Far from the typical city sets and bustling studios, a cinematic journey unfolded in the serene outskirts of Nepal. At its center was a beloved megastar, not once or twice, but thrice, portraying three distinct characters that added layers to an already intriguing storyline. This film, blending drama with suspense, kept its narrative close to nature and away from mainstream locations, making it visually and emotionally unique. With the actor’s triple avatar stealing the show, it became a talking point among cinephiles.
Here we are talking about 1983 film, Mahaan, starring the legendary superstar, Amitabh Bachchan. This film is still a topic of discussion among cinema lovers. In this film, Amitabh played the only triple role of his career, which surprised the audience. Mahaan was an action-thriller-comedy film, directed by S. Ramanathan and produced by Satyanarayana and Suryanarayana. It was an official remake of the 1978 Kannada film Shankar Guru, starring legendary actor Late Dr. Rajkumar. The film featured stars like Waheeda Rehman, Zeenat Aman, Late Parveen Babi, Late Ashok Kumar, Late Amjad Khan and Late Kader Khan. But did you know that Amitabh was not the first choice for the makers?
Bollywood’s “Jumping Jack,” Jeetendra, was initially offered a triple role for the film, but due to his busy schedule, Amitabh was chosen. The story of the film was a mix of a lawyer’s life, crime and family drama. Although some critics criticized it for over-acting and weak direction but, for Amitabh’s fans, this film was a unique example of his acting. Mahaan further strengthened Amitabh’s star power in that era, and even today it is counted among the memorable films of his career.
Mahaan was made on a budget of only Rs 3 crore, which was a moderate budget for those times. But the film did wonders at the box office and grossed around Rs 8 crore. The film was a golden jubilee hit in South India and achieved silver jubilee status in the rest of India. R.D. Burman’s music also added to the popularity of the film, with songs like “Pyar Mein Dil Pe Maar De Goli”, “Ye Din Toh Aata Hai Ek Din Jawaani Mein” and “Jidhar Dekhoon Teri Tasveer” still remembered today by retro lovers.
Interestingly, a part of the film was shot in Nepal, where a crowd of thousands gathered to see the “Mahanayak of Indian Cinema.” The beautiful valleys of Nepal made the film more attractive, especially its climax shots.
