When Amitabh Bachchan helped Rajinikanth land his Bollywood debut role in Andhaa Kanoon

Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth have starred in several films

Rajinikanth starrer Coolie is performing well at the box office. The actor has completed five decades in Indian cinema, and Amitabh Bachchan played an important part in Rajinikanth getting his first role in Bollywood in the 1983 movie Andhaa Kanoon.

The two superstars, who last appeared together in the 1991 hit Hum and later reunited in Vettaiyan after 33 years, have always praised each other, citing their long friendship. This throwback story from their early days has been brought back to light, adding to the buzz around their reunion.

At the audio launch of Vettaiyan, Rajinikanth reminisced about how he received his first break in the Hindi industry. Interestingly enough, it came his way because of Amitabh Bachchan.

Rajinikanth recalled, “They initially wanted Mithun Chakraborty to do that role.” He added, “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.”

Rajinikanth also noted that this pairing led to subsequent collaborations with Amitabh Bachchan. He mentioned that the pair continued working together for Geraftaar (1985), where he played a cameo, and then Hum (1991), both of which turned out to be hits at the box office.

At the same promotional period for Vettaiyan, Amitabh Bachchan also paid tribute to his old friend. In a video message, he referred to Rajinikanth as "the supreme of all stars." He recounted with a smile about their days on the sets of Hum, explaining how Rajinikanth would "lie down on the studio floor to rest in between shots"—proof of his simplicity and humility in the midst of superstardom.

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About Andhaa Kanoon

Andhaa Kanoon was the Hindi remake of Sattam Oru Iruttarai. The movie, directed by T. Rama Rao, became a huge success and was ranked as the fifth highest-grossing film of 1983. It starred Rajinikanth, Hema Malini, and Reena Roy in crucial roles, with Amitabh Bachchan fulfilling his promise with an iconic cameo. Dharmendra also had a guest appearance, adding to the star power of the movie.