth revealed Amitabh Bachchan helped him for his Bollywood debut with Andhaa Kanoon: "He promised producers he would do a guest role if..."

When Rajinikanth revealed Amitabh Bachchan helped him for his Bollywood debut with Andhaa Kanoon: "He promised producers he would do a guest role if..."

When two of Indian cinema’s greatest icons, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth share the same frame, it’s more than just a collaboration. It’s history. And the story of how Rajinikanth first entered Bollywood back in 1983 has Amitabh Bachchan written all over it.

During the audio launch of Vettaiyan, Rajinikanth looked back on a defining chapter of his life — his Hindi film debut in Andhaa Kanoon. At the time, Rajinikanth was already a major star in Tamil cinema, but the Hindi film industry was still new territory. Interestingly, the man who opened that door for him was Amitabh Bachchan.

“They initially wanted Mithun Chakraborty to do that role,” Rajinikanth recalled. “Andhaa Kanoon was the Hindi remake of Sattam Oru Iruttarai. At that time, Kamal Haasan had already made a mark in Hindi cinema with Ek Duuje Ke Liye. But Amitji suggested my name and promised the producers he would do a guest role if they cast me. That’s how I got the chance to work in Andhaa Kanoon.”

It wasn’t just a cameo from Bachchan — it was a gesture of friendship and faith that changed the course of Rajinikanth’s career. The film, directed by T. Rama Rao, starred Hema Malini and Reena Roy in lead roles, while Amitabh Bachchan appeared in a powerful guest appearance. Dharmendra also made a special appearance, making Andhaa Kanoon one of the biggest multi-starrers of the year. The film became the fifth highest-grossing Hindi movie of 1983 and introduced Rajinikanth to a nationwide audience beyond the South.

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That partnership didn’t stop there. The duo went on to work together in Geraftaar (1985), where Bachchan again made a special appearance, and later in Hum (1991), which became a cult hit. Their on-screen chemistry reflected a deep off-screen friendship built on respect and warmth.

During Vettaiyan promotions, Bachchan too had words of admiration for his old friend. In a heartfelt message, he called Rajinikanth “the supreme of all stars.” He fondly remembered their Hum days, recalling how Rajinikanth would lie down on the studio floor between shots to rest — a small but telling example of his humility despite his superstardom.